Surface Soil Quality Attributes following 12 Years of Conventional and Conservation Management on Irrigated Rotations in Southern Alberta

摘要: Rapid expansion of irrigated row crop production, viz., potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris and sugar beet (Beta in southern Alberta the late 1990s provided impetus for a 12-yr (2000–2011) study to evaluate cropping systems that maintained or improved soil quality. The compared conservation (CONS) conventional (CONV) management rotations 3- 6-yr duration. Conservation included reduced tillage, cover crops, feedlot manure compost addition, solid-seeded narrow-row production. After 12 yr, particulate organic matter C (POM-C) N (POM-N) showed >145% increases (POM-C, 2.2–5.8 Mg ha⁻¹; POM-N, 0.20–0.49 ha⁻¹) with CONS 45 50% total (TOC, 10.2–15.3 TN, 1.06–1.53 20% fine (FOM)-C -N (FOM-C, 8.3–10.1 FOM-N, 0.87–1.04 ha⁻¹). Aggregate stability pre-wet >1-mm fraction increased significantly from 13% under CONV 21% management. Overall, 5-yr rotation (sugar beet–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–dry bean–potato–wheat) ranked highest quality (100%), substantially lower (33–38%). Adoption enhanced wide range attributes could safeguard sustainable specialty Alberta.