Soil Changes in Response to Farming Practices in Calloway County, Kentucky

Various farm management techniques can alter physical properties of soil characteristics. In this study, changes in soil quality indicators were examined from contrasting management practices at the Murray State University farms in Calloway County, Kentucky. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of farming practices such as conventional/no-tilling, monocropping, overgrazing, gardening, and an undisturbed field on soil characteristics. Soil characteristics within this research included bulk density (BD), porosity, soil water field capacity (SWFC), soil water holding capacity (SWHC), macroporosity, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil organic carbon (SOC). At each of the six fields, samples were taken at four replications for both undisturbed and disturbed at a depth of 7.5cm. Findings show that the average of SOC and SOM were highest in the garden at 11.72% (SOM) and 7.53% (SOC). The lowest numbers of SOC and SOM were found in the conventional tillage field at 4.63% (SOM) and 2.69% (SOC). BD averages were highest in the no-tillage at 2.04g/cm3 and lowest BD was observed in the garden at 1.764g/cm3. SWHC, SWFC, and macroporosity were lowest in the overgrazed pasture at 16.62% (SWHC), 10.09% (SWFC), and 13.46% (macroporosity), while the field with the highest data was the undisturbed sanctuary at 32.56% (SWHC), 22.81% (SWFC), and 13.46% (macroporosity). The research from this study would assist farmers in the western region of Kentucky sustain their own fields to increase productivity. Keywords: Bulk Density, Kentucky, Land Management, Soil Quality, Soil Water Retention