Comparing Soil Properties between Row Crops and Pastures in Western Kentucky

Drew Davis Mentor: Dr. Iin P. Handayani, PhD, Hutson College of Agriculture, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky, USA Soil health plays an important role in agricultural production because it affects plant growth, water availability, and overall soil productivity. The purpose of this study was to compare soil organic carbon (SOC), soil water field capacity (SWFC), total porosity (TP), and soil pH between row crop fields and pasture fields. Soil samples were collected from two pasture fields, Gordon Pasture, House pasture, Tabor-no til soybeans, Turner-no til corn in Ballard County, Kentucky. Four row crop fields, Dodson- no til soybeans in Carlisle, Simmeral- no til soybeans in Clinton, R. Meyers- no til corn in Clinton, and Grain Bin-no til corn in Graves. These samples were analyzed to determine how different land uses and management practices may affect soil properties. The results showed that Gordon Pasture, a pasture field, had the highest soil organic carbon(5.29%). House Pasture had the highest soil water content at field capacity at 44.10%. Dodson- the no til beans at Carlisle County provided the highest total porosity at 61.70%. Simmeral- the no til beans in Clinton had the lowest soil pH at 6.86. The research suggests that pasture fields may have advantages in carbon storage and water retention, while row crop fields can also maintain high levels of soil porosity. Differences in soil pH may be influenced by fertilizer applications, soil management, and natural soil conditions. Overall, this study showed that soil properties vary between row crop and pasture fields. Understanding these differences can help farmers improve soil management practices, maintain soil health, and support long-term agricultural productivity. Key Words: Soil Organic Carbon, Soil Water Field Capacity, Soil pH, Soil Health, Total Porosity