Determining Soil Characteristics Under Six Land Management Practices in Western Kentucky

Different types of land management practices can change soil chemical, physical, and biological characteristics. The objective of this study was to determine the changes of soil properties as affected by cultivation practices through measuring soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), soil water holding capacity (SWHC), and soil water field capacity (SWFC). The sites for this study include an agriculture hemp field, construction site, urban pathway, bison prairie, control burn field, and forest floor. The sites were located in Calloway and Trigg County; Kentucky. Twenty-four undisturbed and twenty-four disturbed soil samples were taken across six fields with four replications each. The disturbed soil was taken at a depth of 5 cm. The undisturbed soil samples were collected at a depth of 7 to 8 cm. The results indicated that soil pH ranged from 4.5 to 6.9, with the highest was found in urban pathway. The range of SOM was 3.61% to 11.64%, with an average of 7%. The average of SWHC was 52%, with the highest found in bison prairie at 90%. The average of SWFC was 40% and the lowest was observed in hemp field at 29%. The results indicate that heavy machinery usage in the construction site and tillage in the hemp field worsened SOM, SWHC, and SWFC in the soil. The information from this research can be used by landowners and conservationists to assist with the best land management practices. Keywords: Hemp, Kentucky, land management, soil organic matter, soil pH