Abstract
Abstract Millions of acres of agricultural soils in the Northern Great Plains have excessive levels of sodium (Na) which reduces their productivity potentials. Soil function in Na‐affected soils may be improved by soil amendments, but the effectiveness of these amendments is dependent on many site‐specific characteristics. This study investigated how three amendments (with three application rates), gypsum, spent lime (5, 15, and 30 ton ac −1 ), and potassium‐magnesium sulfate (1, 2.5, 5 ton ac −1 ), affected alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) production and soil parameters at a site with subsurface tile drainage and a site without tile drainage over 4 yr. Notably, over the course of the study, none of the amendments affected alfalfa production or quality at either site, although the highest rate of potassium‐magnesium sulfate reduced biomass production by about 10%. After 4 yr within the 0‐ to 6‐ in depth, the amendments lowered electrical conductivity (EC) and %Na at the tiled site compared to the control but not at the nontiled site. Moreover, the higher rates of each amendment decreased %Na compared to initial conditions, but after 4 yr, these treatments were not different from the control (alfalfa only). This study determined that the use of a perennial crop, such as alfalfa, may be as effective as amendments in reducing the negative effects of Na on soil properties.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Most amendments did not affect alfalfa production or quality at either site.
- Taxon
- alfalfa
Medicago sativae0 - Treatment
- amendmentse0
- Outcome
- alfalfa production or qualitye0
- Direction
- nonee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“none of the amendments affected alfalfa production or quality at either site”
Claim · model-written summary
The highest potassium-magnesium sulfate rate reduced alfalfa biomass by about 10%.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- highest rate of potassium‐magnesium sulfatee0
- Outcome
- biomass productione0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- about 10%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the highest rate of potassium‐magnesium sulfate reduced biomass production by about 10%.”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Amendments lowered soil electrical conductivity at the tiled site versus control after four years.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- amendmentse0
- Outcome
- electrical conductivity (EC)e0
- Direction
- lowerede0
- Qualifier
- After 4 yr within the 0‐ to 6‐ in depthe0
- Comparator
- controle0
- Setting
- tiled sitee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“After 4 yr within the 0‐ to 6‐ in depth, the amendments lowered electrical conductivity (EC) and %Na at the tiled site compared to the control but not at the nontiled site.”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Amendments lowered soil sodium percentage at the tiled site versus control after four years.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- amendmentse0
- Outcome
- %Nae0
- Direction
- lowerede0
- Comparator
- controle0
- Setting
- tiled sitee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“After 4 yr within the 0‐ to 6‐ in depth, the amendments lowered electrical conductivity (EC) and %Na at the tiled site compared to the control but not at the nontiled site.”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Amendments did not lower soil electrical conductivity and sodium percentage at the nontiled site.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- amendmentse0
- Outcome
- electrical conductivity (EC) and %Nae0
- Direction
- note0
- Comparator
- controle0
- Setting
- nontiled sitee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the amendments lowered electrical conductivity (EC) and %Na at the tiled site compared to the control but not at the nontiled site.”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Higher amendment rates decreased soil sodium percentage relative to initial conditions.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativat0
- Treatment
- higher rates of each amendmente0
- Outcome
- %Nae0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Comparator
- initial conditionse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the higher rates of each amendment decreased %Na compared to initial conditions”
t0“alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
After four years the higher amendment rates did not differ from alfalfa-only control in soil sodium percentage.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Treatment
- these treatmentse0
- Outcome
- %Nae0
- Direction
- not differente0
- Comparator
- control (alfalfa only)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Moreover, the higher rates of each amendment decreased %Na compared to initial conditions, but after 4 yr, these treatments were not different from the control (alfalfa only).”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors conclude that alfalfa alone may be as effective as amendments for reducing sodium effects on soil.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Outcome
- the use of a perennial crop, such as alfalfae0
- Comparator
- amendmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the use of a perennial crop, such as alfalfa, may be as effective as amendments in reducing the negative effects of Na on soil properties.”
The same questions in other papers
sulfate · yield · Medicago sativa (alfalfa)Positive and negative results
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potassium · yield · Medicago sativa (alfalfa)Results differ
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1 in the opposite direction
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other · soil: chemistry · Medicago sativa (alfalfa)Results agree
5 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
- positive
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See all 6 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.