EFFECT OF SOIL-EROSION ON CROP YIELD IN INDIANA - RESULTS OF A 10-YEAR STUDY

The effect of soil erosion on crop yield is influenced by soil propert ies, particularly available water capacity and soil depth. This study details completion of a 10 year study of this effect under field condi tions on three soils. Crop yield information was gathered to quantify the effect of soil erosion on productivity. Yield data were collected for corn and soybeans in three Indiana counties on three important Ind iana Corn Belt soils (Corwin, a fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, Typic Argiud oll; Miami, a fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludalf; and Morley, a fine, illitic, mesic, Typic Hapludalf). Slight, moderate, and severe erosion phases were used to distinguish differing degrees of erosion. Corn yield reduction was 18% for the Miami soil (significant at the 5% level using Duncans multiple range test), 14% for the Morley soil, an d 9% for the Corwin soil when severely eroded sites were compared to s lightly eroded sites over the 10-year period of study. Soybean yield r eduction (significant for all soils at the 5% level using Duncans mult iple range test), was 17% for the Miami soil, 24% for the Morley soil, and 20% for the Corwin soil when severely eroded sites were compared to slightly eroded sites over the 10-year period of study.