Effects of Diversified Cropping Systems On Soil Quality and the Economics of Dry Land and Irrigated Production Systems in Wyoming.

Conservation cropping systems have been shown to enhance soil C sequestration and alter soil C, N and organic matter dynamics. The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of using diversified cropping systems and crop sequences on C, N, organic matter dynamics and the economics of dry land winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and irrigated sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L)  cropping systems in a Wyoming. Tillage systems for wheat included no till (NT), minimum till (MT), conventional till (CT), and organic production while those for sugar beet included beet-barley, beet-barley-alfalfa (BBA), beet-barley-bean, barley-clover, and beet-beans. The study also investigated the effects of different irrigation methods and soil types on sugar beet yield and economics. No-till increased winter wheat yield (3,290kgha^-1), compared to MT (2,552kgha^-1), CT (2006kgha^-1) and organic (1379kgha^-1) in 2008. No-Till (for wheat) and beet-barley-alfalfa (for sugar beet) showed higher microbial biomass and mineralizable C compared to the other cropping systems and sequences, especially in surface soils.  This paper reports preliminary results from this on-going research work.