Improving the Productive Capacity of Claypan Soils By Targeting Soil Health.

Claypan soils can be highly productive if managed correctly. A particular challenge is the shallow topsoil, underlain with a highly impermeable clay layer. More than a century of agronomic activities have eroded the productive topsoil, increasing the clay content in the upper soil layer and limiting the productive capacity of fields. Cover crops can be used to improve soil health. More importantly, overall profitability of the agronomic system can be improved through wise planning of crop rotations and implementation of cover crops in poorly producing areas of fields.