Characterizing Dominant Field-Scale Cropping Sequences for a Potato and Vegetable Growing Region in Central Wisconsin
Crop rotations are known to improve soil health by replenishing lost nutrients, increasing organic matter, improving microbial activity, and reducing disease risk and weed pressure. We characterized the spatial distribution of crops and dominant field-scale cropping sequences from 2008 to 2019 for t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/2/273 |
| _version_ | 1797478761708388352 |
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| author | Emily Marrs Heineman Christopher J. Kucharik |
| author_facet | Emily Marrs Heineman Christopher J. Kucharik |
| author_sort | Emily Marrs Heineman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Crop rotations are known to improve soil health by replenishing lost nutrients, increasing organic matter, improving microbial activity, and reducing disease risk and weed pressure. We characterized the spatial distribution of crops and dominant field-scale cropping sequences from 2008 to 2019 for the Wisconsin Central Sands (WCS) region, a major producer of potato and vegetables in the U.S. The dominant two- and three-year rotations were determined, with an additional focus on assessing regional potato rotation management. Our results suggest corn and soybean are the two most widely planted crops, occurring on 67% and 36% of all agricultural land at least once during the study period. The most frequent two- and three-year crop rotations include corn, soybean, alfalfa, sweet corn, potato, and beans, with continuous corn being the most dominant two- and three-year rotations (13.2% and 8.5% of agricultural land, respectively). While four- and five-year rotations for potato are recommended to combat pest and disease pressure, 23.2% and 65.9% of potato fields returned to that crop in rotation after two and three years, respectively. Furthermore, 5.6% of potato fields were planted continuously with that crop. Given potato’s high nitrogen (N) fertilizer requirements, the prevalence of sandy soils, and ongoing water quality issues, adopting more widespread use of four- or five-year rotations of potato with crops that require zero or less N fertilizer could reduce groundwater nitrate concentrations and improve water quality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:36:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4df8095b17eb408a8e31b49bb8301c89 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:36:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-4df8095b17eb408a8e31b49bb8301c892023-11-23T20:43:40ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-02-0111227310.3390/land11020273Characterizing Dominant Field-Scale Cropping Sequences for a Potato and Vegetable Growing Region in Central WisconsinEmily Marrs Heineman0Christopher J. Kucharik1Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USANelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USACrop rotations are known to improve soil health by replenishing lost nutrients, increasing organic matter, improving microbial activity, and reducing disease risk and weed pressure. We characterized the spatial distribution of crops and dominant field-scale cropping sequences from 2008 to 2019 for the Wisconsin Central Sands (WCS) region, a major producer of potato and vegetables in the U.S. The dominant two- and three-year rotations were determined, with an additional focus on assessing regional potato rotation management. Our results suggest corn and soybean are the two most widely planted crops, occurring on 67% and 36% of all agricultural land at least once during the study period. The most frequent two- and three-year crop rotations include corn, soybean, alfalfa, sweet corn, potato, and beans, with continuous corn being the most dominant two- and three-year rotations (13.2% and 8.5% of agricultural land, respectively). While four- and five-year rotations for potato are recommended to combat pest and disease pressure, 23.2% and 65.9% of potato fields returned to that crop in rotation after two and three years, respectively. Furthermore, 5.6% of potato fields were planted continuously with that crop. Given potato’s high nitrogen (N) fertilizer requirements, the prevalence of sandy soils, and ongoing water quality issues, adopting more widespread use of four- or five-year rotations of potato with crops that require zero or less N fertilizer could reduce groundwater nitrate concentrations and improve water quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/2/273Wisconsin Central Sandscrop rotationland managementpotatocornCropScape |
| spellingShingle | Emily Marrs Heineman Christopher J. Kucharik Characterizing Dominant Field-Scale Cropping Sequences for a Potato and Vegetable Growing Region in Central Wisconsin Land Wisconsin Central Sands crop rotation land management potato corn CropScape |
| title | Characterizing Dominant Field-Scale Cropping Sequences for a Potato and Vegetable Growing Region in Central Wisconsin |
| title_full | Characterizing Dominant Field-Scale Cropping Sequences for a Potato and Vegetable Growing Region in Central Wisconsin |
| title_fullStr | Characterizing Dominant Field-Scale Cropping Sequences for a Potato and Vegetable Growing Region in Central Wisconsin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterizing Dominant Field-Scale Cropping Sequences for a Potato and Vegetable Growing Region in Central Wisconsin |
| title_short | Characterizing Dominant Field-Scale Cropping Sequences for a Potato and Vegetable Growing Region in Central Wisconsin |
| title_sort | characterizing dominant field scale cropping sequences for a potato and vegetable growing region in central wisconsin |
| topic | Wisconsin Central Sands crop rotation land management potato corn CropScape |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/2/273 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT emilymarrsheineman characterizingdominantfieldscalecroppingsequencesforapotatoandvegetablegrowingregionincentralwisconsin AT christopherjkucharik characterizingdominantfieldscalecroppingsequencesforapotatoandvegetablegrowingregionincentralwisconsin |