The elemental composition of soil plays an essential role in crop nutrition, but losses from croplands can negatively impact soil fertility and water quality. We compared the impact of strip tillage (ST) and conventional tillage (CT) on element concentrations and loads in surface runoff and subsurface flow from plots under rotational cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production with winter cover cropping. Total element concentrations (calcium [Ca], iron [Fe], potassium [K], magnesium [Mg], manganese [Mn], sodium [Na], phosphorus [P], sulfur [S], silicon [Si], and zinc [Zn]) in surface runoff and subsurface flow samples were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma with Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Element loads were estimated by multiplying the element concentrations by the surface runoff and drainage volumes. Significantly greater (p ≤ 0.05) surface runoff loads for all elements (with the exception of K and Zn) were observed from the CT compared with the ST treatment plots only in 2006, likely due to the combined effects of hydrology and the timing of gypsum amendments that year. Surface runoff was the primary hydrologic pathway for Fe, K, Mn, P, Si, and Zn loss while subsurface flow was the primary hydrologic pathway for Ca, Mg, and S loss with both tillage treatments. Lower concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na, and S in the subsurface flow with ST compared to CT suggest that this tillage practice, in conjunction with the proper timing of fertilizer and soil amendment applications (e.g., poultry litter and gypsum) can be an effective method for reducing element losses from croplands. This finding highlights the importance of conservation practices in sustaining healthy cropland soils while reducing element losses and associated environmental impacts.

中文翻译：

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美国乔治亚州大西洋沿岸平原常规耕作和保护性耕作田地的元素损失

土壤的元素组成在作物营养中起着至关重要的作用，但农田的损失会对土壤肥力和水质产生负面影响。我们比较了条带耕作 (ST) 和常规耕作 (CT) 对在冬季覆盖的轮作棉 (Gossypium hirsutum L.) 和花生 (Arachis hypogaea L.) 生产下的地表径流和地下流中元素浓度和负荷的影响裁剪。总元素浓度（钙 [Ca]、铁 [Fe]、钾 [K]、镁 [Mg]、锰 [Mn]、钠 [Na]、磷 [P]、硫 [S]、硅 [Si] 和地表径流和地下流样品中的锌 [Zn]) 使用具有光学发射光谱的电感耦合等离子体 (ICP-OES) 进行测量。通过将元素浓度乘以地表径流和排水量来估计元素负载。与仅在 2006 年的 ST 处理地块相比，从 CT 观察到的所有元素（除 K 和 Zn 外）的地表径流载荷显着更大（p ≤ 0.05），这可能是由于水文和石膏时间的综合影响当年修改。地表径流是 Fe、K、Mn、P、Si 和 Zn 损失的主要水文途径，而地下流是两种耕作处理中 Ca、Mg 和 S 损失的主要水文途径。与 CT 相比，ST 的地下流中较低浓度的 Ca、Mg、Na 和 S 表明这种耕作做法，结合肥料和土壤改良剂应用的适当时机（例如，家禽垫料和石膏）可以成为减少农田元素损失的有效方法。这一发现强调了保护措施在维持健康农田土壤同时减少元素损失和相关环境影响方面的重要性。