SOIL AGGREGATION AND ONION YIELDS

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Abstract
In crop-sequence studies in Bridgehampton very fine sandy loam, onions were grown as the test crop in 3-yr. rotations, following 2 successive crops of red top, corn, buckwheat, and mangels. After 10 yrs. of the rotations, there was a very high degree of correlation between soil organic matter accumulations from residues of the various crops, water-stable soil aggregates larger than 0.5 mm., and onion yields. The beneficial effects were in the order: red top >corn >buckwheat >mangels. The correlation of onion yields with soil-aggregates was greater than that with organic matter. In two 5-yr. rotations of corn, potatoes, 3 yrs. of hay, clover and alfalfa with non-leguminous grasses increased soil aggregation in the autumns of the grass years, but decreased aggregation in the spring, as compared with non-leguminous grasses alone. Potatoes and corn were deleterious to the soil structure; the hay crops were beneficial.

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