Data from: Grazing and Cover Crop Effects on Soil Health During Transition to Organic Production

Incorporation of grazed cover crops in cropping systems can improve soil. However, information concerning how cover crops and livestock grazing interact during transitions to organic crop production is limited. An experiment was conducted to quantify soil responses to cover crops and grazing during a transition to organic crop production on a Tally sandy loam near Mandan, ND USA. Main-plot factors included grazing vs. no grazing, while split plot factors included six cropping treatments (soil-building cover crop mix, pollinator cover crop mix, weed suppression cover crop mix, multipurpose cover crop mix, annual crop rotation, and perennial forage biculture). Treatments were replicated four times. Soil samples were collected from 0-10 and 10-30 cm depths at the beginning and end of a 3-year organic transition period. Soil samples were evaluated for soil bulk density, soil pH, nitrate-N, available phosphorus, potassium, total soil nitrogen, soil organic carbon, and wet aggregate stability. Soil pH was estimated from a 1:1 soil-water mixture. Soil nitrate-N was determined from 1:10 soil-KCl (2 M) extracts using cadmium reduction followed by a modified Griess-Ilosvay method. Plant-available soil P was estimated by bicarbonate extraction. Exchangeable K was estimated by atomic absorption spectrometry. Total soil carbon and nitrogen were determined by dry combustion. Wet aggregate stability was analyzed for the 0-10 cm soil depth using the 1-2 mm aggregate fraction. Values for soil properties were incorporated into a soil quality index using the Soil Management Assessment Framework. Data may be used to understand soil responses to grazed and ungrazed cover crops under rainfed conditions in a semiarid continental climate. Related USDA soil types include Baggs, Baxton, Belain, Bitterroot, Chincap, Hopley, Mott, Panguitch, Relan, Vebar, and Victor.