,This study examined average annual changes in soil erosion from rainfall and wind forces, and trends in soil organic carbon (SOC).,The diversity of geo-climatic land bases and potential feedstocks within the United States Central Great Plains (CGP) requires sustainable production that provides optimal resource utilization while maintaining or enhancing localized soil and environmental quality as much as possible. This study examined average annual changes in soil erosion from rainfall and wind forces and trends in soil organic carbon (SOC) as a function of commodity and/or bioenergy-based crop rotations, yield variations, and different field management practices, including residue removal across all land capability class (LCC) I-VIII soils in select areas of the CGP. Soil erosion and SOC (proxied by a soil conditioning index, or SCI) were analyzed on individual soil map unit components using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2 (RUSLE2) and Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) models.,

,Cropland expansion and reduced crop rotation diversity throughout the northern Great Plains has negatively impacted soil quality, creating a need to identify conservation practices that can counteract this trend. A study was conducted to quantify soil property responses to crop diversity/intensity, cover crops, and livestock integration under controlled experimental conditions, and land use (dryland cropping, native grassland, untilled pasture) on working farms and ranches, all on a common soil type in southcentral North Dakota, USA. Data from this study included near-surface (0-5 cm) measurements of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties over a 3-yr period for contrasting long-term experimental treatments at the USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory, Mandan, North Dakota. Soil profile (0-100 cm) assessments of soil physical and chemical properties complemented near-surface measurements. Data were used to generate soil quality index scores using the Soil Management Assessment Framework. Annual spring wheat grain yields for experimental treatments complemented soils data. Similar evaluations were conducted on six on-farm sites in Emmons County, North Dakota, USA, but only for one year and without grain yield data. Data may be used to better understand soil property responses to cropland conservation practices and different land uses. Data are generally applicable to rainfed conditions under a semiarid Continental climate for Temvik-Wilton silt loams (fine silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic and Pachic Haplustolls) and associated soil types (i.e., Grassna, Linton, Mandan, and Williams).,,

,Cover crops can enhance desirable agricultural outcomes such as improved nutrient-use efficiency, soil tilth, reduced pests, and increased yield and yield stability. Documentation of soil property responses to cover crops in semiarid cropping systems, however, is limited. A study was conducted to evaluate soil responses to late-summer seeded cover crops in a no-tillage cropping system under semiarid conditions. The study was conducted over three years on the Area IV Soil Conservation Districts Cooperative Research Farm near Mandan, ND, USA. Cover crops were seeded into dry pea residue in mid- to late August in 19-cm rows. Cover crop metrics included aboveground biomass, while soil metrics included soil water content, soil nitrate-N, near-surface soil properties, and soil coverage by residue. Cover crop biomass was measured immediately before a killing frost. Soil water content was measured before cover crop seeding, immediately after a killing frost, and the following spring using a neutron soil moisture meter. Soil nitrate-N was measured before cover crop seeding and the following spring using 1:10 soil-KCl extracts and the cadmium reduction method. The cover crop growing period ranged from 56 to 70 d. Data may be used to understand soil responses to late-summer seeded cover crops under rainfed conditions in a semiarid continental climate. Applicable USDA soil types include Grassna, Linton, Mandan, Temvik, Williams, and Wilton.,

1. Restoration of degraded landscapes has become increasingly important for conservation of species and their habitats owing to habitat destruction and rapid environmental change. An increasing focus for restoration activity are old-fields as agricultural land abandonment has expanded in the developed world. Studies examining outcomes of ecological restoration predominantly focus on vegetation structure and plant diversity, and sometimes vertebrate fauna. Fewer studies have systematically investigated effects of restoration efforts on soil chemical and biophysical condition or ground-dwelling invertebrates and there is limited synthesis of these data. 2. This dataset comprised data for a global meta-analysis of published studies to assess the effects on soil properties and invertebrates of restoring land that was previously used for agriculture. Studies were included if the site had been either cropped or grazed, restoration was either active (planting) or passive (abandonment, fencing) and if adequate data on soil chemical or physical properties or invertebrate assemblages were reported for restored, control (cropped/grazed) or reference sites. 3. The dataset includes 42 studies, published between 1994 and 2019 that met the inclusion criteria, covering 16 countries across all continents. More studies assessed passive restoration approaches than active planting, and native species were more commonly planted than exotic species.

These are the soil quality data for each county (listed by fips code) for each scenario. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Zhang, X., T. Lark, C. Clark, Y. Yuan, and S. LeDuc. Grassland-to-cropland conversion increased soil, nutrient, and carbon losses in the US Midwest between 2008 and 2016. Environmental Research Letters. IOP Publishing LIMITED, Bristol, UK, 16: 1-14, (2021).

These are the soil quality data for each county (listed by fips code) for each scenario. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Zhang, X., T. Lark, C. Clark, Y. Yuan, and S. LeDuc. Grassland-to-cropland conversion increased soil, nutrient, and carbon losses in the US Midwest between 2008 and 2016. Environmental Research Letters. IOP Publishing LIMITED, Bristol, UK, 16: 1-14, (2021).

,Use of perennial forages in cropping systems can improve soil quality. The length of time needed to accrue improvements in soil condition under perennial forages is unclear, particularly in semiarid regions. A study was conducted to quantify soil responses to perennial grasses, legumes, and grass-legume mixtures over a 5-yr period on a Parshall fine sandy loam near Mandan, ND USA. Five forage treatments and an annual crop treatment were evaluated. Forage treatments included field pea (Pisum sativum L.), intermediate wheatgrass [IMWG; Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkw. & D.R. Dewey subsp. Intermedium], switchgrass (SWG; Panicum virgatum L.), an intermediate wheatgrass-field pea mixture, and a switchgrass-field pea mixture. After the establishment year (2006), alfalfa (Medicago spp.) was seeded in treatments where field pea was present the year before. Continuous spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) represented the annual crop treatment. In April of 2008-2011, soil samples within each fall-converted forage treatment and continuous annual crop treatment were collected prior to seeding spring wheat. Samples were collected from the 0-30 cm depth in increments of 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30 cm using a step-down probe with an inner tip diameter of 3.13 cm. Soil samples were evaluated for soil bulk density, water-stable aggregation, soil pH, total carbon and nitrogen, and particulate organic matter carbon and nitrogen. Assessments of carbon and nitrogen were determined by dry combustion. Water-stable aggregation was measured using the 1-2 mm aggregate fraction. Data may be used to understand soil responses to perennial forages under rainfed conditions in a semiarid continental climate. Applicable USDA soil types include Parshall, Cabba, Farland, Flasher, Lehr, Lihen, Manning, Morton, Straw, Tally, Vebar and Williams.,

,Long-term deployment of dryland cropping systems can alter soil chemical properties in ways that lead to lower soil fertility. Few long-term experiments have investigated cropping intensity, tillage, and nitrogen fertilization effects on soil chemical properties in the northern Great Plains. Near-surface (0-7.6 cm) soil chemistry data were evaluated from two cropping systems (continuous cropping and crop-fallow), each split by tillage (no-, minimum, and conventional) and nitrogen rate (no/low, medium, high) treatments for 16 years. The experiment was established in 1984 on the Area IV Soil Conservation Districts Cooperative Research Farm near Mandan, North Dakota USA. Soil cores were collected in 1983 (prior to establishment of treatments) and again in 1999 from the surface 7.6-cm depth near the middle of each experimental plot using a hydraulic probe. Samples were dried, mechanically ground, and analyzed within 6 wk of collection. Soil pH was measured in a 1:1 soil/water mixture (by mass) with an ion-selective glass electrode. Exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K, and Na) were estimated by atomic absorption spectrometry. Data may be used to better understand cropping, tillage, and nitrogen fertilization effects on soil pH and exchangeable cations under dryland conditions in a semiarid continental climate. Applicable USDA soil types include Temvik, Wilton, Grassna, Linton, Mandan, and Williams.,Updated versions of two Excel files were uploaded on 5 February 2025 to remove extraneous information in the metadata tab. We apologize for the oversight.,

,Prairie dog influences on soil properties should be considered when implementing management recommendations to improve rangeland health. Unfortunately, few studies have addressed soil responses to prairie dog activity across a range of soil types and landscapes. A study was conducted in 2011 to quantify prairie dog effects on soil properties and infiltration rate within three ecological sites differing in landscape, soil, and vegetation characteristics in north central South Dakota, USA. Soil samples were collected from each ecological site in areas with and without prairie dog activity. Prairie dog mounds were sampled using two perpendicular transects over each mound, with samples collected 30, 60, and 120 cm from the mound center. Soil samples were collected from the 0-100cm depth in increments of 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-60m, and 60-100 cm using a hydraulic probe with an inner tip diameter of 3.52 cm. Soil samples were evaluated for soil bulk density, soil pH, extractable nitrogen and phosphorus, and total carbon and nitrogen. Measurements of carbon and nitrogen were determined by dry combustion. Infiltration rate was measured using single-ring infiltrometers on active prairie dog mounds and in a control area without prairie dog activity. Data may be used to understand soil responses to prairie dog activity for rangeland in a semiarid continental climate. Rangeland with rolling landscapes (0-70% slope) and soils derived from soft clay shale or semi-consolidated loamy sedimentary beds closely align with conditions evaluated in this study. Applicable USDA soil types include Hurley, Cabba, and Wayden.,