The effect of serial (multiple-year) organic matter (OM) amendment on soil properties has been described in some cropping systems, although less is known about the effect of serially amended field soils on soil-borne plant diseases. The objectives of this study were to describe the effects of the third and fourth years of annual, serial amendment with dairy manure solids on 1) soil physical and biological properties and 2) severity of sweet corn root rot. Plots were amended with five rates of separated dairy manure solids annually for three years. In the fourth year, plots were split and only half of each plot was re-amended. Soil physical properties [bulk density, free and occluded particulate organic matter (POM), soil water retention, total porosity, gravimetric moisture content] and biological properties [microbial activity (as hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate; FDA) and microbial biomass-C] were assessed each year in all treatments. Root rot severity was assessed in situ and in the greenhouse with multiple sweet corn (Zea mays L. cv Golden Jubilee) bioassays conducted in the amended field soils. Necrosis of the radicle and nodal roots was assessed when plants reached the 6- leaf stage. Amendment rate was positively associated with increases in soil properties that serve as indicators of soil quality, such as POM content, total porosity, microbial biomass, and FDA activity. In the third year after amendment, weak root rot suppression was observed in-field and was associated with FDA activity. By the fourth year of serial amendment this trend was no longer evident, however evidence from the high-rate treatment that was not re-amended (3HNRA) pointed to an emerging suppressive mechanism that persisted up to 13 months after the third amendment. Factors that may be interacting over time to generate observed disease suppression in these serially amended soils include: short-term post-amendment microbiostasis, soil moisture retention, inoculum potential, and a novel suppressive mechanism. / Graduation date: 2006

Winter wheat is commonly grown in rotation with leguminous and non-leguminous crops in the Willamette Valley. For agronomic, economic, and environmental reasons it is important to understand the influence of previous crops on availability of N and other nutrients. Objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate the effects of long-term rotations on winter wheat response to N fertilizer, and (2) to evaluate the use of Plant Root Simulator���(PRS) probes for measuring soil N mineralization and N availability to winter wheat. Field experiments were conducted over three growing seasons in plots of `Stephens' soft white winter wheat at Hyslop farm. Plots receiving 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha����� at Feekes GS 4 were sampled to determine above ground N uptake, grain yield, and grain protein. In spring 1998, PRS probes were placed in 0 kg N ha����� plots and removed at one-week or two-week intervals. In autumn 1998, probes were placed in unfertilized plots and removed at 1-week, 4-week, and 8-week intervals. Probes measured the availability of NH������-N, NO������-N, K���, Ca�����, Mg�����, and P0��������-P. Grain yield and N uptake were greater for wheat following clover as compared to following oats. Three-year average fertilizer equivalent values calculated from N uptake and grain yield data were 44.5 kg N h����� and 49.0 kg N h�����, respectively. The similarity of these independent measurements suggest that differences in N availability were the primary reason for the rotation effect. PRS probes also detected rotational differences in N availability. Average N recovered by probes sampled at 1-week intervals indicated that there was 63% as much NO������-N available to wheat following oat as compared to clover. Wheat recovered 64% as much N following oats as compared to clover. This suggests that PRS probes are an effective method for predicting relative amounts of plant available N. PRS probes also detected rotational differences in plant available potassium. Agronomic responses are useful for assessing the availability of nutrients that are limiting plant growth. PRS probes, on the other hand, are effective for assessing the availability of both limiting and non-limiting nutrients. / Graduation date: 2000