41-17 Land Use Effects on the Determining Factors of Water Holding Capacity within Two Common Soil Series in Northwest Missouri Agricultural Fields: Implications for Drought Mitigation

Session: Paleontology, Stratigraphy, Sediments, and Soils (Posters)

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Abstract:

This study investigates how varying agricultural land use types affect the soil water holding capacity by analyzing organic matter content and compaction within two commonly occurring soil series in Northwest Missouri. Although NW Missouri has escaped the more severe drought conditions seen in SW Iowa and North Central Missouri, it has been lingering on the edge of “Abnormally Dry to Moderate Drought” for several years. The soil’s availability to retain water is essential in sustaining the crop yields and reducing irrigation demands during drier periods and is heavily influenced by the organic matter content, soil texture and structure, and the level of compaction within the soil. Field sampling will take place on the Northwest Missouri State University R.T. Wright Farm across four distinct agricultural fields. These fields will include two sites from the Lamoni soil series and two from Higginsville series, each representing either a pasture area or a corn-soybean rotation area. These samples were collected from the field then underwent lab testing to deduce values like the water holding capacity through a saturation and drainage test, the organic matter content by using a muffle furnace to determine the weight loss-on-ignition, the measure of compaction within a soil by using the bulk density, and double-ring infiltrometer tests. Thickness of soil horizons, soil texture, soil structure, and bulk density determinations will also be performed. When taking samples from the different areas, we ensured that the slope is the same. Statistical modeling will be used to identify key soil properties and land-use factors to explain variation in the soil water retention potential. We hypothesize that the organic matter content will be a significant predictor of the water holding capacity. Anticipated findings include higher total water capacity in fields with a higher organic matter content. The results of this study could support improved land management, more targeted conservation efforts, and adaptive agricultural strategies. Broader impacts for the study include drought monitoring, advancing climate resilience, and translating soil science into actionable insight for farming in the Midwest.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 1, 2026

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026SE-13297

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