EFFECTS OF TOPSOIL LOSS AND INTENSIVE CROPPING ON SOIL PROPERTIES RELATED TO THE CROP PRODUCTION POTENTIAL OF A PODZOLIC GREY LUVISOL

ever, losses of topsoil reduced the soil's capacity to store plant-available water (33 kPa - 1500 kPa) within the rooting zone above a Bt, horizon (bulk density 1.67 tonnes'm-3) by 1.3 and 3.4 cm of water, respectively, from 9.8 cm for the intact soil. Rainfall patterns on P.E.I. suggest that such reductions in water storage capacity may reduce the soil's crop production potential in 2 out of 5 yr.