**3.2 Land-use changes in Nebraska from 2012 to 2014**

Between 2012 and 2014, 110,000 ha, at a rate of 55,000 ha of grassland year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> , were converted to cropland. At these sites, 83.8% had LCC values ≤ 4 (**Table 2**). This rate of change represents an increase from the 41,670 ha year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> that was observed from 2006 to 2012.


**Table 2.**

*Land-use change in different soil types of Nebraska from 2012 to 2014.*

In eastern Nebraska, 60,000 ha, at a rate of 30,000 ha year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> , of grassland were changed to cropland. At these sites, 87.8% occurred on soils with LCC values ≤ 4. The rate of change between 2012 and 2014 represents an increase, relative to change that occurred between 2006 and 2012. In western Nebraska, 50,000 ha, at an annual rate of 25,000 ha of grassland year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> , was converted to cropland between 2012 and 2014. At these sites, 76% of changes occurred in soils with LCC values that were ≤ 4.

#### **3.3 Land-use changes in South Dakota from 2006 to 2012**

Between 2006 and 2012, 5.78% (700,000 ha) of the state grassland (12,120,000 ha) were converted to croplands at an annual rate of 116,700 year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> . Most (92.9%) of the converted grasslands were lands considered suitable for annual crops (LCC ≤ 4) (**Table 3**).

In eastern South Dakota, 480,000 ha of grasslands, at an annual rate of 66,670 ha year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> , were converted to cropland between 2006 and 2012. In this region, 94.5% occurred in soils with LCC values of 4 or less. In western South

**9**

values of 4 or less.

were 6 or greater.

*Soil and Land-Use Change Sustainability in the Northern Great Plains of the USA*

14.89 (0.54)

17.46 (2.76)

24.72 (1.86)

15.11 (0.42)

11.30 (1.02)

9.27 (4.63)

19.40 (3.87)

14.81 (1.42)

(4.15)

50 (15.90)

40.44 (8.25)

**Land capability class (LCC) within a category with confidence interval for each proportion in parentheses LCC 1 LCC 2 LCC 3 LCC 4 LCC 5 LCC 6 LCC 7 Estimated** 

**2006–2012 % ha × 1000**

10.16 (0.46)

12.17 (2.38)

14.31 (1.51)

16.95 (0.44)

9.35 (0.93)

11.26 (5.04)

12.19 (3.20)

17.82 (1.53)

15.86 (3.09)

15.79 (11.59)

20.59 (6.80)

(1.03)

0.61 (0.12)

4.23 (1.46)

0.56 (0.32)

1.02 (0.12)

0.67 (0.26)

5.30 (3.57)

0.75 (0.84)

2.47 (0.62)

0.19 (0.37)

0.32 (0.16)

2.88 (0.26)

5.29 (1.63)

6.13 (1.03)

30.24 (0.53)

2.04 (0.45)

3.97 (3.12)

3.98 (1.91)

15.77 (1.46)

8.77 (2.39)

37.17 (1.34)

0 10.53 (9.76)

0 12.50 (5.56)

0.23 (0.07)

1.59 (0.91)

0.74 (0.37)

17.3 (0.44)

0.08 (0.09)

1.32 (1.82)

0.75 (0.84)

8.20 (1.10)

1.31 (0.96)

2.63 (5.09)

0.74 (1.44)

21.66 (1.14)

Dakota, 220,000 ha at an annual rate of 36,700 ha year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

*Land-use change in different soil types of South Dakota from 2006 to 2012.*

**3.4 Changes in South Dakota from 2012 to 2014**

cropland at the rate of 105,000 ha year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

converted to cropland. In western South Dakota, 86.8% of the sites have LCC

15.25 (1) 16.53

From 2012 to 2014, 1.79% of South Dakota's grasslands were converted to

year) than the rate between 2006 and 2012. At these sites, 91.7% occurred in soils with LCC values of 4 or less (**Table 4**). Most of this conversion occurred in eastern South Dakota where 92.5% of the changes occurred on soils characterized as LCC 4 or less, and less than 5% of the change occurred on soils characterized as 6 or 7. In western South Dakota, 85.7% of the grassland-converted sites had LCC values of 4 or less, and <15% of the change occurred in soils with LCC classes that

of grassland were

**land**

5130

230

700

11420

4210

160

480

2890

920

70

220

8530

which was slightly lower (116,700 ha/

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84781*

63.35 (0.74)

54.5 (3.62)

50.93 (2.16)

16.79 (0.44)

67.60 (1.50)

62.91 (7.70)

59.45 (4.80)

38.48 (1.95)

(12.96)

(7.35)

(0.68)

**Change category**

South Dakota Crop-crop 7.82

Crop-grass 4.76

Grass-crop 2.6

Grass-grass 0.45

Crop-crop 8.94

Crop-grass 5.96

Grass-crop 3.48

Grass-grass 1.38

East

West

**Table 3.**

(0.41)

(1.55)

(0.69)

(0.08)

(0.92)

(3.78)

(1.79)

(0.47)

Crop-grass 0 21.05

Grass-crop 0 25.74

Grass-grass 0 6.39

Crop-crop 0 33.77 (4) 39.93


*Soil and Land-Use Change Sustainability in the Northern Great Plains of the USA DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84781*

#### **Table 3.**

*Land Use Change and Sustainability*

**Change category**

Nebraska

Crop-crop 7.27

Grass-crop 1.35

Grass-grass 0.37

Crop-crop 11.55

Grass-crop 2.04

Grass-grass 1.73

Crop-crop 2.58

Grass-grass 0.06

East

West

**Table 2.**

(0.67)

(2.63)

(0.16)

(1.14)

(3.96)

(0.79)

(0.61)

(0.07)

47.09 (47.09)

Crop-grass 0 37.5 (33.5) 37.5 (33.5) 12.5

25.68 (9.95)

40.52 (1.76)

30.61 (12.90)

18.40 (2.36)

55.80 (1.90)

7.40 (0.68) 10.27

In eastern Nebraska, 60,000 ha, at a rate of 30,000 ha year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

at an annual rate of 25,000 ha of grassland year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

*Land-use change in different soil types of Nebraska from 2012 to 2014.*

**3.3 Land-use changes in South Dakota from 2006 to 2012**

values that were ≤ 4.

crops (LCC ≤ 4) (**Table 3**).

66,670 ha year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

were changed to cropland. At these sites, 87.8% occurred on soils with LCC values ≤ 4. The rate of change between 2012 and 2014 represents an increase, relative to change that occurred between 2006 and 2012. In western Nebraska, 50,000 ha,

**Land capability class (LCC) within a category with confidence interval for each proportion in parentheses LCC 1 LCC 2 LCC 3 LCC 4 LCC 5 LCC 6 LCC 7 Estimated** 

> 0.18 (0.11)

> 1.44 (0.31)

> 0.13 (0.13)

> 1.16 (0.65)

> 0.23 (0.18)

> 1.51 (0.35)

0 12.5 (22.92)

0 16.22 (8.40)

0 12.24 (9.18)

61.24 (1.27)

20.71 (2.47)

14.10 (1.33)

70.31 (1.31)

8.20 (0.17) 0.04

(0.05)

5.07 (0.57)

3.20 (0.63) 0 3710

0.48 (0.42)

0.08 (0.11)

6.10 (0.69)

0 12

0 110

0 60

**2012–2014 % ha × 1000**

12.52 (0.86)

(22.92)

24.32 (9.78)

13.51 (0.89)

14.19 (1.25)

24.49 (12.04)

26.59 (2.69)

10.95 (1.19)

(0.88)

Crop-grass 0 50 (49) 25 (42.44) 0 0 25 (42.44) 0 7 Grass-crop 0 16 (14.37) 36 (18.82) 24 (16.74) 0 24 (16.74) 0 50

Crop-grass 0 25 (42.44) 50 (49.0) 25 (42.44) 0 0 0 5

24.65 (1.12)

32.43 (10.67)

(0.79)

30.34 (1.65)

30.61 (12.90)

30.44 (2.80)

18.81 (1.49)

4.93 (0.62) 5.75 (0.67) 10.58

between 2012 and 2014. At these sites, 76% of changes occurred in soils with LCC

Most (92.9%) of the converted grasslands were lands considered suitable for annual

, were converted to cropland between 2006 and 2012. In this

In eastern South Dakota, 480,000 ha of grasslands, at an annual rate of

region, 94.5% occurred in soils with LCC values of 4 or less. In western South

Between 2006 and 2012, 5.78% (700,000 ha) of the state grassland (12,120,000 ha) were converted to croplands at an annual rate of 116,700 year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

, of grassland

.

**land**

7370

10670

1260

3660

9410

, was converted to cropland

**8**

*Land-use change in different soil types of South Dakota from 2006 to 2012.*

Dakota, 220,000 ha at an annual rate of 36,700 ha year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> of grassland were converted to cropland. In western South Dakota, 86.8% of the sites have LCC values of 4 or less.

## **3.4 Changes in South Dakota from 2012 to 2014**

From 2012 to 2014, 1.79% of South Dakota's grasslands were converted to cropland at the rate of 105,000 ha year<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> which was slightly lower (116,700 ha/ year) than the rate between 2006 and 2012. At these sites, 91.7% occurred in soils with LCC values of 4 or less (**Table 4**). Most of this conversion occurred in eastern South Dakota where 92.5% of the changes occurred on soils characterized as LCC 4 or less, and less than 5% of the change occurred on soils characterized as 6 or 7. In western South Dakota, 85.7% of the grassland-converted sites had LCC values of 4 or less, and <15% of the change occurred in soils with LCC classes that were 6 or greater.


### *Land Use Change and Sustainability*

#### **Table 4.**

Grass-grass 0 6.42

*Land-use change in different types of soil in South Dakota from 2012 to 2014.*
