Author: Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Crops and nitrogen
Languages : en
Pages : 194
Book Description
Effects of Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization on Nitrogen Losses from Soils Used for Corn Production
Author: Minimizing Phosphorus and Nitrogen Loss from Agricultural Systems with Cover Crops and Tillage in Southern Illinois
Author: Ashani ThilakarathnePublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Agricultural systems
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) production in Illinois has a significant impact on the economy and environmental footprint in the state and the Midwest region. Nutrient leaching from Midwestern agricultural fields is one of the major reasons for the hypoxic zone developed in the Gulf of Mexico. Winter-fallow and early spring (after fertilizer application) are the two most critical periods for nutrient leaching due to increased precipitation and availability of nutrients. Cover crops (CCs) in these seasons are a promising best management practice (BMP) to reduce nutrient leaching in the winter-fallow season. No-till (NT) and reduced tillage (RT) are some other BMPs that farmers in Illinois adopt to reduce erosion. The adoption of CCs is limited due to the lack of knowledge and data on the yield and environmental benefits of CCs in different climatic and soil regimes. Thereby, this doctoral dissertation addresses several critical questions about CC and tillage impacts in claypan soils of southern Illinois with four principal projects with multiple objectives. Research study 1 was a field experiment conducted from 2013-to 2021 to understand the effect of CCs (CCs vs. noCC) and two tillage (NT and RT) practices on soil nitrate-N leaching. The experimental design was a complete randomized design with CC treatments that had two levels (two crop rotations) corn-cereal rye (Secale cereale L.)-soybean-hairy vetch (Vicia villosa R.) [CcrShv] and corn-noCC-soybean-noCC [CncSnc] and tillage treatments with two levels (NT and RT) replicated three times in the field. Each plot had a pan lysimeter installed below the A horizon (22-30 cm depth) to collect water samples weekly or biweekly depending on the rainfall. The corn yield was significantly greater in RT rotations compared to NT rotations with a 36% increase in the yield in 2019 and 2021 corn rotations. The yield was significantly greater in CcrShv rotations compared to the CncSnc rotations. The greatest yield was observed in the interaction of CcrShv-RT in all years. This increase in yield is inversely correlated to the remaining soil N values when the N credit from CCs was not accounted for. Soil nitrate-N leaching was significantly greater in CcrShv rotations compared to the CncSnc rotation in 2021 indicating vetch CC biomass decomposition can lead to increased leaching losses if the window between CC termination and corn planting is not minimized. Precipitation during the early spring can play a vital role in flushing the newly applied fertilizer as well as the N released from decomposing CC residue. The excessively wet year of 2019 showed that N losses are dominated by both nitrate-N leaching and nitrous oxide emissions, but in a typical growing season N losses are dominated by leaching compared to emissions. Research study 2 was designed to better understand the N cycling and fate of applied N in a complete corn-soybean rotation in southern Illinois with CCs and tillage practices. The research was overlayed in the same field with the same crop rotation and tillage practices. In this study, 15N labeled urea fertilizer (9.2% atom) was applied before the corn and soybean seasons. Soil, water, and biomass samples were collected to understand N distribution in each pool. In the corn season in 2017 a significantly greater 15N recovery was observed in CC (CcrShv) plots compared to the noCC plots in the sample collected seven days after planting (DAP). In the CC and depth interaction, a significantly greater 15N recovery was observed in 15-30 cm depth showing that the increased macropores due to CCs can lead to subsurface movement of N through the topsoil. The 15N recovery in water samples was high in CncSnc rotations in the cereal rye season but was significantly greater in CcrShv rotations (8.95 kg ha-1) in hairy vetch seasons. In the two years of complete rotation, the cumulative 15N recovery (quantity derived from fertilizer in water) was significantly greater in CC rotation. In the corn plants, the 15N recovered from the soil was greater than the 15N recovered from fertilizer. This shows the importance of the residual N from prior fertilizer and organic matter input. In the cereal rye season, CCs recovered significantly greater 15N from fertilizer compared to noCC rotations, assuring that cereal rye is an effective nutrient scavenger. A similar pattern was observed in the hairy vetch season as well. However, the soybean 15N recovery was greater in noCC rotations compared to CC rotations. The third study was a field trial on CCs and tillage to understand their individual and combined impact on soil physical parameters. Soil physical parameters were first measured in 2014 and were repeated in 2021. Bulk density at the 0-5 cm depth was 5% lower in 2021 compared to 2014 with the lowest BD in CC rotations with RT practices. For the depth of 0-15 cm, the lowest BD was observed in CC rotation with RT but, the largest reduction was observed in the CC rotation with NT. The wet aggregate stability was improved from 15-28 % over the years in all rotations. The lowest percentage improvement was observed in noCC rotation with RT practice. Penetration resistance was significantly lower in CC plots for the depth of 0-2.5 cm. CCs further improved the time to runoff in plots even though the infiltration rates were not affected. Chemical soil health indices were not significant overtime for CCs or tillage practices. However, a large number of earthworm counts were observed in NT systems compared to RT systems. The final project was a field trial to identify the soil P response to the CC and tillage practices. For this study, three different CC rotations, [corn-cereal rye-soybean-hairy vetch / corn-cereal rye-soybean-oats+radish / corn-noCC-soybean-noCC] and two tillage practices (NT and RT) were used. Soil samples were collected after the corn harvest in 2015 and 2021 and were analyzed for soil Phosphorus (P), inorganic P fractions by Chan and Jackson method, and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in leachate. The soil Mehlich-3 and Bray-1 P values indicate a great concentration of P in 0-15 cm depth for both years. More refined sampling in 2021 showed that the majority of P in 0-15 cm depth concentrates at the near-surface soil, in 0-5 cm depth irrespective of the CC and tillage treatment. Inorganic soil P fractions were not significantly different between CCs or tillage practices over time. Yet, irrespective of the treatment the non- labile P forms increased in 2021in the soil compared to 2015. The average and cumulative DRP values were highly dependent on the precipitation amounts and timing. However, in general, NT systems had greater average and cumulative DRP leaching compared to RT in both years. In general, CCs in the winter-fallow season is a good recommendation for farms that seek to maximize their production with a minimal environmental footprint. In the long run, CCs can improve soil physical and chemical properties which ultimately can increase the yield potential for corn and soybean. The added benefit of N credit due to leguminous CCs can reduce the fertilizer inputs. The CC benefits including the reduction in nutrient leaching depend on the type of CCs used in the field. More importantly, the CC termination time will be critical to obtain the maximum benefit of CCs. Even though the NT practices improve soil physical properties, long-term NT can increase the risk of soil P stratification in near-surface soils and can ultimately lead to more P loss via erosion, runoff, and soil water leaching. However, the combined use of CC and NT practices can help minimize the potential for erosion and runoff.
Losses of Fertilizers and Pesticides from Claypan Soils
Author: George Edward SmithPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Fertilizers
Languages : en
Pages : 92
Book Description
Tillage Effects on the Fate of Nitrogen Applied to Corn as Animal Manure and Fertilizer
Author: Jaya Raj JoshiResidual Effects of Fall- and Spring-applied Nitrogen Fertilizers on Crop Yields in the Southeastern United States
Author: Robert W. PearsonPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Nitrogen fertilizers
Languages : en
Pages : 24
Book Description
Nitrogen fertilizer broadcast in November or December on widely different soils at seven locations in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi during 1955-59 was only 49 percent as effective as nitrogen fertilizer applied the following spring when measured by corn yields. In terms of nitrogen recovered, the relative effectiveness was 62 percent. There were no consistent differences among the five nitrogen sources applied in the fall as measured by corn yields, but nitrogen recovery tended to be lower from urea than from the other sources. Considerable residual effects of spring-applied nitrogen were found over a period of 16 months based on both yield and nitrogen uptake by the crops. Average uptakes of 25 and 34 pounds per acre of additional nitrogen were made by the second and third crops, respectively, from the 200-pound original application. This residual nitrogen produced average yield increases of 1,600 pounds of dry forage and 19 bushels of corn per acre. These results emphasize the economic importance of residual nitrogen and the need for soil test procedures for its estimation.
Nitrogen Fertilizer Management of Temporarily Waterlogged Soils to Improve Corn Production and Reduce Environmental Nitrogen Loss
Author: Brendan A. ZurwellerPublisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 118
Book Description
Intense precipitation events during the corn growing season on poorly-drained soils in the Midwestern United States can result in yield loss due to abiotic plant stress and nitrogen fertilizer loss associated with flooding. Nitrogen loss from soils also has environmental implications if nitrate reaches surfaces waters or gaseous nitrous oxide emissions occur. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of soil flooding on enhanced efficiency pre-plant and post-flooding nitrogen fertilizer applications on corn production and soil nitrogen availability/loss. Results of this research show that a 50% reduction in soil nitrate can occur after one day of flooding, and large pulses of nitrous oxide emissions can occur in a short time period when soils are flooded. In the 2012 growing season, slight advantages were observed with the use of enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers and a post-flood nitrogen fertilizer application. A significant loss of corn grain yield was observed after three days of flooding in 2013. These results indicate that saturated soil conditions can have both economic and environmental impacts and there is a need for future research to address both drainage and nitrogen management strategies for possible applications to farmers.
A Hitchhiker's Guide to Statistics in Plant Biology
Author: Stephen R. BowleyPublisher: Guelph, Ont. : Any Old Subject Books
ISBN: 9780968550014
Category : Botany
Languages : en
Pages : 250
Book Description
An Analysis of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Tillage Effects on Maize Physiology, Production, and Economics
Author: Robert Lee MyersSoil Organic Matter in Temperate AgroecosystemsLong Term Experiments in North America
Author: Eldor A. PaulPublisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 9780849328022
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 436
Book Description
The presence - or absence - of soil organic matter (SOM) has important implications for agricultural productivity. It could also have significant implications for global climate due to its role as a source/sink of carbon. Therefore, it is important to understand the issues related to the accumulation or loss of SOM, to use what we have learned from experiments to make sound decisions about soil and crop management, and to test models and future concepts concerning SOM management. A database is included with the book, presenting tabular data for 34 sites in North America. Soil Organic Matter in Temperate Agroecosystems discusses all of these issues and more, answering such questions as:
Nitrogen in Crop Production
Author: Roland Daniel HauckPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 842
Book Description
Nitrogen use world crop production. World nitrogen situation-trends, outlook, and requirements. Function and transformation of nitrogen in higher Plants. Ammonium versus nitrate nutrition of higher plantes. Nutrient balance and nitrogen use nitrogen toxicity in plants. Dinitrogen fixation in Leguminous crop plants. Enhancing biological Dinitrogem Fixation in crop plants. Potential for nosymbiotic and assosiative dinitrogen fixation. Uptake of organic nitrogen forms by roots and leaves. Plant use of soil nitrogen. Conventional nitrogen fertilizers. Slow-Release nitrogen fertilizers. Use of nitrogen from agricultural, indistrial, and municipal wastes. Use of nitrogen from manue. Diagnosis of nitrogen deficiency in plants. Nitrogen and yield potential. Efficient use of nitrogen in croppig systems. Crop rotations for efficient nitrogen use. Nitrogen or water stress: their interrelationships. Nitrogen use and nitratite leaching in irrigated agriculture. Nitrogen Use in flooded rice soils. Plant breeding for efficient plat use of nitrogen. Legume seed inoculation. Evaluating plant-available nitrogen in soil-crop systems. Liming effects on nitrogen use and efficiency. Nitrogem use and weed control. Nitrogen nutrition of plants and insect invasion. Interaction of nitrogen use and plant disease control. Michanics of applying nitrogem fertilizer. apling nitrogen in irrigation waters. Significance of nitrogen fertilizer microsite reactions in soil. Efficiency of fertilizer nitrogen use as related to aplication methods. Nitrogen management in the no-till system. Technological approaches to improving the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer use by crop plants. Current status of nitrification inhibitor use in U.S. agriculture. Potential for use of urease inhibitors. Foliar fertilization. Nitrogen use in organic farming. Effect of nitrogenNutrition on quality of agronomic crops. Fruit and vegetable quality as affected by nitrogen nutrition. Effect of nitrogemn on quality of three imprtant root/tuber crops. Effect of nitrogen excess on quality of food and fiber. Nitrogen management to minimize adverse effects on the environment. Management of nitrogen in new england and midle atlantic states. Management of nitrogen in the south atlantic states. Nitrogen management for the east north Central States. Management for the eat north central states. Management of nitrogen in she west north central states. Nitrogen use in south central states. Management of nitrogenin the mountain states. Management of nitrogen in the pacific States.