SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: NC218 : Assessing Nitrogen Mineralization And Other Diagnostic Criteria To Refine Nitrogen Rates For Crops And Minimize Losses
- Period Covered: 04/01/2001 to 04/01/2002
- Date of Report: 06/07/2002
- Annual Meeting Dates: 03/27/2002 to 03/28/2002
Participants
Brouder, Sylvie (Indiana); Bundy, Larry (Wisconsin); Clay, David (South Dakota); Dick, Warren (Ohio); Hoeft, Robert (Illinois); Horwath, William (California); Laboski, Carrie (Michigan); Olness, Alan (Minnesota/ARS); Randall, Gyles (Minnesota AES); Rice, Charles (Kansas); Schmidt, John (Kansas); Walters, Daniel (Nebraska); Scharf, Peter (Missouri); Tabatabai, Ali (lowa); Lemme, Gary - Administrative Advisor; Knighton, Ray - CSREES
Activities. The major part of the annual meeting was devoted to the discussion and approval of a set of protocols for experiments that will be conducted across the North Central region during the remainder of this project (i.e. through the 2005 growing season). The main objective in conducting these experiments is to test the relative ability of several new rapid tests to predict N mineralization and availability across soil types, management systems and climatic regimes. By pooling data from all researchers, a more precise and accurate test can be achieved. The ultimate goal will be to produce a guidance document for agricultural professionals focusing on nitrogen best management practices and optimum rate determinations for the region. Briefly, each study will test crop response when various nitrogen fertilizer rates are applied prior to planting. The ability of experimental rapid soil tests to predict crop yield and nitrogen uptake will then be evaluated. Protocols for three different types of experiments will be conducted. These include experiments that will be conducted at new sites using small plots, at new sites using field strip sized plots, and at existing sites using small plots where previous nitrogen response studies had been conducted.
Committee Business. The minutes of the 2001 Annual meeting were approved. Committee Officers were selected and approved as follows (Chair - Warren Dick; Secretary - William Horwath; John Schmidt - Member-at-Large; and Sylvie Brouder - Past Chair). The next meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites-Airport in Kansas City, MO on March 19-20, 2003.
It was moved and approved to have Dr. Gary Harmon (Cornell University) join the NC218 group as his research interests and experience matched closely with the goals of the group. Gary Lemme provided his Administrative Advisor‘s report and Ray Knighton presented the CSREES representative‘s report.
Committee Business. The minutes of the 2001 Annual meeting were approved. Committee Officers were selected and approved as follows (Chair - Warren Dick; Secretary - William Horwath; John Schmidt - Member-at-Large; and Sylvie Brouder - Past Chair). The next meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites-Airport in Kansas City, MO on March 19-20, 2003.
It was moved and approved to have Dr. Gary Harmon (Cornell University) join the NC218 group as his research interests and experience matched closely with the goals of the group. Gary Lemme provided his Administrative Advisor‘s report and Ray Knighton presented the CSREES representative‘s report.
[Minutes]
Accomplishments
Several potential new methods to predict nitrogen mineralization and availability to crops have been recently developed by committee members. These methods, as well as several other existing procedures, have been the focus of much of the research activities during the past year. The two major tests to be studied by NC218 Committee members include (1) a rapid assessment of the amino sugar content in soils using alkaline hydrolysis and (2) a rapid enzyme assay procedure for beta-glucosaminidase activity in soils.
Impacts
- A study conducted in California indicated that cover crop-based organic and low-input cropping systems that add C to soil have the potential for storing N and making it available for future crop use, while minimizing the risk of nitrate pollution. A study in Nebraska revealed that plant density and nutrient management levels significantly affected yield, harvest index, stover yield, components of yield, and nutrient uptake. Current fertilizer recommendations that are based on a yield goal that i
- In Kansas, a study found that reducing nitrogen rates by 50 lb/acre could be practiced without a risk of reducing corn yield. This amount of fertilizer reduction will save corn producers about $10/acre in production costs which translates to $30,000,000 for about 3,000,000 acres of corn planted annually in Kansas. This also translates into fewer nitrates in the groundwater below agricultural fields, providing environmental benefits to the Kansas public. Another study conducted in Kansas revealed
- Researchers in Indiana have established a water quality field station where fertilizer nitrogen loss to surface water is measured on a daily basis. Different nitrogen management systems including rotations, fertilizer rates and fertilizer sources (inorganic versus manure) have an impact on surface water quality. Fall nitrogen applications to fields in Wisconsin to promote corn residue decomposition did not improve no-till corn yields and do not appear to be justified. Fall nitrogen did not consi
- Some farmers may be unknowingly contributing to nitrogen pollution problems by not taking proper credit for nitrogen additions associated with phosphorus applications. Research in Illinois indicated that if proper credit for nitrogen additions that is added with phosphorus fertilizer is recognized, nitrogen application rates could be reduced by 35 to 45 kg/ha. This not only saves on production costs but will have a significant impact on reducing nitrogen loss from tile lines, thus improving wate
- Recently a method was developed for assay of beta-glucosaminidase activity in soils. This enzyme is involved in carbon and nitrogen mineralization in soils. Crop rotations and nitrogen fertilization on the activity of this enzyme and its relationship to nitrogen mineralization in soils of two long-term field experiments in lowa (initiated in 1978 and 1954, respectively) impacted the activity of this enzyme. Understanding the relationship between the beta-glucosaminidase activity in soils and nit
Publications
Acosta-Martinez, V. and M.A. Tabatabai. 2001. Arylamidase activity of soils: Effect of trace elements and relationships to soils properties and activities of amidohydrolases. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 33:17-23.
Artikov, I., D.T. Walters and G. Teichmeier. 2001. Relationship of maize diagnostic leaf N to whole plant specific leaf N. ASA/SSSA meeting, 21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Brye, K.R., J.M. Norman, L.G. Bundy, and S.T. Gower. 2001. Nitrogen and carbon leaching in agroecosystems and their role in denitrification potential. J. Environ. Qual. 30:58-70.
Bundy, L.G., T. W. Andraski, and J.G. Lauer. 2001. Planting date and hybrid effects on optimum nitrogen rates for corn. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts, 21-25 October, 2001. Charlotte NC.
Cassman K., T. Arkebauer, A. Dobermann, J. Lindquist, J. Markwell, L. Nelson, J. Specht, and D. Walters. 2001. Understanding yield potential and optimal soil productivity in irrigated maize systems. ASA/SSSA meeting,.21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Chung, S.W., P.W. Gassman, D.R. Huggins, and G.W. Randall. 2001. EPIC tile flow and nitrate loss predictions for three Minnesota cropping systems. J. Environ. Qual. 30:822-830.
Cowling,, C.E., J. Galloway, C. Furiness, M. Barber, T. Bresser, K. Cassman, J.W. Erisman, R. Haeuber, R. Howarth, J. Melillo, W. Moomaw, A. Mosier, K. Sanders, S. Seitzinger, S. Smeulders, R. Socolow, D. Walters, F. West, Z. Zhu. 2001. Optimizing N Management in Food and Energy Production and Environmental Protection. Summary Statement from the 2nd Int‘l N Conference, Potomac MD. 14-18 October, Ecol. Soc. Amer, Washington, D.C. 17 pp.
DeJoia. A.J. 2001. Corn response to nitrogen at various small-plot locations within a field. M.S. Thesis, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Fritz, V.A., G.W. Randall, and C.J. Rosen. 2001. Characterization and utilization of nitrogen contained in sweet corn silage waste. Agron. J. 93:627-633.
Huggins, D.R., G.W. Randall, and M.P. Russelle. 2001. Subsurface drain losses of water and nitrate following conversion of perennials to row crops. J. Environ. Qual. 93:477-486.
Heldt. A.A. 2000. Cover crop impacts on corn and soybean N acquisition and yield. Master of Science Thesis, 203pp. Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, May 2000.
Kelling, K.A., and L.G. Bundy. 2001. Economics of nitrogen fertilizer use with low crop prices. Proc. Wis. Fert. Aglime and Pest Mgmt. Conf. 40:8-14.
Khan, S.A., R.L. Mulvaney, and R.G. Hoeft. 2001. A simple soil test for detecting sites that are nonresponsive to nitrogen fertilization. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 65:1751-1760.
Kucharik, C.J., K.R. Brye, J.M. Norman, J.A. Foley, S.T. Gower, and L.G. Bundy. 2001. Measurements and modeling of carbon and nitrogen cycling in agroecosystems of southern Wisconsin:Potential for SOC sequestration during the next 50 years. Ecosystems 4:237-258.
Mikha, M., R. Lamond, and C. W. Rice. 2002. The effect of tillage and nitrogen source on soil organic matter and resulting corn yield. Kansas Fertilizer Research Report.
Mitsch, W.J., J.W. Day, J.W. Gilliam, P.M. Groffman, D.L. Hey, G.W. Randall, and N. Wang. 2001. Reducing nitrogen loading to the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River Basin: Strategies to counter a persistent ecological problem. BioScience 51:373-388.
Mulvaney, R.L., S.A. Khan, R.G. Hoeft, and H.M. Brown. 2001. A soil organic nitrogen fraction that reduces the need for nitrogen fertilization. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 65:1164-1172
Randall, G.W., and M.J. Goss. 2001. Nitrate losses to surface water through subsurface, tile drainage. p. 95-122. In: R.F. Follett and J.L. Hatfield (Eds.) Nitrogen in the Environment: Sources, Problems, and Management. Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam.
Randall, G.W., and D.J. Mulla. 2001. Nitrate nitrogen in surface waters as influenced by climatic conditions and agricultural practices. J.Environ. Qual. 30:337-344.
Rickman, R.W., C.L. Douglas, Jr., S.L. Albrecht, L.G. Bundy, and J.L. Berc. 2001. CQESTR:a model to estimate carbon sequestration in agricultural soils. J. Soil Water Conserv. 56(3):237-242.
Sa, J.C. de M., C.C. Cerri, R. Lal, W.A. Dick, S.P.V. Filho, M.C. Piccolo, and B.E. Feigl. 2001. Organic matter dynamics and carbon sequestration rates for a tillage chronosequence in a Brazilian oxisol. Soil Science Society of America 65:1486-1499
Schmidt, J.P., A.J. DeJoia, R.B. Ferguson, R.K. Taylor, R. K. Young, and J.L. Havlin. Corn yield response to nitrogen at multiple in-field locations (accepted for publication in Agron. J.).
Studnicka, J.S., T. W. Andraski, and L.G. Bundy. 2001. Nitrogen tests to predict optimum N rates for winter wheat. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts, 21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Tabatabai, M.A. and W.A. Dick. 2002. Enzymes in soil: Research and developments in measuring activities. p. 539-565. In: R.G. Burns and R.P. Dick (Eds.), Enzymes in the Environment. Marcel Dekker, New York.
Walters, D.T., I. Artikov, and G. Teichmeier. 2001. Differences among maize hybrids in specific leaf nitrogen and chlorophyll. ASA/SSSA Meeting, 21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Walters, D.T., A. Dobermann, J. Lindquist, K. Cassman, D. Binder and G. Teichmeier. 2001. N-use efficiency of irrigated maize under intensive and conventional best management. ASA/SSSA Meeting, 21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Walters, D.T., J. Lindquist, K. Cassman, A. Dobermann, L. Nelson, K. Russell, D.Binder, and G. Teichmeier. 2001. Maize performance under intensive and conventional management systems. 2001 ASA/SSSA Meeting, 21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Yang, H., K. Cassman, A. Dobermann, J. Kinery, J. Lindquist, T. Sinclair, and D. Walters. 2001. Simulating maize yield potential. ASA/SSSA Meeting, 21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Young. R.K. Variable-rate nitrogen management for irrigated corn. 2001. M.S. Thesis, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Artikov, I., D.T. Walters and G. Teichmeier. 2001. Relationship of maize diagnostic leaf N to whole plant specific leaf N. ASA/SSSA meeting, 21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Brye, K.R., J.M. Norman, L.G. Bundy, and S.T. Gower. 2001. Nitrogen and carbon leaching in agroecosystems and their role in denitrification potential. J. Environ. Qual. 30:58-70.
Bundy, L.G., T. W. Andraski, and J.G. Lauer. 2001. Planting date and hybrid effects on optimum nitrogen rates for corn. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts, 21-25 October, 2001. Charlotte NC.
Cassman K., T. Arkebauer, A. Dobermann, J. Lindquist, J. Markwell, L. Nelson, J. Specht, and D. Walters. 2001. Understanding yield potential and optimal soil productivity in irrigated maize systems. ASA/SSSA meeting,.21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Chung, S.W., P.W. Gassman, D.R. Huggins, and G.W. Randall. 2001. EPIC tile flow and nitrate loss predictions for three Minnesota cropping systems. J. Environ. Qual. 30:822-830.
Cowling,, C.E., J. Galloway, C. Furiness, M. Barber, T. Bresser, K. Cassman, J.W. Erisman, R. Haeuber, R. Howarth, J. Melillo, W. Moomaw, A. Mosier, K. Sanders, S. Seitzinger, S. Smeulders, R. Socolow, D. Walters, F. West, Z. Zhu. 2001. Optimizing N Management in Food and Energy Production and Environmental Protection. Summary Statement from the 2nd Int‘l N Conference, Potomac MD. 14-18 October, Ecol. Soc. Amer, Washington, D.C. 17 pp.
DeJoia. A.J. 2001. Corn response to nitrogen at various small-plot locations within a field. M.S. Thesis, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Fritz, V.A., G.W. Randall, and C.J. Rosen. 2001. Characterization and utilization of nitrogen contained in sweet corn silage waste. Agron. J. 93:627-633.
Huggins, D.R., G.W. Randall, and M.P. Russelle. 2001. Subsurface drain losses of water and nitrate following conversion of perennials to row crops. J. Environ. Qual. 93:477-486.
Heldt. A.A. 2000. Cover crop impacts on corn and soybean N acquisition and yield. Master of Science Thesis, 203pp. Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, May 2000.
Kelling, K.A., and L.G. Bundy. 2001. Economics of nitrogen fertilizer use with low crop prices. Proc. Wis. Fert. Aglime and Pest Mgmt. Conf. 40:8-14.
Khan, S.A., R.L. Mulvaney, and R.G. Hoeft. 2001. A simple soil test for detecting sites that are nonresponsive to nitrogen fertilization. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 65:1751-1760.
Kucharik, C.J., K.R. Brye, J.M. Norman, J.A. Foley, S.T. Gower, and L.G. Bundy. 2001. Measurements and modeling of carbon and nitrogen cycling in agroecosystems of southern Wisconsin:Potential for SOC sequestration during the next 50 years. Ecosystems 4:237-258.
Mikha, M., R. Lamond, and C. W. Rice. 2002. The effect of tillage and nitrogen source on soil organic matter and resulting corn yield. Kansas Fertilizer Research Report.
Mitsch, W.J., J.W. Day, J.W. Gilliam, P.M. Groffman, D.L. Hey, G.W. Randall, and N. Wang. 2001. Reducing nitrogen loading to the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River Basin: Strategies to counter a persistent ecological problem. BioScience 51:373-388.
Mulvaney, R.L., S.A. Khan, R.G. Hoeft, and H.M. Brown. 2001. A soil organic nitrogen fraction that reduces the need for nitrogen fertilization. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 65:1164-1172
Randall, G.W., and M.J. Goss. 2001. Nitrate losses to surface water through subsurface, tile drainage. p. 95-122. In: R.F. Follett and J.L. Hatfield (Eds.) Nitrogen in the Environment: Sources, Problems, and Management. Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam.
Randall, G.W., and D.J. Mulla. 2001. Nitrate nitrogen in surface waters as influenced by climatic conditions and agricultural practices. J.Environ. Qual. 30:337-344.
Rickman, R.W., C.L. Douglas, Jr., S.L. Albrecht, L.G. Bundy, and J.L. Berc. 2001. CQESTR:a model to estimate carbon sequestration in agricultural soils. J. Soil Water Conserv. 56(3):237-242.
Sa, J.C. de M., C.C. Cerri, R. Lal, W.A. Dick, S.P.V. Filho, M.C. Piccolo, and B.E. Feigl. 2001. Organic matter dynamics and carbon sequestration rates for a tillage chronosequence in a Brazilian oxisol. Soil Science Society of America 65:1486-1499
Schmidt, J.P., A.J. DeJoia, R.B. Ferguson, R.K. Taylor, R. K. Young, and J.L. Havlin. Corn yield response to nitrogen at multiple in-field locations (accepted for publication in Agron. J.).
Studnicka, J.S., T. W. Andraski, and L.G. Bundy. 2001. Nitrogen tests to predict optimum N rates for winter wheat. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts, 21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Tabatabai, M.A. and W.A. Dick. 2002. Enzymes in soil: Research and developments in measuring activities. p. 539-565. In: R.G. Burns and R.P. Dick (Eds.), Enzymes in the Environment. Marcel Dekker, New York.
Walters, D.T., I. Artikov, and G. Teichmeier. 2001. Differences among maize hybrids in specific leaf nitrogen and chlorophyll. ASA/SSSA Meeting, 21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Walters, D.T., A. Dobermann, J. Lindquist, K. Cassman, D. Binder and G. Teichmeier. 2001. N-use efficiency of irrigated maize under intensive and conventional best management. ASA/SSSA Meeting, 21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Walters, D.T., J. Lindquist, K. Cassman, A. Dobermann, L. Nelson, K. Russell, D.Binder, and G. Teichmeier. 2001. Maize performance under intensive and conventional management systems. 2001 ASA/SSSA Meeting, 21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Yang, H., K. Cassman, A. Dobermann, J. Kinery, J. Lindquist, T. Sinclair, and D. Walters. 2001. Simulating maize yield potential. ASA/SSSA Meeting, 21-25 October, Charlotte, NC.
Young. R.K. Variable-rate nitrogen management for irrigated corn. 2001. M.S. Thesis, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.