Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

SAES-224 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report Project No. & Title NCERA003 Soil and Landscape Assessment, Function & Interpretation Period Covered: October 2012 to September 2013 Date of Report: August 20, 2013 Annual Meeting Date: Sunday, June 16, 2013 Participants: C. Lee Burras, ISU; Nancy Cavallaro, NIFA-USDA; David Hopkins, NDSU; Mark Kuzila, UNL; Maxine Levin, NCSS; Cameron Loerch, NSSC-NRCS; Doug Malo, SDSU; Ken Olson, UI; Phillip Owens, PU; Mickey Ransom, KSU; Brian Slater, OSU; Candiss Williams, NSSC-NRCS Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting NCERA-3 met on June 16 in the Board Room of the Loews Hotel in Annapolis Maryland. The meeting was held in conjunction with the 2013 National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference on June 16 to June 20, 2013 at Loews Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland. The meeting was called to order by Doug Malo at 9 am. Introductions were made. It was moved to approve the minutes from the 2012 annual meeting. The motion passed. Ken Olson gave the administrative advisers report, noting the current and historical importance of NCERA-3 and outlined likely support levels for pedology through USDA. The message was one that noted funding streams remain although funds available are limited. Cameron Loerch gave the National Soil Survey Center Laboratory and Research report. He noted that Dr. Larry West had retired and reported on the labs 2012-2013 activities and special projects (e.g., the Rapid Carbon Assessment, MIR (Mid-Infrared) methods for predicting calcium carbonate equivalent in soils, new versions of lab methods manuals, National Wetlands Condition Assessment, and others). Maxine Levin reported on the impacts of the restructuring of the SSD and NRCS funding conditions for 2013-2014. Other NRCS initiatives (e.g., Soil Health and Food Security, Dynamic Soil Properties, Soil Health Tools, and Soil Ecosystems and Ecological Site Updates) were briefly mentioned. Nancy Cavallaro reported on NIFA funding and opportunities for 2013 and 2014. There were five NCERA-3 Committee reports: Soil Taxonomy; High Intensity Soil Surveys; Education, Extension & Recruitment; Advisory Panel; and National Database. Each committee noted meaningful activities and progress (e.g., Field Guide to Soil Taxonomy and the release of Web Soil Survey 3.0). Old Business focused on the progress of benchmark soil bulletins. New Business focused on our project renewal. The timelines were discussed and we agreed to prepare a draft project proposal by Aug 15 to send to the committee. Mark Kuzila, Brian Slater, and Doug Malo will prepare the draft. The final project renewal form is to be submitted in September. One of the priorities in the new project will be soil productivity indices that are tied to soil survey. The NCERA-3 group again supported NRCSs plan to send a letter communicating the importance of university cooperation in soil survey to our college-leaders. The NCERA-3 emphasized the importance of discretionary funding from NSSC  even if it is a small amount  being available to university cooperators. The next meeting of the committee will be held the third week in June 2014 during the regional NCSS conference in Ames, IA. Objectives and Accomplishments Objective 1: Coordinate activities and set priorities among the universities and Natural resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS), with emphasis on interpretations and data base availability. This task is one where NCERA-3 universities have consistently had significant accomplishments over the long term. For 2013, nine of the NCERA-3 universities reported updates and/or improvements in their respective states cooperative soil survey databases and interpretations. Examples of better databases or interpretations include: (1) Integrating experiment station pedon descriptions and data into NRCSs national database. In many cases this includes hundreds of pedons. (2) Improving yield predictions and/or soil productivity indices for major crops. (3) Discovering and/or improving hydrology-morphology relationships. (4) Documenting natural and anthropogenic geochemistry of individual series as well as catenas. (5) Evaluating novel amendments such as biochar and documenting how they affect pedology and land management. (6) Identifying dynamic soil properties as well as their variability across soil map units and regions. (7) Documenting the effect on soils of flooding along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Objective 2: Identify and prioritize common needs for soil and landscape research by Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA) to foster cooperative research projects and minimize duplication, with emphasis on important processes. Accomplishments tend to be highly state specific with several states reporting strong progress in a particular MLRA on a project jointly identified by the NRCS-MLRA offices and university personnel (e.g., evaluating benchmark catenas as impacted by modern farming practices, benchmark soil characterization and integration of pedon data into the national data base, P loading on soils, prairie to forest transition impacts on soils, developing Digital Soil Mapping Methods (DSM) for soil survey updates). Objective 3: Priority research in pedology needs to include work at both smaller and larger scales of resolution than obtainable in soil surveys. Focus and pool regional resources in areas, such as wetland delineations. Accomplishments in this area tend to be highly state specific only a few states reporting direct research that examines scale accuracy and/or precision (e.g., suitability of soil survey data/maps for salinity and drainage risk assessment and management decisions). Objective 4: Develop the scientific foundation or databases needed for soil and landscape assessment and interpretations. This is analogous to objective 1 in that each university has a strong history and continuing mandate to improve the science behind soil assessment and interpretations. Not surprisingly some states focused more on the science of soil as a cropping media (e.g., use of Digital Soil Mapping, DSM, methods for soil attribute prediction, effects of land use and management on soil carbon stocks) while other states reported more on soils as a component of the water cycle (e.g., evaluation of soil moisture sensors for monitoring hydrology and controlling wastewater application within onsite systems, site and soil evaluation methods and designs for onsite wastewater treatment). Yet other states focused more on the impacts of soil management and use (e.g., impacts of biochar and waste water additions on soil health, long-term tillage impacts on soil properties and crop yields ). Objective 5: Engage in research, education, and outreach activities regarding key soil processes and functions. This is an area of excellence for the NCERA-3 universities. Each state reported noteworthy research, exceptional teaching of pedology and related areas including soil judging and meaningful outreach. Example successes include many refereed publications (see list below), thousands of student credit hours in soil science (all of the universities, see list below), and  in most states - one or more extension publication related to pedology. Objective 6: Initiate and/or strengthen partnerships with ancillary disciplines and sciences to inform users and the general public about the importance of the soil resource and its synergisms with water and living organisms. Accomplishments in Task 6 mirror those of Task 5 with the most significant challenge being growing demand in traditional partnerships coupled with decreasing university personnel makes it increasingly difficult for NCERA-3 faculty to engage new segments of the public. Overall, though Task 6 is one of successful accomplishments (e.g., data driven agriculture for the smart-farm). Impacts The NCERA-3 universities continue to excel in pedology even as they have experienced reductions in faculty numbers and internal and external funding for research and extension. They continue to graduate students well qualified to work in soil survey and to make soil interpretations (see list of classes and number of students taught below). NCERA-3 faculty continue to engage users of soil information across the agricultural, environmental, and scientific sectors. They continue to publish meaningful research. During the last reporting period faculty published 38 peer reviewed paper, book chapters, and extension publications (see publication list below). In addition during the 2012 and 2103 reporting period more than 50 different extension/outreach presentations were made by NCERA-3 faculty. Refereed publications (research, outreach, and teaching) 1. Burras, C.L., M. Nyasmi and L. Michael Butler. 2013. Ch. 10. Soils, human wealth and health  a complicated relationship. In: E.C. Brevik & L.C. Burgess (Editors). Soils and Human Health. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. p. 215-226. 2. Burras, C.L., Y. Chendev, M. Ibrahim, B. Larabee and T. Sauer. 2013 Human-induced soil change in Iowa: Two contrasting examples.. Getting into Soil & Water 2013. Iowa Water Center & Soil & Water Conservation Club, Iowa State University, p. 18-21. 3. Burras, C.L. 2012. Unintended impacts on soils from long-term farming in Iowa. Getting into Soil & Water 2012. Iowa Water Center & Soil & Water Conservation Club, Iowa State University, p. 24-25. 4. Burras, C.L. and R.K. Owen. 2012. CSR2- A practical application of modern pedology in Iowa, USA. Proc. of the International Scientific-Practical Conference of Soil Science  Modern Issues & Teaching Methodologies. National University of Life & Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev. P. 292-296. 5. Burras, C.L. and R.K. Owen. 2012. CSR2  Soil productivity rating for cropland in Iowa, USA. Sci. Herald Natl Univ Life Env Sci. Ukraine Series of Agron. 176:167-170. 6. Chendev, Y.G., C.L. Burras and T.J. Sauer. 2012. Transformation of forest soils in Iowa (United States) under the impact of long-term agricultural development. Eurasion Soil Sci. 45:357-367. 7. Chintala, R., D. E. Clay, T.E. Schumacher, D.D. Malo, and J.L. Julson. 2013. Optimization of Oxygen parameters for analyzing carbon and nitrogen in biochar materials. Analytical Letters 46(3):532-538. 8. Chintala, R., J. Mollinedo, T.E. Schumacher, D.D. Malo, and J.L. Julson. 2013. Effect of Biochar on Chemical Properties of Acidic Soil. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science. DOI:10.1080/03650340.2013.789870. 9. Hamilton, E.J., Miles, R.J., Lukaszewska, K.M., Remley, M., Massie, M, and D. G. Blevins. 2012. Liming of two acidic soils improved grass tetany ratio of stockpiled tall fescue with increasing plant available phosphorus. Journal of Plant Nutrition 35:1-14 10. He, Y., T. DeSutter, L. Prunty, D. Hopkins, X. Jia, and D. Wysocki. 2012. Evaluation of 1:5 soil to water extract electrical conductivity methods. Geoderma 185-186: 12-17. 11. Hopkins, D., K. Chambers, A. Fraase, Y. He, K. Larson, L. Malum, L. Sande, J. Schulte, E. Sebesta, D. Strong, E. Viall, and R. Utter. 2012. Evaluating salinity and sodium levels on soils prior to drain tile installation: a case study. Soil Horizons 53 (4): 24-29. 12. Hussain, I. and K.R. Olson. 2012. Factor analysis of tillage effects on soil properties of Grantsburg soils in Southern Illinois under corn and soybean. Pakistan Journal of Botany 44(2):795-800. 13. Ibrahim, M. and C.L. Burras. 2012. Clay movement in sand columns and its pedological ramifications. Soil Horizons doi: 10.2136/sh12-01-0004. 14. Ibrahim, M. and C.L. Burras. 2013. Distribution and origin of argillic horizons across Iowa  A novel hypothesis. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 77:580-590. doi: 10.2136/sssaj2012.0044. 15. Lindbo, D.L., Malo, D.D., and Robinson, C. 2012. Chapter 5  Soil Classification, Soil Survey, and Interpretations of Soil. In Know Soils: Know Life. D.L. Lindbo, D.A. Kozlowski, and C. Robinson. Soils Science Society of America. 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711-5801. ISBN: 978-0-89118-954-1. 16. Liu, X., C.L. Burras, Y.S. Kravchenko, A. Duran, T. Huffman, H. Morras, G. Studdert, X. Zhang, R.M. Cruse and X. Yuan. 2012. Overview of Mollisols in the world: Distribution, land use and management. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92:483-402. 17. Malo, D. 2013. Identifying Potential Iron Chlorosis Soils for Soybean Production. In Clay, D.E., C.G. Carlson, S.A. Clay, L. Wagner, D. Deneke, and C. Hay (eds). iGrow Soybean: Best Management Practices for Soybean Production. South Dakota State University, SDSU Extension, Brookings, SD. 18. Malo, D.D., C.L. Reese, and D.E. Clay. 2013. Soils Laboratory Manual. 45th Edition. Plant Sci. Dept. SDSU. Brookings 57007-2141. 19. Malo, D.D. 2013. Introductory Soils. 13th Edition. Plant Science Department, College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, South Dakota State University. Brookings 57007-2141. 20. Malo, D.D. 2012. Soil Productivity Ratings and Estimated Yields for Lake County, South Dakota. TB102. South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Plant Science Department. College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences. South Dakota State University. Brookings. 57007-2141. 21. Mastin, C.B., J.D. Edwards, C.D. Barton, A.D. Karathanasis, C.T. Agouridis and R.C. Warner. 2012. Development and Deployment of a Bioreactor for the Removal of Sulfate and Manganese from Circumneutral Coal Mine Drainage. Pp. 121-140. In: P.G. Antolli and Z. Liu (eds.); Bioreactors: Design, Properties and Applications. Nova Science Publishers: Hauppauge, NY. 22. Morton, L.W. and K.R. Olson. 2013. Birds Point  New Madrid Floodway: Redesign, Reconstruction and Restoration. J. Soil Water Conservation 68: 35A-40A. 23. Olson, K.R., A. N. Gennadiyev, A. P. Zhidkin, M. V. Markelov, V.N. Golosov and J. M. Lang. 2013. Magnetic tracer methods to determine cropland erosion rates. Catena. 104:103-110. 24. Olson, K.R. and L W Morton. 2013. Restoration of 2011 Flood Damaged Birds PointNew Madrid Floodway. J. Soil Water Conservation 68: 13A-18A. 25. Olson, K.R. 2013. Soil organic carbon sequestration in U.S. cropland: Protocol development. Geoderma 195-196: 201-206. 26. Olson, K.R., S.A. Ebelhar and J.M. Lang. 2013. Effects of 24 years of tillage on SOC and crop productivity. Special edition. Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture 2013. Applied and Environmental Soil Science 2013 (1):1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/617504 27. Olson, K.R. A. N. Gennadiyev, R. G. Kovach and J. M. Lang. 2013. The use of fly ash to determine the extent of sediment transport on nearly level western Illinois landscapes. Soil Science 178 (1): 24-28. 28. Olson, K.R. and L W Morton. 2013. Impacts of 2011 Len Small levee breach on private and public lands. J. Soil Water Conservation.68 (4): 89A-95A. . 29. Olson, K.R. and L W Morton. 2013. Soil and Crop Damages as a result of Levee Breaches on Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering 3 (3): 1-20. 30. Olson, K.R. and L W. Morton. 2012. The impacts of 2011 man-induced levee breaches on agricultural lands of the Mississippi River Valley J. Soil Water Conservation.67 (1):5A-10A. 31. Olson, K.R. and L. W. Morton. 2012. The effects of 2011 Ohio and Mississippi River Valley flooding on Cairo, Illinois area. J. Soil Water Conservation. 67 (2): 42A-46A. 32. Olson, K.R., A. N. Gennadiyev, A.P. Zhidkin and M.V. Markelov. 2012. Impact of land use change, slope and erosion on soil organic carbon retention and storage USA. Soil Science. 177(4): 269-278. 33. Sims A, Horton J, Gajaraj S, McIntosh S, Miles RJ, Mueller R, Reed R, Hu ZQ. 2012. Temporal and spatial distributions of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria and their ratio as an indicator of oligotrophic conditions in natural wetlands. Water Res. 46(13): 4121-4129 34. Subburayalu, S K., and B. K. Slater. 2013 (in press). Soil Series Mapping By Knowledge Discovery from an Ohio County Soil Map. Soil Science Society of America Journal. sssaj2012.0321 (https://www.soils.org/publications/sssaj/justpublished, checked 6/10/2013). 35. Tirado-Corbala, R., B.K. Slater, and W. Dick. 2013 (in press). Hydrologic Properties and Leachate Nutrient Responses of Soil Columns Collected from Gypsum-Treated Fields. Soil & Tillage Research. 36. Thompson, Y.L., E.M. DAngelo, A.D. Karathanasis, and B. Sandefur. 2012. Plant Community Composition as a Function of Geochemistry and Hydrology in three Appalachian Wetlands. Ecohydrology 5: 389-400. 37. Veenstra, J.J. and C.L. Burras 2012. Effects of agriculture on the classification of Black Soils in the Midwestern United States. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92:403-411. 38. Veum, K.S., K.W. Goyne, R.J. Kremer, R.J. Miles, and K.A. Sudduth. 2013. Biological indicators of soil quality and soil organic matter characteristics in an agricultural management continuum. Biogeochemistry DOI 10.1007/s10533-013-9868-7. Published online 01 June 2013. Teaching (2009-2013) Course, Credit Hours, and Number of Students Advanced Soil Genesis and Classification, 2-3 credits, 12 students Advanced Soil Genesis, 3 credits, 22 students Advanced Soil Genesis, Chungnam National University, South Korea, 3 credits, 22 students Advanced Soil Judging, 1 credit, 15 students Clay Mineralogy, 3 credits, 19 students Earths Natural Resources Systems, 3 credits, 32 students Environmental Soil Management, 3 credits, 28 students Environmental Soil Science, 3 credits, 60 Students Field Experience: Interpretation of field soils, 2 credits, 11 students Field Studies in Pedology, 2 credits, 5 students Genesis of Soil Landscapes, 4 credits, 72 students Great Plains Field Pedology, 4 credits, 45 students Integrated Natural Resource Management, 3 credits, 259 students Introduction to Soil Science, 3-4 credits, 1786 students Pedology, 3 credits, 14 students Puerto Rico Soil and Land use Field Course, 2 credits, 7 students Rural Real Estate Appraisal, 3 credits, 106 students Soil and Water Conservation and Management, 3 credits, 197 students Soil Evaluation, 1 credit, 52 students Soil Formation and Transformations, 3 credits, 7 students Soil Formation and Landscapes, 4 credits, 43 students Soil Genesis and Classification, 3 credits, 65 students Soil Genesis and Survey, 4 credits, 118 students Soil Geography and Land Use, 3 credits, 120 students Soil Mineralogy, 4 credits, 35 students Soil Morphology, 3 credits, 26 students Soil Profile Descriptions, 1 credit, 60 Students Soils and Environmental Quality, 3 credits, 110 students Soils Judging, 0 to 3 credits, 253 students Watershed Hydrology, 4 credits, 7 students Wetland Delineation, 3 credits, 31 students