SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: NCERA_old103 : Specialized Soil Amendments and Products, Growth Stimulants and Soil Fertility Management Programs (NCERA-103)
- Period Covered: 10/01/2016 to 09/30/2017
- Date of Report: 11/03/2016
- Annual Meeting Dates: 11/03/2016 to 11/03/2016
Participants
Carl Rosen, University of Minnesota (administrative advisor) crosen@umn.edu Daniel Kaiser, University of Minnesota (Current Chair) dekaiser@umn.edu Matt Ruark, University of Wisconsin (Current Secretary) mdruark@wisc.edu Edwin Ritchey, University of Kentucky (Incoming Secretary) Edwin.Ritchey@uky.edu John Sawyer, Iowa State University jsawyer@iastate.edu Dave Franzen, North Dakota State University David.Franzen@ndsu.edu Edwin Lentz, Ohio State University lentz.38@osu.edu Dorivar Ruiz-Diaz, Kansas State University ruizdiaz@ksu.edu Peter Scharf, University of Missouri ScharfP@missouri.edu Richard Ferguson, University of Nebraska rfergusen1@unl.edu Emerson Nafziger, University of Illinois ednaf@uiuc.edu Kurt Steinke, Michigan State University ksteinke@msu.edu Jim Camberato, Purdue University jcambera@purdue.edu
Accomplishments
Short-term Outcomes: The compendium website was maintained over the reporting period. The website is housed through Iowa State University and provides relevant reports for non-traditional products that have been researched in the participating states. The compendium currently contains 231 research reports, with three new reports added in 2016. There were 2,525 page views of the site in 2016.
http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/compendium/index.aspx
Outputs: All participants have a role in extension education in their respective states. Data generated by research within the region is being utilized in extension education directed to farmers, crop consultants and other agricultural professionals, and state and federal agency employees. The committee noted that data was presented at twelve state extension programs during the reporting period. However, most of our interaction with the public occurs during in-person, e-mail, or phone consultations. The before mentioned presentations were entirely focused on amendments or inhibitors. Two peer reviewed papers were published (which are listed in the publication section) from data collected in Nebraska.
Activities: Participating states have shown a continued interest in research studies on non-traditional products. Trials have been established at many of the participating states funded with donations from companies. The total number of trials was not specified by individual states for 2016. The majority of products tested still are in the N inhibitor class which is a topic commonly discussed by the committee and stakeholders in their respective states. Several other products were discussed by the group. Each state has small projects in place to test commonly promoted projects in their respective region. Individual work is noted in the meeting minutes. The primary crop that products were tested on was field corn.
Committee members have continued developing research data on non-traditional products. The exact products to be tested are not known as research it typically directed to questions that arise for products in a specific year. The members noted several products which are being promoted which are included in the minutes. It was noted at the meeting that the number of questions from stakeholders has slightly decreased due to continued low commodity prices. More questions have arisen from state agencies due to companies trying to register products as enhanced efficiency to allow farmers to purchase a product using cost sharing programs. The compendium has been an important resource for addressing questions related to the efficacy of many of these products.
Milestones: The committee targeted 1 publication generated per year. A revision to the Nitrogen fertilizer extenders publication was created to be released during the end of 2016. The publication was revised to also include coated nitrogen products to incorporate a similar publication that was planned by the committee.
Impacts
- Members of the committee are generating and disseminating data related to specialized soil amendments and products, growth stimulants and soil fertility management programs to stakeholders within their states. The data generated is distributed through extension education both in written and oral presentation forms and through the compendium website. The page views over the reporting period are similar to the previous year but the number of views demonstrates that the site is being utilized. The actual economic impact of research in the region is uncertain. With tighter profit margins, farmers have been asking more questions thus the majority of data generated showing no positive effect of products could save farmers from the additional cost of a product that will not increase grain yield. Assuming a range in cost from $4 to $30 per acre, data showing no benefit from a product could save a typical 800 acre farmer in the North Central Region $3,200 to $24,000 a year.
Publications
Maharjan, B. and R.B. Ferguson. 2016. Polymer-coated urea improved corn response compared to urea ammonium nitrate when applied on a coarse-textured soil. Agronomy Journal 108:509-518.
Peng, X., B. Maharjan, C. Yu, A. Su, R. Ferguson. 2015. A Laboratory Evaluation of Ammonia Volatilization and Nitrate Leaching Following Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on a Coarse-Textured Soil. Agronomy Journal 107:871-879.