Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The meeting was held at the Harvard Forest Research Center in Petersham, Massachusetts. Serita Frey, NCR-59 Chair, organized the meeting. Day 1 - August 23, 2004 Serita Frey called the meeting to order, made introductions, and distributed 2004 state reports and 2003 meeting minutes. Gerald Miller indicated that the 2003 state reports were not included in the handouts, but available on the NCR-59 website Mervalin Morant, CSREES/USDA, sent a CSREES update which was passed out and discussed. Several items were highlighted: New funding opportunity-Enhancing the Prosperity of Small Farms and Rural Agricultural Communities; CSREES will host a Stakeholder listening session for Soil Science in conjunction with the upcoming ASA-CSSA-SSSA meetings in Seattle, WA. The session is scheduled for October 31 from 1-4 pm.; FY 2005 research priority areas; The minutes from last year were approved.; The group was reminded that Sieglinde Snapp will become chair on 10/01/04. Leslie Cooperband, current secretary and 2005 chair-elect, has resigned from the committee. Elections were held to fill the chair-elect and secretary positions.; Ray Weil was elected chair-elect.; Doug Archibold was elected secretary.; Gerald Miller reminded the group that the committee's renewal review will occur in 2006. Suggested linkages with other multi-state committees. Larry Cihacek proposed to act as a liaison between NC-1017 (focused on C sequestration in landscapes) and NCR-59. Suggested future joint meeting.; Meet jointly every third year, begin meeting jointly next year (2005), Larry will work with Sieglinde Snapp to organize joint meeting. Other suggested linkages: NC-1022; Humic Substances Society; Soil Ecological Society; International Soil Science Society meeting in Philadelphia July 10-14, 2005. A subcommittee was formed to organize joint meetings; Sieglinde Snapp, Larry Cihacek, Will Horwath. The group discussed status of state members. Request to drop Laurie Osher from Maine since she has not participated in committee activities, request to add Teri Balser from Wisconsin to replace Leslie Cooperband, request to add A. Stone from Oregon. Missing members for South Dakota and Iowa. Gerald Miller noted that NCR nomenclature will change: NCCC will focus on either research, education or extension. NCERA is integrated. The group voted to change from NCR to NCERA. Michelle Wander discussed the status of the Soil Quality website: hosted by Soil and Water Conservation Society, suggested that NCR-59 administer the website. A website subcommittee was formed to determine how NCR-59 members can contribute effectively to website management: Michelle Wander, Will Horwath, Deborah Allan. Will Horwath led a discussion on the Nature/Science paper to focus on C sequestration. Main theme: Intensive and extended management required, Link to N use efficiency, Comment to Schlesinger's broad statements on soil C storage, Link to ecosystem dependency, Moisture and nutrient limitations, Specify systems, Include inorganic C sequestration, Influences of a climatic gradient, Emphasize regional differences. Will Horwath and Chuck Rice will draft an outline by 10/01/04: Feedback by 11/01/04, Writing assignments handed out by 11/01/04, Drafts due by 12/31/04. The group toured the Harvard Forest Museum and several long-term research experiments in the afternoon: Soil Warming Study, Chronic Nitrogen Addition Study, Eddy Flux Tower Site. Day 2 - August 24, 2004 Business Meeting Gerald Miller gave the committee update: Mid-term review letter of approval handed out, Discussed overview and peer reviews, Main point  need linkages by renewal review in 2006, Explained NIMSS handout which provides information on how to navigate the new website. Accomplishments from past year: A symposium on Meaningful Pools in Determining Soil C and N Dynamics will be held on November 3, 2004 at the Soil Science Society annual meeting in Seattle, Washington. This symposium was organized by Dan Olk, Ed Gregorich and Cindy Cambardella. Michelle Wander and Rhae Drijber are speakers. Chuck Rice will present a poster at the associated poster session. The symposium is co-sponsored by NCR-59, S-3 (Soil Biology and Biochemistry) of the SSSA, the Canadian Society of Soil Science, and the Canadian and U.S. chapters of the International Humic Substances Society. The proceedings will be published. Serita Frey and Rhae Drijber collaborated on a project to examine how long-term soil warming has influenced microbial community composition and soil organic matter dynamics. Continuation of Soil Quality website development. Ray Weil edited the book: Magdoff, F., and R.R. Weil, (eds.) 2004. Soil organic matter in sustainable agriculture. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 398 p. Larry Cihacek developed a protocol for C sequestration monitoring. A experiment station bulletin will be published in the next six months. Ron Turco and Chuck Rice organized a CASGMS workshop on measurement, monitoring and verification of soil C. The workshop was geared toward policy-makers and scientists; 120 people attended. Chuck Rice reported on several upcoming events: The third CASGMS workshop on C sequestration in the cornbelt will be held December 15-16, 2004. Call for NCR-59 to co-sponsor A USDA symposium on greenhouse gas mitigation in agricultural and forest soils will be held in March 2005 in Baltimore. Call for NCR-59 to co-sponsor. There will be a symposium at the next AAAS meeting titled Can we Feed the World without Poisoning the Earth? A suggestion was made to prepare a poster of the history and goals of NCR-59 for display at conferences and society meetings: Link to website, A poster subcommittee was formed: Chuck Rice, Deborah Allan, and Richard Dick. The meeting was adjourned at 11 am. Signed: Serita Frey Serita Frey Committee Chair Signed: Gerald Miller Gerald Miller NCR-59 Administrative Advisor

State Reports of the NCR-59 Committee Dr. Douglas Archibold Department of Crop & Soil Sciences Penn State University Phone: 814-865-8449 1. Contributions to studies of the role of laccase and minerals in a model humification process 2. Set up a method to collect and process infrared spectra of the adsorbed species in the carbonyl spectral region 3. Development of infrared spectroscopic approaches for characterization of soil organic carbon for application in soil management studies: 4. Contributions to a study of maturity of vermicompost derived from either manure or food waste 5. Implementation of a method for determination of the quantity of humic acids in soil by extraction: Dr. Deborah Allan Soil, Water & Climate University of Minnesota Phone: 612-625-3158 Soil quality in different cropping systems; a three year assessment of differences in yield, nitrogen supply and soil quality resulting from applications of digested versus raw manure or inorganic fertilizer at the Haubenschild Dairy Farms in Princeton, MN. Dr. Larry J. Cihacek Soil Science North Dakota State University Phone: 701-231-8572 No report. Dr. Richard Dick Crop & Soil Science Oregon State University Phone: 701-231-8572 Non-thermal Biomass/Min Tillage Management in Grass Seed Systems, Cover Crop and Tillage Management and Soil Ecology, Organic Matter Inputs and Disease Suppression, C Sequestration in Forests. Dr. Rhae Drijber Agronomy and Horticulture University of Nebraska Phone: 402-472-0770 No report. Dr. Serita Frey Natural Resources University of New Hampshire Phone: 603-862-3880 Microbial contributions to soil organic matter formation and stabilization; Linking soil aggregation, organic chemistry, and microbial community composition, diversity and activity to understand the turnover and sequestration of soil organic matter in agroecosystems; Linking external nitrogen availability, litter chemistry, and decomposer organisms to explain the inconsistent effect of nitrogen additions on litter decomposition. Dr. L. Halverson Agronomy Iowa State University Phone: 515-294-0495 No report. Dr. Jonathan Halvorson USDA-ARS Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center Phone: (304) 256-2807 Silvopastoral management practices may increase potential rates of soil respiration; Quantity and patterns of distribution of Bradford Reactive Protein in Appalachian soils Dr. William Horwath Land, Air and Water Resources University of California--Davis Phone: 530-754-6029 My research and teaching activities focus on understanding the fundamental processes controlling the formation and maintenance of humic substances. I am conducting applied research on Reducing Non-point dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and N Exports from agricultural landscapes. These applied and basic research projects address specifically address Objectives 2 and 3 of the current mission of understanding the genesis, composition and reaction of soil organic matter in relationship to soil function and management. Dr. Peter Motavalli Natural Resources University of Missouri Phone: 573-884-3212 The effects of management practices on soil microbially-mediated C and N processes. Dr. Laurie Osher Plant, Soil & Environmental Sciences University of Maine Phone: 207-581-2957 No report. Dr. Charles Rice Agronomy Kansas State University Phone: 785-532-7217 Role of mycorrhizae in aggregation and C sequestration; Plant influences on soil microbial C cycling; Tillage and Manure Effects on Soil and Aggregate-Associated Carbon and Nitrogen. Dr. Sieglinde Snapp Horticulture/Crop and Soil Science Michigan State University Phone: 517-355-5187 No report. Dr. Ron Turco Agronomy Purdue University Phone: 765-494-8077 No report. Dr. Michelle Wander Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences University of Illinois Phone: 217-333-9471 Multi-site study of tillage impacts on soil C dynamics and sequestration and a three year study of the affects of elevated CO2 and O3 on soybean root biomass. We have several active projects ongoing: Two projects address organic management, Carmen Ugarte has just begun a Ph.D. investigating changes in soil quality that result from three organic transition strategies that differ in their level of management intensity, Other studies of interest to NCR-59 address Bt-toxin persistence and C sequestration under biomass crops. Dr. Ray Weil Natural Resource Science and Landscape Architecture University of Maryland Phone: 301-405-1314 Organic matter management through tillage, rotations, organic amendments and cover crops. We are currently working on four projects: Nutrient cycling in intensively grazed dairy farm watersheds; use of our active carbon method (by dilute alkaline KMnO4) in terms of interpretation and calibration; relationship between SOM - related soil properties and the botanical composition of native prairie in Kansas (at the Land Institute); joined the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Project coordinated by Battelle Memorial Institute, Applied Energy Systems.

Averett, J.M., R.A. Klips, S.D. Frey, and P.S. Curtis. 2004. The effects of soil carbon amendment on nitrogen availability and plant growth in an experimental tallgrass prairie restoration. Restoration Ecology (in press). Douglas D. Archibald, Amy L. Shober and Rupinder K. Randhawa, Evaluation of two types of infrared methods to characterize soil organic carbon (poster to be presented at the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies meeting in Portland, Oregon, October 2004). Doyle, G.L., C.W. Rice, and D.E. Peterson. 2004. Biologically defined soil organic matter pools as affected by rotation and tillage. J. Enviorn. Manag. 33:528-538. Fang, M., R.J. Kremer, P.P. Motavalli, and G. Davis. In review. Comparison of microbial communities in rhizospheres of non-transgenic and transgenic corn using Biolog metabolic fingerprinting and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Frey, S.D., J. Six and E.T. Elliott. 2003. Reciprocal transfer of carbon and nitrogen by decomposer fungi at the soil-litter interface. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 35, 1001-1004. Frey, S.D., M. Knorr, J. Parrent, and R.T. Simpson. 2004. Chronic nitrogen enrichment affects the structure and function of the soil microbial community in a forest ecosystem. Forest Ecology and Management 196, 159-171. Kremer, R.J. and P.P. Motavalli. 2004. Introduction to papers from symposium on the environmental impact of transgenic crops on soil biological processes and functions. J. Environ. Qual. 33:805. Magdoff, F., and R.R. Weil, (eds.) 2004. Soil organic matter in sustainable agriculture. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 398 p. Magdoff, F., and R.R. Weil. 2004. Strategies for managing organic matter, pp 44-65 In F. Magdoff and R. R. Weil, eds. Soil Organic Matter in Sustainable Agriculture. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. Mikha, M.M, C.W. Rice, and G.A. Milliken. 200x. Carbon and nitrogen mineralization as affected by wetting and drying cycles. Soil Boil. Biochem. (Accepted) AES 04-211-J Mikha, M.M., C.W. Rice. 2004. Effect of tillage and manure on soil and aggregate-associated carbon and nitrogen. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 68:809-816. Mi-Youn Ahn, Carmen E. Martínez, Douglas D. Archibald, Jean-Marc Bollag, and Jerzy Dec, Transformation of catechol in the presence of a laccase and metal oxides (submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Journal, June 2004). Mi-Youn Ahn, Douglas D. Archibald, Carmen E. Martínez, Jean-Marc Bollag, and Jerzy Dec, Characteristics of Trametes villosa laccase adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide (to be submitted to: Soil Biology and Biochemistry). Mi-Youn Ahn, who received a Ph.D. in Ecology (Penn State University, 2004) for a dissertation entitled "Incorporation of Chlorophenols and Humic Monomer into Soils by Metal Oxides and Fungal Laccase." Motavalli, P.P., C.S.M. Washburn, J.A. Lory, and N.R. Kitchen. In review. Apparent soil electrical conductivity used to determine soil phosphorus variability in poultry litter-amended pastures. J. Environ. Qual. Motavalli, P.P., R.J. Kremer, M. Fang and N.E. Means. 2004. Impact of genetically-modified crops and their management on soil microbially-mediated plant nutrient transformations. J. Environ. Qual. 33:816-824. Motavalli, P.P., S.H. Anderson, and P. Pengthamkeerati. 2003. Surface compaction and poultry litter effects on corn growth, nitrogen availability, and physical properties of a claypan soil. Field Crops Research 84:303-318. Motavalli, P.P., S.H. Anderson, P. Pengthamkeerati, and C.J. Gantzer. 2003. Use of soil cone penetrometers to detect the effects of compaction and organic amendments in claypan soils. Soil Tillage Res. 74:103-114 Mungai, N.W. and P.P. Motavalli. In review. Litter quality effects on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in temperate alley cropping systems. Applied Soil Ecology Mungai, N.W., P.P. Motavalli and R.J. Kremer. In review. Soil organic C and N fractions in long-term alley cropping systems. Agroforestry Systems Mungai, N.W., P.P. Motavalli, R.J. Kremer, and K.A. Nelson. In review. Spatial variation of soil enzyme activities and microbial functional diversity in temperate alley cropping systems. Applied Soil Ecology Paul, E.A., H.P. Collins, KI. Paustian, E.T. Elliott, S.D. Frey, N. Juma, H. Janzen, C.A. Campbell, R.P. Zentner, G.P. Lafond, and A.P. Moulin. 2004. Management effects on the dynamics and storage capacity of soil organic matter in the Canadian prairies. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 84, 49-61. Paustian, K., B. Babcock, J. Hatfield, R. Lal, B. McCarl, S. McLaughlin, W.M. Post, A Mosier, C. Rice, G.P. Robertson, N. Rosenberg, C. Rosenzweig, W.H. Schlesinger, D. Ziberman. 2004. Agricultures response to the climate change challenge. CAST Report, Ames, IA. Rice, C.W., and J.S. Angle. 2004. A role for genetically modified organisms in soil carbon sequestration. p. 61-78. In N.J. Rosenberg, F.B. Metting, and R.C. Izaurralde (eds.) Applications of biotechnology to mitigation of greenhouse warming. Proc. St. Michael Workshop, St. Michaels, MD, 13-15 April 2003. Battelle Press, Columbus, OH. 213 pp. Simpson, R.T., S.D. Frey, J. Six, and R.K. Thiet. 2004. Preferential stabilization of microbial-derived carbon in microaggregates contained within macroaggregates of no-tillage soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 68, 1249-1255. Weil, R.R., and F. Magdoff. 2004. Significance of Soil Organic Matter to Soil Quality and Health., pp. 1-44 In F. Magdoff and R. R. Weil, eds. Soil Organic Matter in Sustainable Agriculture. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. Weil, R.R., and R.E. Gilker. 2004. Nutrient losses from management intensive grazing dairy farms., In K. Cassida, ed. Proceedings American Forage and Grassland Conference, Vol. 13, June 12-16 2004, Roanoke, VA. Williams, M.A., C.W. Rice, A. Omay, and C.E. Owensby. 2004. Soil carbon pools in a tallgrass prairie soil under elevated CO2. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 68:148-153. Williams, S.M., and R.R. Weil. 2004. Crop cover root channels may alleviate soil compaction effects on soybean crop. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 68:1403-1409.