Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/06
Outputs
No-till is a commonly used crop production system in many countries. Crop yields may be initially decreased when soils are converted from a plow tillage system to no-till. Increasing the organic matter concentration in the soil at the surface seems key in overcoming these initial yield declines. To test this hypothesis, we applied organic amendments consisting of fresh and composted wheat straw-bedded cow (Bos taurus) manure at initial rates up to 170 Mg (dry weight) ha-1 to two newly established no-till field sites in Ohio, USA where crops had previously been grown. The Wooster site is on a silt loam soil and the Hoytville site is on a silty clay loam soil. Maize (Zea mays) was grown for consecutive years and the impacts of the organic amendments on maize seedling emergence and grain yields and on soil quality factors were measured. In general, the organic amendments significantly (P < 0.05) increased the concentrations of organic matter, total N, NO3-N, K, and P at
the two sites. An interaction of tillage and type of organic amendment was observed as fresh manure applied in the spring (as was the case at the Wooster site) significantly reduced seedling emergence and sometimes also crop yield. However, application of fresh manure in the autumn (e.g. at the Hoytville site), or composting of the manure before its application to soil, avoided these problems. Mean leaf rust incidence, for the combined Wooster and Hoytville sites in 2000, caused by Puccina sorghi was significantly greater for the no-till soil amended with manure (20.7% of leaf area affected) compared to all other treatments. The terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) technique was used to assess the bacterial community and the results suggested there were fewer bacterial species in the plow till compared to the no-till soil. We conclude that an initial high-rate application of organic amendments to a heavy clay soil such as the Hoytville soil, at the time when
no-till is first applied to a field where tillage had previously occurred, can help maintain crop yields when maize is grown without rotation. However, if manure is used as the organic amendment, it must first be composted or applied to the field early enough in advance of crop planting to avoid the problem of poor crop emergence, low plant populations and a decrease in yield.
Impacts
With increasing pressure on our soils to produce food, fiber and raw materials for energy and bioproducts, crop production systems that are sustainable need to be developed. Organic residues (i.e. crop resides, manures and/or composts) are important components of systems that maintain good soil quality. We evaluated ways that would best integrate application of either raw (strawy) cow manure or composted manure to soil that was being newly converted from plow tillage to no-tillage. Since manures are not mixed into the soil with no-tillage, applications of highly degradable manures were found to reduce crop emergence and crop yields. However, applying them in the fall or composting the manures first before applying them to soil overcomes these limitations. This information will help farmers optimally manage their manures for production of crops.
Publications
- Mestelan, S. A., Smeck, N. E., Durkalski, J. T., and Dick, W. A. 2006. Changes in soil profile properties as affected by 44 years of continuous no-tillage. In: Proceedings of the 17th ISTRO Conference, Kiel, Germany. ISBN 3-9811134-0-3.
- Wang, P., Durkalski, J. T., Yu, W., Hoitink, H. A., and Dick, W. A. 2006. Agronomic and soil responses to compost and manure amendments under different tillage systems. Soil Science 171:456-467.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
For four consecutive years (i.e. from 2002 to 2005), field experiments for corn production were conducted on an agricultural soil (Wooster silt loam, Typic Frgiudalf) at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio. Two sources of S fertilizer were used in these studies and were obtained as by-products of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) processes used to remove S from combustion gases when coal is burned. One product was FGD product from Sorbent Technologies Corporation (Twinsburg, OH) produced when a perlite based sorbent removed S from the flue gases. The other was FGD-gypsum materials obtained from wet scrubber limestone forced oxidation material obtained from Cinergy Corporation (Cincinnati, OH). Nitrogen fertilizer (NH4NO3) was applied at rates of 0, 67.2, 101, 134, 168, 202 and 235 kg N/ha and S fertilizer (FGD product in 2002 or FGD-gypsum in 2003, 2004 and 2005) was applied at rates of 0 and 33.6 kg S/ha. The experimental design was a
split-plot in a randomized complete block with four replicates. Nitrogen was applied to plots of 6.1 x 7.6 m as the main plots and S was the subplot treatment. In 2002, the corn yield was increased 12.0% (P < 0.07) by the treatment of S as FGD product. However, because 2000 was a drought year at Wooster, the corn yield was significantly decreased compared with normal years, and the data were considered suspect. In 2003, corn yield increased with an increase in N application rates. The optimum N treatment in terms of yield was at 202 kg N/ha with S application and 235 kg N/ha without S addition. Sulfur application significantly (P < 0.05) increased the yield of corn compared to the no S treatment. Average yield was 10800 kg/ha for the no S treatment and 11500 kg/ha for the S application treatment. This represented a 6.4% increase due to S application. In 2004, the corn yield was increased 3.4% by S, and average yield was 9660 kg/ka for the no S treatment and 9970 kg/ha for the S
application treatment. The optimum N treatment was 134 kg/ha with S application and 235 kg/ha without S addition. Sulfur increased the grain yield when N was applied at rates of 0 to 134 kg/ha. An interaction of S with N was observed (P < 0.127) with the lower N rates responding better to the S additions than the higher N rates. In 2005, the corn yield was increased 4.0% by S, and average yield was 5620 kg/ka for the no S treatment and 5850 kg/ha for the S application treatment. The optimum N treatment was 134 kg/ha with S application and 168 kg/ha without S addition. Sulfur increased the yield when N was applied at the low rates.
Impacts
Field results obtained during four years of testing indicated the experimental site was deficient in S for corn. This site is typical of many soils in Ohio. When S was applied, the highest yields obtained were reached with a lower N application rate than when S was not applied. This suggests that one way to improve the efficiency of fertilizer N use is to add S with N fertilizer when growing corn. This will not only improve the profit of farmers since less fertilizer N is needed to achieve good yields, but also will prevent nitrate contamination due to excess fertilizer N use during years when yields do not reach expected levels.
Publications
- Chen, L., W.A. Dick and S. Nelson, Jr. 2005. Flue gas desulfurization by-products as sulfur sources for alfalfa and soybean. Agronomy Journal 97:265-271.
- Kost, D.A., J.M. Bigham, R.C. Stehouwer, J.H. Beeghly, R. Fowler, S.J. Traina, W.E. Wolfe and W.A. Dick. 2005. Chemical and physical properties of dry flue gas desulfurization products. Journal of Environmental Quality 34:676-686.
- Bigham, J.M., D.A. Kost, R.C. Stehouwer, R.C., J.H. Beeghly, R. Fowler, S.J. Traina, W.E. Wolfe and W.A. Dick. 2005. Mineralogical and engineering characteristics of dry flue gas desulfurization products. Fuel 84:1839-1848.
- Weidenhamer, J.D., J. Durkalski and W.A. Dick. 2005. Evaluation of the allelopathic potential of a mustard cover crop. Proceedings of the 4th World Congress on Allelopathy, J.D.I. Harper, M. An, H. Wu and J.H. Kent (Eds.), Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia. International Allelopathy Society. Reprint available from authors at The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
A field experiment was conducted to investigate yields as affected by N rate and S addition to a Wooster silt loam soil in Ohio. Rates of N applied were 0, 67, 101, 134, 168, 202 and 235 kg/ha and S was applied to all N rates at either 0 or 34 kg/ha. Phosphorus and potassium were applied according to Ohio State University fertilizer recommendations. Corn was planted on May 14 and harvested in October. The average corn yields averaged across all N rates were 9.66 Mg/ha (no S added) and 9.97 Mg/ha (34 kg/ha S added). The interaction between N rate and S addition was significant at the 10% level. Yields of corn were higher with sulfur addition at the low N rates but were lower at the high N rates. The highest yielding treatment (11.6 Mg/ha) was the combination of 134 kg N and 34 kg S per hectare.
Impacts
The policies implemented by the national Clean Air Act, and amendments to the act, have resulted in removal of S from the air and subsequent deposition of S to the soil. As crops are grown, they remove S from the soil and it is anticipated that S deficiencies will increasingly limit crop yields. Also, if S is deficient, the uptake and use of N can be effected. This past year's results revealed that S additions can significantly improve corn yields, especially at lower N application levels. This work, combined with others we have conduced on forages, indicate that S may be an element that will need to be reevaluated as a limiting factor for crop production in Ohio and presumably surrounding states. It also suggests we can improve N use efficiency by ensuring the crop receives adequate S supplies.
Publications
- Dick, W.A. 2004. Conservation Tillage and Cropping Innovation: Constructing the New Culture of Agriculture (book review). Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education 33:181-182.
- Dick, W.A. and E. G. Gregorich. 2004. Developing and maintaining soil organic matter levels. In: P. Schjonning, S. Elmholt and B.T. Christensen (Eds.), Managing Soil Quality: Challenges in Modern Agriculture. CAB International. Cambridge, MA.
- Li, Y., W.A. Dick and O.H. Tuovinen. 2004. Fluorescence microscopy for visualization of soil microorganisms - A review. Biology & Fertility of Soils 39:301-311.
- Wang, P., C.M. Changa, M.E. Watson, W.A. Dick, Y. Chen and H.A.J. Hoitink. 2004. Maturity indices for composed dairy and pig manures. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 36:767-776.
- Wang, P. and W.A. Dick. 2004. Microbial and genetic diversity in soil environments. Journal of Crop Improvement 12:249-287.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
A four-replicate experiment was initiated in the spring of 2003 to test a sulfur-by-nitrogen nutrient interaction for corn production. Corn at the Wooster experiment site was harvested in October, 2003. Results indicated sulfur application (33.6 kg S/ha) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the yield of corn compared to the no sulfur treatment. The yield for the no sulfur treatment was 11.4 Mg/ha and the yield for the sulfur application treatment was 12.2 Mg/ha. This represented a 9.4% increase due to sulfur application. There was no sulfur-by-nitrogen interaction.
Impacts
The policies implemented by the national Clean Air Act, and amendments to the act, have resulted in removal of sulfur from the air and subsequent deposition of sulfur to the soil. As crops are grown, they remove sulfur from the soil and it is anticipated that crop sulfur deficiencies will occur. Also, if sulfur is deficient, the uptake and use of nitrogen can be effected. This past year's results revealed that sulfur additions can significantly improve corn yields but that the efficiency of uptake of nitrogen fertilizer applied with the corn was not affected. This work, combined with others we have conduced on forages, indicate that sulfur may be an element that will need to be reevaluated as a limiting factor for crop production in Ohio and presumably surrounding states.
Publications
- Y. Li, W.A. Dick and O.H. Tuovinen. 2003. Evaluation of fluorochromes for imaging bacteria in soil. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 35:737-744.
- Martens, D.A. and W. Dick. 2003. Recovery of fertilizer nitrogen from continuous corn soils under contrasting tillage management. Biology & Fertility of Soils 38:144-153.
- Bonta, J.V. and W.A. Dick. 2003. Impact of coal surface mining and reclamation on surface water chemical concentrations and load rates in three Ohio watersheds. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 39:793-815.
- Al-Turki, A.I. and W.A. Dick. 2003. Myrosinase activity in soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal 67:139-145.
- Dick, W.A. 2003. Soil Genesis and Classification: Fifth Edition. Journal of Environmental Quality 32:1573.
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Progress 10/01/95 to 09/30/01
Outputs
Contributed to this project by attending the regional meeting held in Kansas City, Missouri (12-13 April 2001) and being elected for a two-year term as secretary. Research involved applying organic amendments (i.e. composted and fresh cow manure) for three years to replicated field plots at two locations - Wooster and Hoytville (Northwest Branch), Ohio. In the first year of the experiment, the rates of organic amendments applied were based on the estimated amount of N available for crop uptake and were equivalent to 0, 170, 340 and 680 kg available N/ha. In subsequent years, an annual application rate of 10 Mg/ha of organic amendment was applied. Corn (Zea mays L) was grown on the plots and plant density and grain yield were measured. In all three years, the plant densities were lower for no-tillage than for plow tillage. At Wooster, there was also a strong interaction between tillage and amendment type. Plant densities were much lower when manure was applied to the
no-tillage plots compared to the plowed plots. However, when compost was applied to the no-tillage plots, plant densities were much less affected and were almost as high as when plots were plowed. Grain yields were similar for all treatments or slightly higher for no-tillage than plow tillage except in 2000 when the reduced plant densities reduced yield for the manure and no-tillage treatment combination. Visual rating of leaf lesions caused by corn rust, Puccinia sorghi, showed that the severity of rust disease varied significantly with the different organic amendments under no-tillage. Application of fresh manure in the no-tillage plots at the Wooster site stimulated more disease development compared to that in the plow tillage plots. There were no obvious differences in disease severity between the different tillage systems at either site when compost was applied. Disease development caused by Puccinia sorghi thus seems to be reduced either by burying fresh organic residues (i.e.
the plow tillage treatment) or by first composting the organic materials prior to their being applied to the field. Additional work was done to characterize the soil's biological activity using beta-D glucosidase activity and by extraction of DNA followed by analyses of the the DNA using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. These measurements provided few differences among treatments. However, there was a trend for higher amounts of beta-glucosidase activity in plots receiving the highest rates of organic amendments in the fall prior to when samples were collected and analyzed in the spring. In summary, the results suggest that manure and compost are both excellent organic sources of nutrients, but if manure is used, it must either be plowed into the soil or applied the previous fall prior to spring planting.
Impacts
As large concentrated animal production units continue to expand in Ohio, an outlet for the manure is needed. One outlet is to apply the manure to fields that are being converted from a tilled system to a no-tillage system. On heavier clay soils, a transition period of two to five years can often lead to reduced crop yields when tillage is eliminated. Our results indicated that a one-time addition of organic amendments (manure or composted manure) applied at a rate sufficient to supply almost all of the nitrogen needs in the year of application followed by a much reduced annual rate of application (e.g. 10 Mg/ha) can reduce the negative transition effects so that crop yields are maintained and soil quality is improved.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
Nitrate commonly accumulates in soils because of fertilizer additions or when crop demand is much less than the rate of nitrate production. Water table management (WTM) has been proposed to stimulate denitrifying bacteria, thus removing the accumulated nitrate by converting it to nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas) and elemental nitrogen. We studied the emission of these nitrogen gases as affected by water table depth. Undisturbed soil columns (30 cm diameter by 90 cm long) from three soil series (Blount, somewhat poorly drained Aeric Ochraqualf; Clermont, poorly drained Typic Glossaqualf; and Huntington, well drained Fluventic Hapludoll} were treated with 2.11 g N (as potassium nitrate) applied as a band 10 cm below the surface. Two different WTM schemes were studied: static (WTM1) and dynamic (WTM2). We repeated WTM2 using 15N and this treatment, applied to the Huntington soil only, was designated WTM3. In general, nitrous oxide concentrations in a soil column
responded to fluctuations in water table depth. Concentrations of nitrous oxide were usually higher in soils immediately below, as compared to above, the water table. The Clermont columns departed from this general trend. Maintaining the water table at 50 cm depth resulted in nitrous oxide emission rates (1.8-44 mg nitrous oxide-N / square meter / day) comparable to those reported for cultivated fields. A water table only 10 cm below the surface caused nitrous oxide emission rates to increase considerably (60-560 nitrous oxide-N / square meter / day). Four days after imposition of a water table 10 cm below the soil surface, nitrous oxide comprised 95 % of the nitrogen gases emitted. One week later, however, this had decreased to 35% which was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the 68% measured prior to raising the water table. These results suggest that when using WTM practices, the best option to maintain high nitrate removal rates and to reduce the proportion of nitrous oxide in
the emitted gases is to maintain a high water table for a prolonged period in the most biologically-active portion of the soil profile.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Jacinthe, P., Dick, W.A. and Brown, L.C. 2000. Bioremediation of nitrate-contaminated shallow soils and waters via water table management techniques: Evolution and release of nitrous oxide. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 32:371-382.
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Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99
Outputs
Water table management (WTM) has been proposed to stimulate denitrifying bacteria so that accumulated nitrate can be removed by converting it to nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas) and dinitrogen. Using large columns (90 cm long x 30 cm diameter), we studied nitrate removal as affected by water table depth. Four days after imposition of a water table 10 cm below the soil surface, nitrous oxide comprised 95% of the nitrogen gas emitted (i.e., its mole fraction was 0.95). One week later the mole fraction was 0.35 which was significantly lower than the mole fraction (0.68) measured prior to raising the water table. Based on denitrification gases emitted, from 9 to 14% of the added nitrate was removed from soil columns during a 130 day test involving a static water table at 50 cm depth. From 24 to 43% of the added nitrate was removed when the water table was allowed to fluctuate and raised to 10 cm of the soil surface. A comparable nitrate removal estimate (40%) was obtained
for 15N-treated soil columns using a mass balance approach. Removal of nitrate was faster when the water table was near the soil surface. Maximum rates of in situ nitrate losses were generally 2 to 7 times lower than soil denitrification potentials determined in the laboratory. Nitrate removal from shallow soils and waters can be achieved using WTM techniques. However, the need for long periods of flooding may limit successful field application of these WTM techniques for nitrate removal from cropland.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Jacinthe, P.-A., W.A. Dick and L.C. Brown. 2000. Bioremediation of nitrate-contaminated shallow soils and waters using water table management techniques: Evolution and release of nitrous oxide. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 32:371-382.
- Collins, H.P., E.T. Elliot, K. Paustian, L.G. Bundy, W.A. Dick, D.R. Huggins, A.J.M. Smucker and E.A. Paul. 2000. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 32:157-168.
- Collins, H.P., R.L. Blevins, L.G. Bundy, D.R. Christensen, W.A. Dick, D.R. Huggins and E.A. Paul. 1999. Soil carbon dynamics in corn-based agroecosystems: results from carbon-13 natural abundance. Soil Science Society of America Journal 63:584-591.
- Jacinthe, P.-A., W.A. Dick and L.C. Brown. 1999. Bioremediation of nitrate-contaminated shallow soils and waters using water table management techniques: Nitrate removal efficiency. Trans. ASAE 42(5): 1251-1259.
- Keener, H.M., W.A. Dick and H.A.J. Hoitink. 2000. Composting and beneficial utilization of composted by-product materials. In J.M. Power and W.A. Dick (eds), Beneficial Uses of Agricultural, Industrial and Municipal By-Products. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, USA.
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Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98
Outputs
Plots were established on two soil series, Crosby and Kokomo, in Clark County, Ohio to evaluate mineralization and uptake of nitrogen by corn as influenced by soil temperature. Datalogger malfunction made it impossible to collect key data, so the experiment was terminated for the 1998 growing season.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/97 to 12/31/97
Outputs
This is the second cropping year in a five-year study. Data were collected from two sites, one each on a drained Crosby silt loam and drained Kokomo silty clay loam, in southwestern Ohio. Yield, and nitrate concentrations when corn was 30-cm tall, were very low, due to excessive rains in late May and June. Soil temperature monitoring showed relatively slow soil warming relative to typical years. Data have been placed in a multi-year database which will be used to relate N mineralization rates to soil temperature and heat unit accumulation.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/96 to 12/30/96
Outputs
Plots were established on adjacent Crosby silt loam (aeric ochraqualf) and Kokomo silty clay loam (typic argiaquoll) sites in Clark County, Ohio to begin evaluating relationships between accumulated soil heat units, N mineralization rates and N uptake by corn. Corn was planted into undisturbed soybean residue on both sites and thermocouples were buried 10 cm deep in the corn row. The first half of the growing season was abnormally wet, delaying planting past the optimum period and slowing early crop development. Due to wetness little difference was measured between early season soil temperatures on the two sites, despite significant differences in soil color. Soil samples were taken from both sites for determination of microbiological properties and potential N mineralization rates in laboratories at Kansas State and Iowa State Universities.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 01/01/95 to 12/30/95
Outputs
Sites have been selected on Crosby silt loam (Aeric ochraqualf) and Kokomo siltyclay loam (Typic argiaquoll) at the OARDC Western Branch near Springfield, Ohio to evaluate relationships between soil temperature, appearance of nitrate-N during the growing season, and N nutrition of corn. Plots were cropped with soybeans in 1995, in anticipation of beginning experimental work in 1996.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- NO PUBLICATIONS REPORTED THIS PERIOD.
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