Progress 07/15/05 to 07/14/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The goal of the Columbia Plateau PM10 Project (CP3) from its inception and still today is to develop conservation practices to enable farmers to control wind erosion and dust emissions without suffering economic hardship, and to assist them with adopting these practices on their farms. The CP3 is a multi-faceted research and extension project. University and USDA-ARS scientists are developing new and improved methods, technologies, and strategies for predicting and controlling wind-induced soil erosion and dust emissions from the region's farmland. The key for controlling wind erosion and dust pollution in downwind areas is to maintain year round vegetative cover and surface roughness on farm land. Wind erosion and associated air particulate emissions have been an issue on the Columbia Plateau, a 50,000-square mile region in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, since the onset of farming 125 years ago. Beginning in 1990, more stringent regulations were placed on airborne particulate matter through creation of a PM10 standard (particulates less than 10 microns in size). Air authorities in Spokane and the Tri-Cities (Richland, Pasco, Kennewick) estimate that well over 80% of total particulate emissions during wind storms are derived from agricultural fields. Windblown dust from this region poses a hazard to motorists, pollutes the air in downwind communities and presents a health risk for people with respiratory problems. Emissions are especially high from summer-fallowed fields (i.e., no growing crop) that lack protection from surface crop residue and/or roughness. Since 1993, a multi-disciplinary team of scientists has conducted research to develop cropping systems and farm practices to help growers reduce wind erosion from their fields. At the same time, scientists have worked to increase the understanding of the characteristics, sources and fate of particulate matter in windblown dust. The research is a cooperative effort of Washington State University, the USDA- Agricultural Research Service, and several other agencies and universities. The CP3 has several long-term no-till and minimum-till cropping systems studies in the low-precipitation region of eastern Washington and north-central Oregon that represent some of the longest running cropping systems studies ever conducted in the Pacific Northwest. Economic analysis, measurement of soil quality changes, on-farm testing, and extension outreach are integral components of our wind erosion control effort. The CP3 continues to develop and test more intensive (i.e., less fallow) cropping systems that can compete economically with winter wheat - summer fallow in the low precipitation zone. Studies to quantify and predict simultaneous wind erosion and PM10 fluxes are ongoing. A new video entitled "The undercutter method of winter wheat - summer fallow farming" was released in Dec. 2006 and widely distributed. Two new video extension bulletins are being developed to document advances in cropping systems research and in wind erosion prediction and modeling. PARTICIPANTS: William Schillinger, Brenton Sharratt, Brian Lamb, Douglas Young, Ann Kennedy, Richard Koeing, William Pan, Aaron Esser, Frank Young, Andrew McGuire, Alan Busacca, Hans Kok, Stephen Machado. TARGET AUDIENCES: Dryland and irrigated farmers on the Columbia Plateau of the Inland Pacific Northwest; air quality regulatory agencies, the general public. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
A $905,000 grant was awarded in May 2006 by the USDA-NRCS to cost share fifty undercutter tillage implements with wheat farmers in the low-precipitation zone of the Columbia Plateau. This large implementation grant is a direct result of field research conducted by CP3 scientists that showed the undercutter method of summer fallow farming reduces dust emissions by 50% compared to traditional tillage and is also a more profitable farming method than traditional tillage. The Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) will be used by the USDA-NRCS in the immediate future to determine eligibility of lands for conservation programs based upon wind erosion potential. CP3 scientists developed a new threshold friction velocity that will allow the WEPS model to more appropriately predict dust emissions from agricultural fields in the Columbia Plateau. A computer model developed by CP3 scientists to determine smoke dispersion from field burning is now used extensively to forecast burn days by environmental agencies in Washington and Idaho. Farmers in the irrigated Columbia Basin have adopted the CP3-tested system of growing a yellow mustard cover crop in the fall to reduce wind erosion, scavenge nitrogen, and reduce nematode problems in the subsequent potato crop. CP3 scientists and farmer stakeholders took a strong and active stance at the National level in 2006 to help reverse a proposed reduction in the PM coarse standard by the EPA that, if passed, would have made it impossible to achieve air quality compliance in areas such as the Tri Cities, WA.
Publications
- Copeland, N., B. Sharratt, R. Foltz, J. Wu, and J. Dooley. 2007. Evaluating a wood strand material for wind erosion control, air quality protection. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers annual meeting. 17-20 June, Minneapolis, MN. http://www.asabe.org/meetings/aim2007/FinalProgram.pdf
- Dalman, K.A. (Geology, School of Earth and Environmental Science). 2007. Timing distribution and climate implications of Later Quaternary eolian deposits: Northern Columbia Plateau, WA. MS Thesis, Washington State University.
- Esser, A.D, C. Laney, S. Swannack, and R. Koenig. 2007. Fall fertilization for spring wheat production in the dryland cropping region of Washington. [CD-ROM]. In National Association of County Agricultural Agents annual meeting and Professional Improvement Conference Proceedings, 16-20 July, Grand Rapids, MI. http://www.nacaa.com/ampic/2007/
- Bewick, L.S., F.L. Young, J.R. Alldredge and D.L. Young. 2008. Agronomics and economics of no-till facultative wheat in the Pacific Northwest. Crop Protection 27:932-942.
- Cochran, R.L., H.P. Collins, A.C. Kennedy, and D.F. Bezdicek. 2007. Soil carbon pools and fluxes following land conversion in a semi-arid shrub-steppe ecosystem. Biology and Fertility of Soils 43:479-489.
- Cochran, R.L., H.P. Collins, A.C. Kennedy, and D.F. Bezdicek. 2007. Effect of land conversion on select soil microbial populations and activities. Biology and Fertility of Soils (in press).
- Copeland, N., B. Sharratt, J. Wu, R. Foltz, and J. Dooley. 2008. A wood strand material for controlling wind erosion and PM10 emissions from soils. Journal of Environmental Quality (in press).
- Copeland, N.S. (Department of Biosystems Engineering). 2007. Evaluating a wood strand material for wind erosion control and air quality protection. MS Thesis, Washington State University.
- Feng, G. and B. Sharratt. 2007. Validation of WEPS for soil and PM10 loss from agricultural fields on the Columbia Plateau. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 32:743-753.
- Feng, G. and B. Sharratt. 2007. Scaling from field to region for wind erosion prediction using WEPS and GIS. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 62:321-328.
- Flury, M., J.B. Mathison, J.Q. Wu, W.F. Schillinger, and C.O. Stockle. 2008. Water vapor diffusion through wheat straw residue. Soil Science Society of America Journal (in press).
- Koenig, R. 2007. Phosphorus dynamics and wheat response to applied P in a spatially variable environment. p. 153-157. In J. Hart (ed.) Proceedings of the Western Nutrient Management Conference, 8-9 March, Salt Lake City, UT. http://cropandsoil.oregonstate.edu/wera103/WNMC_2007_Proceedings.htm
- Machado, S., L. Pritchett, E. Jacobsen, S. Petrie, R. Smiley, D. Ball, D. Wysocki, S. Wuest, H. Gollany, and W. Jepsen. 2008. Long-term Experiments at CBARC-Moro and Center of Sustainability-Heppner, 2006-2007. Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Special Report 1083:109-126.
- Machado, S., L. Pritchett, E. Jacobsen, S. Petrie, R. Smiley, D. Ball, D. Wysocki, S. Wuest, H. Gollany, and W. Jepsen. 2007. Long-term experiments at CBARC-Moro and Center of Sustainability, Heppner, 2005-2006. Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Special Report 1074.
- McGuire, A.M. 2007. 2006 high residue farming under irrigation workshop digest. Online at http://grant-adams.wsu.edu/agriculture/highresidue/.
- Nail, E.L., D.L. Young, and W.F. Schillinger. 2007. Government subsidies and crop insurance effects on the economics of conservation farming systems in eastern Washington. Agronomy Journal 99:614-620.
- Nail, E.L., D.L. Young, and W.F. Schillinger. 2007. Diesel and glyphosate price changes benefit the economics of conservation tillage versus traditional tillage. Soil & Tillage Research 94:321-327.
- Pan, W., W. Schillinger, D. Huggins, R. Koenig, and J. Burns. 2007. Fifty years of predicting wheat nitrogen requirements in the Pacific Northwest USA. Chapter 10. In T. Bruulsema (ed.) Managing Crop Nitrogen for Weather. International Plant Nutrition Institute, Norcross, GA.
- Paulitz, T.C., K.L. Schroeder, P.A. Okubara, and W.F. Schillinger. 2007. Rhizoctonia and pythium in direct-seed systems: Filling in the pieces of the puzzle. [CD-ROM]. In Proceedings of the 10th Annual Northwest Direct Seed Cropping Systems Conference, 10-12 Jan., Kennewick, WA. Also available online at: http://pnwsteep.wsu.edu/.
- Schillinger, W.F., and R.I. Papendick. 2008. Then and now: 125 years of dryland wheat farming in the Inland Pacific Northwest. Agronomy Journal 100(Suppl.):S-166-S-182.
- Schillinger, W.F., T.A. Smith, and H.L. Schafer. 2008. Chaff and straw spreader for a plot combine. Agronomy Journal 100:398-399.
- Schillinger, W.F., S.E. Schofstoll, and J.R. Alldredge. 2008. Available water and wheat grain yield relations in a Mediterranean climate. Field Crops Research (in press).
- Schillinger, W.F. 2007. Ecology and control of Russian thistle (Salsola iberica) after spring wheat harvest. Weed Science 55:381-385.
- Schillinger, W.F., A.C. Kennedy, and D.L. Young. 2007. Eight years of annual no-till cropping in Washington's winter wheat-summer fallow region. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 120:345-358.
- Schillinger, W.F., H.L. Schafer, S.E. Schofstoll, and B.E. Sauer. 2008. Ecology and control of Russian thistle after spring wheat harvest. Washington State University Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin XB1046E.
- Upadhyay, B.M. and D.L. Young. 2007. Stochastic breakeven yields for investment risk analysis. Journal of Financial Risk Management, ICFAI University Press 4:26-36.
- Wuest, S.B., and W.F. Schillinger. 2008. Small-increment electric soil sampler. Soil Science Society of America Journal (in press).
- Schillinger, W.F., R.P. Jirava, A.C. Kennedy, D.L. Young, H.L. Schafer, and S.E. Schofstoll. 2008. Eight years of annual no-till cropping in Washington's winter wheat-summer fallow region. Washington State University Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin XB1043E.
- Schillinger, W.F., R.I. Papendick, and D.K. McCool. 2007. Soil and water conservation challenges for agriculture in the Inland Pacific Northwest. [CD-ROM]. Soil Science Society of America annual meeting, 5-8 Nov., New Orleans, LS. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Abstracts. http://www.asabe.org/meetings/aim2007/FinalProgram.pdf
- Sharratt, B.S. and G. Feng. 2007. Loss of soil and PM10 from agricultural fields associated with high winds on the Columbia Plateau. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 32:621-630.
- Sharratt, B.S. 2007. Instrumentation to quantify soil and PM10 flux using a portable wind tunnel. [CD-ROM]. Proceedings of International Symposium on Air Quality and Waste Management for Agriculture, 15-19 Sept., Broomfield, CO. http://asae.frymulti.com/request2.aspJID=1&AID=23850&CID=aqwm2007&T= 1
- Sharratt, B., and G. Feng. 2007. Soil and PM10 flux above an eroding agricultural field during high winds. [CD-ROM]. Soil Science Society of America annual meeting, 5-8 Nov., New Orleans, LS. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Abstracts. http://www.asabe.org/meetings/aim2007/FinalProgram.pdf
- Sweeney, M.R., D.R. Gaylord, and A.J. Busacca. 2007. Evolution of Eureka Flat: A dust-producing engine of the Palouse loess, USA. Quaternary International 162:76-96.
- Thorne, M.E., F.L. Young, and J.P. Yenish. 2007. Cropping systems alter weed seed banks in Pacific Northwest semi-arid wheat region. Crop Protection 26:1121-1134.
- Upadhyay, B.M. and D.L. Young. Purchase vs. rent decisions: No-till drill case studies. Journal of Farm Management, ICFAI University Press, (2008 in press).
- Zaikin, A.A., D.L. Young, and W.F. Schillinger. 2008. Economics of an irrigated no-till crop rotation with alternative stubble management systems versus continuous irrigated winter wheat with burning and plowing of stubble, Lind, WA, 2001-2006. Washington State University Extension Bulletin EB2029E.
- Zaikin, A.A., D.L. Young, and W.F. Schillinger. 2007. Economic comparison of undercutter and traditional tillage systems for winter wheat-summer fallow farming. Washington State University Extension Bulletin 2022E. Online at: http://farm.mngt.wsu.edu/nonirr.htm
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Progress 07/15/06 to 07/14/07
Outputs
Soils in the Columbia Plateau have considerable quantities of small PM10-size particles. The key for controlling wind erosion and dust pollution in downwind areas is to maintain year round vegetative cover and surface roughness. The goal of the Columbia Plateau PM10 Project (CP3) is to: (i) predict and measure dust sources, (ii) develop farming practices that allow farmers to control wind erosion and dust emissions without suffering economic hardship, and (iii) assist farmers to adopt best management practices for wind erosion control. Since the inception of the project in 1993, CP3 scientists have published more than 100 wind erosion and air quality related journal articles. Research from the CP3 resulted in a $905,000 federal grant in 2006 from USDA-NRCS to the Washington Association of Wheat Growers to provide a 50% cost share on the purchase undercutter implements to reduce wind erosion from dryland farms.
Impacts
The CP3 has successfully defined mechanisms of wind erosion. Many urban areas, including those located in the Columbia Plateau of eastern Washington, northern Oregon, and the Idaho panhandle, have experienced concentrations of air particulates that exceed federal standards. In practically all cases, a significant amount of the material has been generated upwind from agricultural fields, entrained in the regional wind patterns, and deposited in urban areas. Several best management practices have been developed via long-term cropping systems studies in the low-precipitation dryland region of eastern Washington. Multi-disciplinary teams of scientists seek practical and affordable means for growers to increase cropping intensity and reduce or eliminate tillage. Research in the irrigated Columbia Basin has focused on cover crop management following high soil disturbance crops such as potatoes and sugar beets and helping growers find feasible alternatives to burning cereal
stubble. Economic analysis, measurement of soil quality changes, on-farm testing, and extension outreach are integral components of the wind erosion control effort.
Publications
- Schillinger, W.F., and T.C. Paulitz. 2006. Reduction of Rhizoctonia bare patch in wheat with barley rotations. Plant Disease 90:302-306.
- Sharratt, B.S. and D. Lauer. 2006. Particulate matter concentration and air quality affected by windblown dust in the Columbia Plateau. Journal of Environmental Quality 35:2011-2016.
- Upadhyay, B.M. and D.L. Young. 2006. An operational approach for evaluating investment risk: An application to the no-till transition. Journal of Financial Risk Management, ICFAI University Press, 3(2):25-37.
- Williams, J.D., S.B. Wuest, W.F. Schillinger, and H.T. Gollany. 2006. Rotary subsoiling newly planted winter wheat fields to improve infiltration in frozen soil. Soil & Tillage Research 86:141-151.
- Banowetz, G.M., G.W. Whittaker, K.P. Dierksen, M.D. Azevedo, A.C. Kennedy, S.M. Griffith and J.J. Steiner. 2006. Fatty acid methyl ester analysis to identify sources of soil in surface water. Journal of Environmental Quality 35:133-140.
- Camberato, J.J., B Gagnon, 0.A. Angers, W.L. Pan. 2006. Pulp and paper mill byproducts as plant nutrient sources and soil amendments. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 86:641-653.
- Kennedy, A.C., and W.F. Schillinger. 2006. Soil quality and water intake in traditional-till vs. no-till paired farms in Washington's Palouse region. Soil Science Society of America Journal 70:940-949.
- Kennedy. A.C., T.L. Stubbs and J.C. Hansen. 2006. This land is your land. Science and Children 44:22-26.
- Paulitz, T.C., P.A. Okubara, and W.F. Schillinger. 2006. First report of damping-off of canola caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 in Washington State. Plant Disease 90:829.
- Schillinger, W.F., R.I. Papendick, S.O. Guy, P.E. Rasmussen, and C. van Kessel. 2006. Dryland cropping in the western United States. p. 365-393. In G.A. Peterson, P.W. Unger, and W.A. Payne (eds.), 2nd ed. Agronomy Monograph no 23. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI.
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Progress 07/15/05 to 07/14/06
Outputs
Soils in the Columbia Plateau have considerable quantities of small PM10-size particles. The key for controlling wind erosion and dust pollution in downwind areas is to maintain year round vegetative cover and surface roughness. The goal of the Columbia Plateau PM10 Project (CP3) is to: (i) predict and measure dust sources, (ii) develop farming practices that allow farmers to control wind erosion and dust emissions without suffering economic hardship, and (iii) assist farmers to adopt best management practices for wind erosion control. Since the inception of the project in 1993, CP3 scientists have published more than 100 wind erosion and air quality related journal articles. Research from the CP3 resulted in a $905,000 federal grant in 2006 from USDA-NRCS to the Washington Association of Wheat Growers to provide a 50% cost share on the purchase undercutter implements to reduce wind erosion from dryland farms.
Impacts
The CP3 has successfully defined mechanisms of wind erosion. Many urban areas, including those located in the Columbia Plateau of eastern Washington, northern Oregon, and the Idaho panhandle, have experienced concentrations of air particulates that exceed federal standards. In practically all cases, a significant amount of the material has been generated upwind from agricultural fields, entrained in the regional wind patterns, and deposited in urban areas. Several best management practices have been developed via long-term cropping systems studies in the low-precipitation dryland region of eastern Washington. Multi-disciplinary teams of scientists seek practical and affordable means for growers to increase cropping intensity and reduce or eliminate tillage. Research in the irrigated Columbia Basin has focused on cover crop management following high soil disturbance crops such as potatoes and sugar beets and helping growers find feasible alternatives to burning cereal
stubble. Economic analysis, measurement of soil quality changes, on-farm testing, and extension outreach are integral components of the wind erosion control effort.
Publications
- Banowetz, G.M., G.W. Whittaker, K.P. Dierksen, M.D. Azevedo, A.C. Kennedy, S.M. Griffith and J.J. Steiner. 2006. Fatty acid methyl ester analysis to identify sources of soil in surface water. Journal of Environmental Quality 35:133-140.
- Camberato, J.J., B Gagnon, 0.A. Angers, W.L. Pan. 2006. Pulp and paper mill byproducts as plant nutrient sources and soil amendments. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 86:641-653.
- Kennedy, A.C., and W.F. Schillinger. 2006. Soil quality and water intake in traditional-till vs. no-till paired farms in Washington's Palouse region. Soil Science Society of America Journal 70:940-949.
- Kennedy. A.C., T.L. Stubbs and J.C. Hansen. 2006. This land is your land. Science and Children 44:22-26.
- Paulitz, T.C., P.A. Okubara, and W.F. Schillinger. 2006. First report of damping-off of canola caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 in Washington State. Plant Disease 90:829.
- Schillinger, W.F., R.I. Papendick, S.O. Guy, P.E. Rasmussen, and C. van Kessel. 2006. Dryland cropping in the western United States. p. 365-393. In G.A. Peterson, P.W. Unger, and W.A. Payne (eds.), 2nd ed. Agronomy Monograph no 23. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI.
- Schillinger, W.F., and T.C. Paulitz. 2006. Reduction of Rhizoctonia bare patch in wheat with barley rotations. Plant Disease 90:302-306.
- Sharratt, B.S. and D. Lauer. 2006. Particulate matter concentration and air quality affected by windblown dust in the Columbia Plateau. Journal of Environmental Quality 35:2011-2016.
- Upadhyay, B.M. and D.L. Young. 2006. An operational approach for evaluating investment risk: An application to the no-till transition. Journal of Financial Risk Management, ICFAI University Press, 3(2):25-37.
- Williams, J.D., S.B. Wuest, W.F. Schillinger, and H.T. Gollany. 2006. Rotary subsoiling newly planted winter wheat fields to improve infiltration in frozen soil. Soil & Tillage Research 86:141-151.
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