Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: (1) Nitrogen fertility in strip till: The objectives of this study are to examine 3 important fertility questions specific to nitrogen (N) fertilization in strip tillage systems. 1) Will reducing N rates for sugarbeet production eliminate the problem of higher molasses observed in strip tillage systems without compromising sugarbeet root yield 2) Can 2x2 starter fertilizer placement increase sugarbeet yield and sugar quality and/or reduce total N fertilization requirement in strip tilled systems And 3) how much N fertilizer (if any) is lost as a result of applying N with strip tillage soon after wheat harvest, before soil temperature is below 50 degrees F 2010 was the first year of a three-year study. (2) Phosphorus fertility in strip till This study examines the possibility of reducing phosphorus (P) application rates in strip tillage. We examined the effect of 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% P application reductions on low P testing soils compared to full rate applications with strip tillage. We included similar P rate treatments with broadcast application in conventional tillage for comparison. (3)Tillage effects on sugar beet yield and root diseases Field trials were established to investigate the effect of no-till and several tillage systems used in sugarbeet production for effects on Rhizoctonia seedling diseases. (4)Tile and nitrogen management effect on sugar beet This research experiment will determine how nitrogen (N) fertilizer management practices influence (1) denitrification loss of nitrogen in the form of nitrous oxide (N2O), (2) inorganic soil nitrogen availability, and (3) nitrogen use efficiency of corn, wheat, and sugar beet crops. PARTICIPANTS: Norman Cattanach assisted in field plot lay out and treatment applications. Rakesh Awale is the graduate student and helped in data analyses. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
1) N fertility in strip tillage Phosphorus equvalent 3 gallon 10-34-0 per acre at planting and balance of N and P broadcast applied in fall with conventional till resulted into the highest root yield of 42 tons/ac. Besides, treatment comprising 60% of full N recommended rate with late strip till was significantly higher root yield of 41 ton per acre than 40% less N broadcasted with strip till (31 ton/ac) and 20% less stripped (32 ton/ac) or broadcast (31 ton/ac)treatments. 2) P fertility in strip till Reduction in phosphorus fertilizer with strip till did not affect the root yields. 3)Rhizoc tillage Conservation tillage practices, like strip and no till had no significant differences with conventional tillage like, deep and chisel plow withi two out of three locations. Only one location, no till had significantly lower yield than others. 4)Tile drainage and nitrogen effect on root yield and nitrogen use efficiency There were no significant differences in sugarbeet root yield, sucrose concentration, recoverable sucrose (RSA and RST), and gross revenues among the N fertilizer management practices. A considerable amount of corn residues left out in the research plots from the previous cropping system along with a warm growing season might have enhanced soil organic matter mineralization in the control plots (without any N addition), releasing plant available N into the soil that is just enough to produce comparable root yield as with other fertilized plots. Regardless of N management practices, increasing the N rate from 130 lb acre-1 to 160 lb acre-1 did not increase root yield and recoverable sucrose, but SLM %. On average, control plots had the least SLM % of all the treatments, however, was not different than treatment 2 (130 lb N acre-1). While the SLM % in treatments 3, 4, and 5 were not different, the former (treatment 3) had the highest SLM %. Recoverable sucrose per ton ranged from 317 lb ton-1 for treatment 3 (160 lb N acre-1) to 335 lb ton-1 with treatment 4 (130 lb N acre-1 plus instinct).
Publications
- Chatterjee, A. Reducing denitrification loss of nitrogen fertilizer. Crop & Soils, May-June 2012. P. 14-15 Chatterjee, A., and T. DeSutter. Soil salinity can impair the tile drainage system. Crop & Soils, September-October, 2012. P. 12-15.
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: On farm field experiments were done to evaluate the interactions among nitrogen (experiment one) and phosphorus (experiment two) fertility and strip tillage for sugar beet productions in high clay soils of Red River Valley North Dakota. The objectives of this study are to examine 3 important fertility questions specific to nitrogen (N) fertilization in strip tillage systems. 1) Will reducing N rates for sugarbeet production eliminate the problem of higher molasses observed in strip tillage systems without compromising sugarbeet root yield; 2) Can 2x2 starter fertilizer placement increase sugarbeet yield and sugar quality and/or reduce total N fertilization requirement in strip tilled systems; and 3) how much N fertilizer (if any) is lost as a result of applying N with strip tillage soon after wheat harvest, before soil temperature is below 50 degrees F. 2010 was the first year of a three-year study. Phosphorus trial was conducted at four farmer fields. This study investigated 1) banding P fertilizer with strip tillage equipment to increase plant availability of P relative to conventional broadcast application, and 2) the potential reduction of P fertilizer application rates (without sacrificing beet root yield and quality) if it is determined that P uptake efficiency increases with strip tillage. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Amitava Chatterjee joined as an assistant professor in the place of Dr. Laura Overstreet, and conducted field experiment and prepared this year report with the help of Dr. Overstreet. Norman Cattanach, the research specialist performed the field opertations and data collection. Dr. Laura Overstreet helped in preparing the sugarbeet extension report. TARGET AUDIENCES: Project served the sugarbeet growers of the Red River Valley. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Experiment-nitrogen fertility and strip tillage Under extreme soil moisture and disease conditions, strip tillage resulted in a 39% yield reduction relative to conventional tillage (comparing full N rates). The high level of variability and poor field conditions is illustrated by the fact that strip tillage treatments with 20%, 30%, and 40% N rate reductions all produced higher root yields than the full N rate strip tillage treatment. These data are valuable as part of a larger study investigating N use and strip tillage under a range of field conditions, but additional research should be conducted in order to provide accurate recommendations for N application rates with strip tillage and other N banding systems. It is difficult to assess, based on these data, whether reducing the N rate is advisable with strip tillage under normal growing conditions. Phosphorus fertility and strip tillage studies were strongly influenced by the poor growth environment of the 2011 year, which was characterized as excessively wet and favorable for extremely high Aphanomyces and Rhizoctonia root rot infection. The study should be continued with more normal growing conditions in order to make safe and accurate recommendations regarding nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application rates with strip tillage systems.
Publications
- Gentry, L., A. Chatterjee, N. Cattanach. 2012. Nitrogen fertility in strip tillage. 2011 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports (Submitted)
- Gentry, L., A. Chatterjee, N. Cattanach. 2012. Phosphorus fertility in strip tillage. 2011 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports (Submitted)
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the 2010 growing season this research program independently conducted nine field experiments and one laboratory/greenhouse experiment. The experiments comprised five tillage studies, a soil fertility study, a planter modification study, a cover crop study, a combined tillage-row orientation-seed treatment study, and a sugarbeet seed priming study. 2. Sugarbeet planter test stand clinics were conducted at 22 locations throughout the Red River Valley, western North Dakota, and southern Minnesota. 3. As a result of the carbon audit I produced for the sugar industry in the Red River Valley, I was requested to create a similar document for the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative. 4. I continued to renovate, manage, and fund the instrumentation of my new laboratory. 5. I collaborated with John Nowatzki to post soil temperature and moisture data on The Farm Monitor website. 6. I co-advised a Mechanical Engineering Senior Design team with Sherman Goplin. 7. My first M.S. graduate student, Sarah Gegner, defended her M.S. thesis and graduated in December 2009. 8. I co-advised one M.S. graduate student, Eric Viall. 9. I participated in the Summer 2010 Sugarbeet Plot Tours. 10. I continued to advise one Range Science M.S. student, Andrew Fraase to conduct aggregate stability analysis and microbial biomass C and N analysis for his graduate research project. 11. I served as chaperone for four NDSU undergraduate members of the Agronomy Club at the American Society of Agronomy meetings in Pittsburgh where we participated in the national Quiz Bowl tournament. 12. I presented a talk titled, "Strip Tillage for Sugarbeet, Corn, and Soybean Production in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota" and a poster titled, "A Carbon Budget to Estimate Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential for Sugarbeet Production" at the ASA meetings. 13. I presented a talk titled, "Strip Tillage: Benefits and Challenges" at the Conservation Tillage Conference in Morton, MN. 14. I attended and was co-author on a poster titled, "Cover Crop Research at North Dakota State University" at the Midwest Cover Crops Council in Ames, IA. 15. I attended and presented a talk titled, "Strip Tillage for Corn and Soybean Production in the U.S. Red River Valley of ND and MN" at the Manitoba Soil Science Society meetings. 16. I did not attend, but prepared a presentation titled, "Strip Tillage for Sugarbeet, Corn, and Soybean Production in the Red River Valley of ND and MN, "presented by Dr. Mohamed Khan at the 2010 Multi-State ST proposal meeting. 17. I attended and was co-author of a talk presented by my student, Eric Viall, titled, "Soil Biology and Enzymes" at the North Dakota Soil and Water Science Summit in Carrington. 19. I presented a talk to the Master Gardeners titled, "A Crash Course in Soils." PARTICIPANTS: Xiwen Cai and I submitted an AFRI Climate Change proposal (decision pending). Amy Ganguli and I submitted a non-funded LEAP Laboratory Renovated Grant. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
During the 2010 reporting period: 1. The carbon audit created at the request of the sugarbeet cooperatives continues to be an important tool for fairly representing the economic interests of the commodity as lobby groups advance carbon tax legislation. I am currently expanding this document to represent southern MN. The document was provided to sugarbeet and other commodity groups lobbying campaigns. 2. Sugarbeet planter test stand clinics allow sugarbeet growers to calibrate and troubleshoot potential problems with their sugarbeet planting equipment to avoid reduced crop populations as a result of faulty planters. Based on American Crystal records, test stand clinics benefit producers of the North Dakota and Minnesota sugarbeet cooperatives by more than $5 million annually. My research program is the only University program in ND and MN to offer planter test stand clinics. 3. The Farm Monitor website remotely broadcasts soil temperature and moisture in two tillage systems (strip tillage and conventional chisel plow) and two row orientations. In addition to the Farm Monitor website, my research team with assistance from Dr. Thomas DeSutter also installed highly accurate dual probe heat pulse sensors that we had previously created to measure soil temperature and moisture in the same tillage-row orientation study. Soil temperature and moisture data is sorely needed information for new tillage systems, specifically strip tillage, because the most commonly reported reason that growers have not yet adopted strip tillage in this region is that they are concerned that soils do not dry out and warm up in the spring as well as in conventionally tilled systems. These data provide much-needed and here-to-fore unavailable information to allow sugarbeet growers and other farmers to make informed decisions regarding implementing strip tillage on their own farms. 4. My laboratory, Walster 137, was fully renovated in 2009. In 2010, I continued to organize and outfit the laboratory using funding from field trials to purchase necessary equipment (orbital shaker, shaker baths, water baths, chemical supplies, gas supplies, etc.). After buying equipment, I created detailed protocols for the following analyses: soil aggregate stability, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, enzymes (acid and alkaline phosphatases, β-glucosidase, and phenol oxidase) and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA). My graduate student, Eric Viall, and I trained with Dr. Peter Stahl and his graduate student in Laramie, WY to learn the detailed protocol for PLFA. I also updated the chemical inventory, created an MSDS logbook for all chemicals, and worked to solve various laboratory safety concerns.
Publications
- Overstreet, L.F. G.D. Hoyt, and J. Imbriani. 2010. Comparing nematode and earthworm communities under combinations of conventional and alternative vegetable production practices. Soil and Tillage Research 110(1): 42-50.
- Overstreet, L.F. and N.R. Cattanach. 2010. Effect of Crop Sequence for Sugarbeet Production: Final Report. In: 2009 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 40:110-113.
- Overstreet, L.F. and N.R. Cattanach. 2010. Effect of eliminating spring tillage on sugarbeet production and emergence in stale seedbeds: Year 2. In: 2009 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 40:116-118.
- Franzen, D.W., L.F. Overstreet, N.R. Cattanach. 2010. Spring strip-till studies in Fargo-Ryan Silty Clay Loam soils in a wet spring. In: 2009 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 40:119-121.
- Overstreet, L.F.; N.R. Cattanach, D. Franzen. 2010. Strip tillage in sugarbeet rotations: Year 3. In: 2009 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 40:122-124.
- Overstreet, L.F. and N.R. Cattanach. 2010. Effect of strip tillage, row orientation, and seed priming on sugarbeet yield and quality. In: 2009 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 40:125-128.
- Cattanach, N.R. and L.F. Overstreet. 2010. The evaluation of cover crop on yield and quality of sugarbeet. In: 2009 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 40:129-131.
- Cattanach, N.R. and L.F. Overstreet. 2010. Evaluation of the modified curved seed tube versus the standard straight seed tube. In: 2009 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 40:132-138.
- Overstreet, L.F. and N.R. Cattanach. 2010. Evaluation of eSet Plate versus sorghum plate for sugarbeet production. In: 2009 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 40:139-148.
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the 2009 reporting period, the following outputs were produced as a result of my research program: 1. A carbon audit was prepared for the sugarbeet industry identifying and quantifying stable carbon sinks as well as carbon release to the atmosphere as a result of one year of sugarbeet production. The prepared document, titled "A Carbon Budget to Estimate Soil Carbon Sequestration for Sugarbeet Production," was presented to American Crystal Sugar Company, Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative, and Minn-Dak Sugar Company in July 2009. 2. My research program independently conducted three tillage experiments, two planter modification experiments, and one cover crop experiment for sugarbeet production systems. In addition, one 4-year rotation study was completed. 3. My research program conducted sugarbeet planter test stand clinics at 22 locations throughout the Red River Valley, western North Dakota, and southern Minnesota. 4. The Farm Monitor website was created and is maintained by Dr. John Nowatzki in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and can be accessed at http://www.ageng.ndsu.nodak.edu/farmmonitor/index.phpf=1. The instrumentation is placed in one of my research experiments. 5. I prepared one poster presentation and participated in one agronomist panel on strip tillage for sugarbeet production at the American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists meeting in February 2009. 6. I presented the results of our 2008 sugarbeet research at five locations (on five separate dates) during the Winter Sugarbeet Grower meetings during January and February. Additionally, I presented the results of Dr. David Franzen's research at two of the grower meetings that he was unable to attend. 7. I presented at the Soil & Soil/Water Workshop in January. 8. I was invited to speak to the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association about the potential for sugarbeet production to serve as a carbon offset for sugar factories. 9. I gave an invited talk at the Soil and Water Conservation Society Technical Conference (Rapid City, SD) titled, "Your Plow just Wrecked My Living Room! How Agricultural Activities Affect the Ecology of Soil Organisms." 10. I contributed to an article published in Corn and Soybean Digest (A Nod to No-Till written by Loretta Sorenson; published Feb. 15 2009). 11. I taught one course, Soil Ecology (SOIL 351), during the fall semester 2009. 12. I co-advise a Mechanical Engineering Senior Design team with Dr. Sherman Goplin. This is a one year commitment for students and mentors requiring weekly meetings to supervise and advise the four-student team as they create a sugarbeet planter test stand design that eliminates the use of oil. 13. I co-advise two M.S. graduate students, Sarah Gegner and Eric Viall. Sarah will graduate in December 2009. 14. I participated in the Summer 2009 Sugarbeet Plot Tours. I hosted a tour of sugarbeet research plots at the NDSU Prosper Research Station on July 23rd and 24th. 15. I presented information about strip tillage to nine visiting Ukrainian agronomists interested in reduced tillage systems. PARTICIPANTS: I served as a collaborator for a successfully funded grant lead by P.I. Dr. Greg Lardy (2009 Five State Ruminant Consortium). I played a minor role as a collaborator for a funded USFS grant that funded my graduate student (jointly advised by Dr. David Hopkins), Eric Viall. Dr. Harlene Hatterman-Valenti and I collaborated on the research and thesis editing of our graduate student, Sarah Gegner. Drs. Mark Liebig and Patrick Carr and I collaborated to write an nonfunded SARE proposal and a letter of intent to the AFRI Managed Systems program (not invited for a full proposal). Dr. Fred Below initiated a proposal for which I served as a co-PI submitted to the USDA-USFS Joint Biomass Research and Development Initiative (non-funded). Dr. Xiwen Cai and I collaborated to write an AFRI BREAD proposal (decision pending). Dr. Deirdre Prischman Voldseth and I collaborated to write a proposal to the AFRI Corn Rootworm seed grant program (non-funded). I worked with Dr. Cole Gustafson to write a letter of intent to the North Central Center SunGrant initiative; the letter of intent did not result in an invitation to submit a full proposal. Dr. David Franzen assisted me with harvesting activities. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
During the 2009 reporting period: 1. The carbon audit created at the request of the sugarbeet cooperatives has been an important tool for fairly representing the economic interests of the commodity as lobby groups advance the carbon cap and trading and carbon tax legislation. The document I created has been provided to sugarbeet and other commodity groups' lobbying campaigns. 2. Sugarbeet planter test stand clinics allow sugarbeet growers to calibrate and troubleshoot potential problems with their sugarbeet planting equipment to avoid reduced stand populations as a result of faulty planters. Based on American Crystal records, test stand clinics benefit producers of the North Dakota and Minnesota sugarbeet cooperatives by more than $5 million annually. 3. The Farm Monitor website remotely broadcasts soil temperature and moisture in two tillage systems (strip tillage and conventional chisel plow) and two row orientations. The website was accessed over 10,000 times during the reporting period. This website provides near real-time soil temperature and moisture information to growers considering strip tillage. This is important because the most commonly reported reason that growers have not yet adopted strip tillage systems for sugarbeet production is that they are concerned that the soil will not dry out and warm up in the spring as well in strip tilled conditions as in conventionally tilled systems. This website has provided a tool to allow sugarbeet growers and other farmers to make informed decisions regarding the potential success of implementing strip tillage on their own farms. 4. My laboratory, Walster 137, was fully renovated in 2009. The laboratory renovation required over one year of planning. The plans for the laboratory were designed according to the experimental research that I have determined will be conducted in the laboratory. The resulting laboratory designs are the joint product of my work with the renovation manager, Andrea Abrahamson. A great deal of time and effort was spent sorting all items in the laboratory and subsequently surplussing or removing remaining items to a storage trailer.
Publications
- Gegner, S., L. Overstreet, T. DeSutter, F. Casey, and N. Cattanach. 2008. Effects of row orientation and tillage on sugarbeet yield and quality: II Soil temperature, moisture, and seedling emergence. In: 2008 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 39: 146-151.
- Overstreet, L. and N.R. Cattanach. 2008. Effect of eliminating spring tillage on sugarbeet production and emergence in stale seedbeds. In: 2008 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 39: 135-137.
- Overstreet, L.F., N.R. Cattanach, S. Gegner, and D. Franzen. 2008. Crop sequence effect in sugarbeet, soybean, corn, and wheat rotations, Year 3. In: 2008 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 39: 83-86.
- Franzen, D.W., L.F. Overstreet, N.R. Cattanach, and J.F. Giles. 2008. Phosphorus starter fertilizer studies in the southern Red River Valley. In: 2008 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 39:103-110.
- Franzen, D.W., N.R. Cattanach, L.F. Overstreet. 2008. Campus tillage studies, 2008. In: 2008 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 39: 138-141.
- Overstreet, L.F. 2009. Strip tillage for sugarbeet production. International Sugar Journal 111: 292-304.
- Overstreet, L.F.; N.R. Cattanach, S.A. Gegner, and D.W. Franzen. 2009. Use of strip tillage in a sugarbeet rotation in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota. Expanded abstract for Biannual meeting of American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists, Feb 25-28th, Orlando, FL.
- Overstreet, L.F. 2009. NDSU Strip Tillage Research Results. The Sugarbeet Grower. February, 2009 pp 14-17.
- Overstreet, L.F., N.R. Cattanach, and D. Franzen. 2008. Strip tillage in sugarbeet rotations, Year 2. In: 2008 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 39: 121-124.
- Overstreet, L.F. and N.R. Cattanach. 2008. Strip tillage nitrogen management for early fall nitrogen applications. In: 2008 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 39: 128-134.
- Overstreet, L.F. and N.R. Cattanach. 2008. Comparing narrow and standard row width strip tillage to conventional tillage. In: 2008 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 39: 125-127.
- Overstreet, L.F., N.R. Cattanach, and S. Gegner. 2008. Effect of row orientation and tillage on sugarbeet yield and quality: I. Agronomic analysis. In: 2008 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports 39: 142-145.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the reporting period, my research program has independently conducted eight field research projects investigating sugarbeet fertility and alternative tillage systems for sugarbeet, soybean, and corn. My research program also conducted planter test stand clinics at 20 locations throughout the Red River Valley. I collaborated on one research project investigating intercropping soybean and wheat, and initiated two greenhouse experiments. I collaborated on a second project investigating effects of starter fertilizer materials for sugarbeet production. I collaborated to create a website where farmers and agronomists could access near real-time soil temperature and moisture data measured in one of my field experiments investigating different tillage systems and different crop row orientations. I presented research findings at one national meeting, one sugarbeet grower meeting, and the Big Iron Expo. I also hosted plot tours of my tillage and fertility field experiments on three occasions to NRCS employees, sugarbeet growers, and a group of 12 interested farmers. I wrote nine research reports summarizing 2007 field work studies which were published in the 2007 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports published by the Sugarbeet Research and Education Board of MN and ND. I am the major advisor for one graduate student during the second year of her M.S. program. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. David Franzen and I worked together on a project investigating the effect of starter fertilizer materials on sugarbeet production in 2007. Dr. John Nowatzki and I worked together to remotely broadcast soil temperature and moisture data in three tillage systems and two row orientations. Dr. Nowatzki was responsible for installing and monitoring the instrumentation to measure soil temperature and moisture and for broadcasting it wirelessly to a server he installed nearby, which then uploaded the data to an internet website. Dr. Thomas DeSutter and Dr. Francis Casey worked with me on a project investigating the effects of conservation tillage systems and row orientation. Dr. Casey's research program assisted us in building the sensors to measure soil temperature and moisture and Dr. Casey assisted with data analysis. Dr. DeSutter assisted with experimental design, especially pertaining to installation of sensors, and he was also chiefly responsible for installing, trouble shooting, and removing the sensors. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences for my research activities are 1) research scientists interested in tillage systems and cover cropping endeavors in the Northern Great Plains 2) agronomists interested in fertility, tillage, and cover cropping 3) growers considering alternative tillage systems and cover cropping PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
One of the most notable outcomes of my research endeavors is the approved funding of strip-tillage and cover cropping initiatives through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) of NRCS. Through the EQIP program, qualifying farmers can receive $25/acre on up to 320 acres for strip tillage practices and $15 and $12/acre for fall and spring cover crop plantings, respectively, up to 320 acres. I do not take full credit for this accomplishment, but by taking regional and national NRCS representatives on tours of my strip-tillage plots each year, I influenced them to see the feasibility and potential benefit of these conservation practices for ND farmers. Sugarbeet planter test stand clinics allow sugarbeet growers to calibrate and troubleshoot potential problems with their sugarbeet planting equipment to avoid reduced stand populations as a result of faulty planters. Clinics are held every year from February to April and service the entire sugarbeet growing area in the Red River Valley, southern Minnesota, northwest North Dakota, and eastern Montana. Based on American Crystal data, test stand clinics benefit producers of the seven North Dakota and Minnesota factories and the Sidney Sugars factory in Montana by more than $5 million annually. The Farm Monitor website, which remotely broadcasts soil temperature and moisture in three tillage systems and two row orientations, was accessed over 900 times while the data from my experiment was available. This was a very popular website, especially during the early spring when farmers are concerned that conservation tillage systems will reduce soil temperatures and increase soil moisture, resulting in lower seedling germination and poor crop stand. As a result of my research interest in cover crops and attendance at the Midwest Cover Crop Council (MCCC)workshop in March 2008, I volunteered to serve as the North Dakota representative for the MCCC. In this role, I created and maintain the webpage detailing cover crops research that has been conducted in ND for the MCCC website.
Publications
- Franzen. D.W., L.F. Overstreet, and N. Cattanach. 2007. NDSU Campus Tillage Trials, Year 4. In 2007 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Vol. 38. Sugarbeet Res. and Ed. Bd. of MN and ND.
- Overstreet, L.F. and G.D. Hoyt. 2008. Effects of strip tillage and production inputs on soil biology across a spatial gradient. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 72(5): 1454-1463.
- Overstreet, L.F.; D. Franzen, N.R. Cattanach, and S. Gegner. 2007. Strip-tillage in sugarbeet rotations. In 2007 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Vol. 38. Sugarbeet Res. and Ed. Bd. of MN and ND.
- Overstreet, L.; N.R. Cattanach, D.W. Franzen. 2007. Potassium requirement for sugarbeet production. In 2007 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Vol. 38. Sugarbeet Res. and Ed. Bd. of MN and ND.
- Overstreet, L.F.; D. Franzen, N. Cattanach, and J.D. Nielsen. 2007. Effect of nitrogen and harvest date on Roundup Ready sugarbeet variety. In 2007 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Vol. 38. Sugarbeet Res. and Ed. Bd. of MN and ND.
- Overstreet, L.F. D. Franzen, and N. Cattanach. 2007. 2007 Micronutrient studies on sugarbeet. In 2007 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Vol. 38. Sugarbeet Res. and Ed. Bd. of MN and ND.
- Overstreet, L.F. N.R. Cattanach, S. Gegner, and D. Franzen. 2007. Crop sequence effect in sugarbeet, soybean, corn, and wheat rotations. In 2007 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Vol. 38. Sugarbeet Res. and Ed. Bd. of MN and ND.
- Overstreet, L.; D. Franzen, and N. Cattanach. 2007. Starter phosphate fertilizer products study on sugarbeet, 2007. In 2007 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Vol. 38. Sugarbeet Res. and Ed. Bd. of MN and ND.
- Cattanach, N.R. and L.F. Overstreet. 2007. The evaluation of the modified curve seed tube versus the standard straight seed tube commonly used at this time. In 2007 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Vol. 38. Sugarbeet Res. and Ed. Bd. of MN and ND.
- Cattanach, N.R. and L.F. Overstreet. 2007. Preliminary studies on effect of closing wheel pressure setting on stand establishment, yield, and quality. In 2007 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Vol. 38. Sugarbeet Res. and Ed. Bd. of MN and ND.
- Cattanach, N.R.; L.F. Overstreet, and J.F. Giles. 2007. Effect of spent lime on sugar production and crop yields following sugarbeet. In 2007 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Vol. 38. Sugarbeet Res. and Ed. Bd. of MN and ND.
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