Progress 07/15/09 to 11/14/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Enhanced efficiency fertilizers such as polymer-coated urea (PCU) have been shown to reduce nitrate concentrations in lysimeters in claypan soils (Nelson et al., 2009). These fertilizers may further reduce NO3-N loss through subsurface drainage systems that utilize managed drainage for corn production, but no research has been conducted to evaluate both best management practices. Agricultural drainage is not a new concept; however, utilizing managed drainage as part of an integrated water management system is a relatively new concept that has been shown to improve water quality by reducing NO3-N load up to 75% (Drury et al., 1996; Frankenberger et al., 2006; Drury et al., 2009) and sustain agricultural viability (Belcher and D'Itri 1995). Groundwater quality is affected by nitrate (NO3-) pollution that may result from excessive N fertilizer applications and other practices (Knox and Moody, 1991). Since NO3-N is soluble in water and is not retained by soil particles, it is susceptible to be leached to groundwater prior to crop growth or following harvest. In the United States, N losses in crop production are a concern due to relatively high N fertilizer application rates and considerable amounts of NO3-N released in drainage waters from agricultural soils (Cambardella et al., 1999). As a result, NO3-N concentration is regulated to prevent negative health impacts and eutrophication (Shaviv and Mikkelsen, 1993; USEPA, 1995; Hunter, 2001). Soil and water conservation systems for productivity and environmental protection are key components of this enhanced efficiency N fertilizer and managed drainage project. In order for rural communities to remain competitive in a rapidly changing agricultural environment, technology that integrates current best management practices must also maintain a highly productive, safe, and efficient food supply. Water conservation, reduced fertilizer loss, increased nutrient use efficiency, and reduced sediment loss while improving crop production combined with managed drainage that is based on solid research is a win-win situation for farmers, consumers, and the environment. It is expected that there will be a reduction in NO3-N loading of up to 75% (Zucker and Brown, 1998; Frankenberger et al., 2006; Drury et al., 2009) and an additive effect of the enhanced efficiency fertilizer on reducing N loss in the crop production system and increasing corn grain yield. The hypothesis of this research is that managed drainage and enhanced efficiency fertilizer (polymer-coated urea) will synergistically increase corn yields and reduce NO3-N loss. The objective of this research is to determine the effects of managed drainage systems (MSD) and enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizer (PCU) on corn production, nitrogen use efficiency, and nitrogen loss through the subsurface drainage system. 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
Research was initiated in July 2010 in a Putnam silt loam (Greenley site) and Wabash silty-clay (Bee Ridge site). Water samples and flow were collected and monitored from the drainage systems at both sites year around using automated collection systems and flow monitoring equipment. Water samples were analyzed for nitrate-N, ortho-phosphate, and sediment concentration. Water flowing out of subsurface drainage systems was typically restricted over the period of Oct. through Apr. with MSD, while conventional subsurface drainage systems (CSD) had unrestricted water flow over the same period of time. Supplemental data including ammonia volatilization, nitrous oxide gas loss, and soil nitrogen concentration were also collected at the Greenley site which allows us to better understand how subsurface drainage systems and enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizer impacted corn production, nitrogen loss, and fertilizer use efficiency.
Publications
- Belcher, H.W. and F.M. D'itri (Eds.). 1995. Subirrigation and controlled drainage. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL. pp. 482. Beyrouty, C.A., L.E. Sommers., and D.W. Nelson. 1988. Ammonia volatilization from surface-applied urea as affected by several phosphoroamide compounds. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 52:1173-1178 Cambardella, C.C., T.B. Moorman, D.B. Jaynes, J.L. Hatfield, T.B. Parkin, W.W. Simpkins, and D.L. Karlen. 1999. Water quality in Walnut Creek watershed: Nitrate-nitrogen in soils, subsurface drainage water, and shallow groundwater. J. Environ. Qual. 28:25-34. Drury, C.F., C.S. Tan, J.D. Gaynor, T.O. Oloyo, I.J. Van Vesenbeeck, and D.J. McKenney. 1997. Optimizing corn production and reducing nitrate losses with water table control-subirrigation. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 61:889-895. Drury, C.F., C.S. Tan, J.D. Gaynor, T.O. Oloya, and T.W. Welacky. 1996. Influence of controlled drainage-subirrigation on surface and tile drainage nitrate loss. J. Environ. Qual. 25:317-324. Drury, C.F., C.S. Tan, W.D. Rynolds, T.W. Welacky, T.O. Oloya, and J.D. Gaynor. 2009. Managing tile drainage, subirrigation, and nitrogen fertilization to enhance crop yields and reduce nitrate losss. J. Environ. Qual. 38:1193-1204. Fausey, N.R., L.C. Brown, H.W. Belcher, and R.S. Kanwar. 1995. Drainage and water quality in Great Lakes and cornbelt states. J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 121:283-288. Frankenberger, J., E. Kladivko, G. Sands, D. Jaynes, N. Fausey, M. Helmers, R. Cooke, J. Strock, K. Nelson, and L. Brown. 2006. Drainage water management for the Midwest: Questions and answers about drainage water management for the Midwest. Purdue Ext., p. 8. Griggs, B.R., R.J. Norman, C.E. Wilson, Jr., and N.A. Slaton. 2007. Ammonia volatilization and nitrogen uptake for conventional and conservation tilled dry-seeded, delayed-flood rice. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 71:745-751. Hunter, W.J. 2001. Remediation of drinking water for rural populations. p. 433-460 in R.F. Follett and J.L. Hatfield (ed.) Nitrogen in the environment: Sources, problems, and management. Elsevier Science B.V, The Netherlands. Knox, E., and D.W. Moody. 1991. Influence of hydrology, soil properties, and agricultural land use on nitrogen in ground water. pp. 1-7 in R.F. Follett et al. (ed.) Managing nitrogen for ground water quality and farm profitability. SSSA, Madison, WI. Nelson, K.A., C.G. Meinhardt, and R.L. Smoot. 2010. MU drainage and subirrigation (MUDS) research update. Greenley Memorial Research Center Field Day Report. pp. 12-23. Nelson, K.A., S.M. Paniagua, and P.P. Motavalli. 2009. Effect of polymer coated urea, irrigation, and drainage on nitrogen utilization and yield of corn in a claypan soil. Agron. J. 101:681-687. Shaviv, A., and R.L. Mikkelsen. 1993. Controlled-release fertilizers to increase efficiency of nutrient use and minimize environmental degradation-A review. Fert. Res. 35:1-12. Skaggs, R. W. 1999. Water table management: subirrigation and controlled drainage. Pages 695-718 in R. W. Skaggs and J. van Schilfgaarde (ed.) Agricultural drainage. Agron. Monogr. 38. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1995. Drinking Water Relations and Health Advisories. Office of Water, Washington, D.C. Zucker, L.A. and L.C. Brown (Eds.). 1998. Agriculture drainage: water quality impacts and subsurface drainage studies in the Midwest. Ohio State University Extension Bulletin 871. The Ohio State University. pp. 40.
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