Progress 01/01/12 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences include farmers, crop consultants, retail and industry agronomists, and local/state/federal agency personnel. Audiences were reached through various methods including field days, conferences, workshops, webinars, online self-paced training, and online videos. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Results from this study were incorporated into larger educational workshops titled "Managing Nutrients on Wisconsin Soils" and "Training for Nutrient Management Planners". Workshop attendees use the training for continuing education credits towards Certified Crop Advisor certification and/or employer professional development. Results were also presented at the Wisconsin Agribusiness Classic. Attendees included local/state/federal agency personnel, Extension staff, tech school instructors, consulting agronomists, retail agronomists, and farmers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?See opportunities for training and professional development. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Through this project we have documented spatial variability in corn yield response to nitrogen along with variability in plant available nitrogen in manure as a result of manure application timing, treatment of manure, and use of a nitrification inhibitor. The variability arises from a number of factors including weather, soil chemical properties, and soil biological properties. The spatial variability is soil N mineralization, as measured by differential corn yield response, was much greater than expected. This means that the amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed to produce profitable yields varied across the field. This study was the first to explore spatial variability like this in Wisconsin. The datasets developed from this study will be used in an effort to improve manure nitrogen crediting tools for farmers. When farmers have better nitrogen management tools and confidence in using them, they will feel more comfortable implementing different farm management practices that may reduce reactive N in our water and air. In season crop sensing is a relatively new precision agriculture tool that may improve nitrogen management by precisely matching nitrogen need with crop need at any given location in a field. While this technology is being implemented in other growing regions, it needs to be evaluated and calibrated to Wisconsin's soils and climate. This study collected some of the preliminary data that will be used along with other data collected across the state to start developing the technology for use in Wisconsin. There are approximately 4 million acres of corn planted in Wisconsin annually. Over the next five to ten years, if this research can result in a reduction of 10 pounds per acre of nitrogen annually on just 10 percent of corn acres, that will result in 4 million pounds of nitrogen that is not being lost to the environment. Negligible yield loss would occur with this small of a reduction in nitrogen. As a result, there is a potential annual cost savings of $1.4 million for farmers and $280,000 for water treatment.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Laboski, C.A.M. and T.W. Andraski. 2017. Use of nitrification inhibitors in manure. Proceedings of the Wisconsin Agribusiness Classic. https://extension.soils.wisc.edu/agconference/
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences include farmers, crop consultants, retail and industry agronomists, and local/state/federal agency personnel. Audiences were reached through various methods including field days, conferences, workshops, webinars, online self-paced training, and online videos. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Knowledge gained during this study has been useful in developing curricula for University of Wisconsin-Extension programs/meetings/workshops. Products are outlines elsewhere in this report. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Preliminary data from this research has been used in several training meetings or workshops sponsored by University of Wisconsin-Extension. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we will completeall field soil and plant sample collection and analyze the samples. The final database will be compiled and data will be analyzed statistically.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In the fouthyear of this project, we continued sample collection at the final twosecond-year sites. Products that have resulted from this research are outlined elsewhere in this report.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Laboski, C.A.M., J.J. Camberato, and J.E. Sawyer. 2014. Evaluation of Adapt-N in the Corn Belt. Proc. North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conf. 30-7-14.
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences include farmers, crop consultants, retail and industry agronomists, and local/state/federal agency personnel. Audiences were reached through various methods including field days, conferences, workshops, and webinars. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Knowledge gained during this study has been useful in developing curricula for University of Wisconsin-Extension programs/meeting/workshops. Products are outlines elsewhere in this report. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Prelimary data from this research has been used in several training meetings or workshops sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Extension. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we will be analyzing samples and running statistical analysis. The 2015 growing season will be the last year of the study, so samples will continue to be collected from the field research.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In the third year of this project, we continued sample collection at three second-year sites and two first-year sites. Products that have resulted from this research are outlined elsewhere in this report.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Laboski, C.A.M., W.E. Jokela, T.W. Andraski. 2014. Dairy Manure Application Method and Timing Influence Nitrogen Availability to Corn. In Annual Meetings Abstracts ASA CSSA SSSA, Madison, WI.
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Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences reached include farmers, crop consultants, retail and insustry agronomists, and local/state/federal agency personnel. Audiences were reached through various methods including field days, conferences, workshops, and webinars. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? A graduate student and several undergraduate students worked on this project. They received training in conducting field plot resaerch. The graduate student attended two conferences; one on using sensors for improved nitrogen use efficiency, the other a Soil Science Soceity of America sponsored conference titled“Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Crop & Livestock Production Systems: Existing Technical, Economic, & Social Impediments and Future Opportunities”. 13-15 August, Kansas City, MO. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The research project has been discussed and preliminary results have been disseminated to farmers, crop consultants, retail and insustry agronomists, and local/state/federal agency personnel through field days and webinar. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continure working ont he project to meet goals.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Impact: Nitrate loss from agricultural production is a significant threat to both surface and ground water quality and subsequently human and ecosystem health. Improving our knowledge of nitrogen cycling in the soil system along with crop utilization will result in improved decision-making tools that allow farmers to balance economic productivity and environmental quality. In Wisconsin, corn is the largest crop by acreage, 4.35 million acres, that requires nitrogen from fertilizer or animal manure to maximize productivity. If nitrogen management can be improved to reduce nitrate loss by 10 pounds per acre on just 10% of the corn acres, nitrate loss will be reduced by 4.35 million pounds. At the farm level, this translates into a 17.4 million dollar savings on fertilizer. Objective 1: To develop a greater fundamental knowledge of the processes controlling soil N and C cycling, with particular attention to the role of factors such as soil, climate and cropping systems on the amounts of soil N supplied to crops and N loss from soils. Major activities completed: Three field research studies were established at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station and on two private farms in fall 2012. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications of each treatment. Injected manure was applied at three different times (early fall, late fall, and spring). Manure treatments include: 12,000 gal/a raw; 12,000 gal/a of digested/separated manure both with and without nitrification inhibitor (NI); and two no manure strips per replication. Within each manure treatment and on one of the no manure strips, six N fertilizer rates (0 to 200 lb N/a) were applied at sidedress. The second no manure strip will be used to evaluate second year manure N credits during the 2014 growing season.In fall 2013, early fall and late fall manure treatments were established at three new study sites in preparation for the 2014 growing season. Data collected: Manure samples were collected at each time of application and analyzed for nutrient and carbon content. One-foot soil samples were collected in subplots assigned the 0 lb N/a rate prior to sidedress N application. These samples will be analyzed for nitrate and ammonium and will be used to assess in situ N mineralization. Soil was collected in one-foot depth increments to four feet in some of the treatments after harvest and analyzed for nitrate and ammonium. Potential nitrate loss to groundwater will be determined by calculating the changes in soil nitrate concentrations at various depths between sampling periods. Crop canopy reflectance measurements were taken in all plots every 10 days throughout the growing season. The effect of various treatments on NDVI and other vegetative indices will be assessed. Air temperature and rainfall along with and soil moisture and temperature at four inches were measured at each site throughout the growing season. This information will be used to help interpret soil inorganic N concentrations early in the growing season. Weather and N mineralization estimates combined will be used to explain differences in whole plant N uptake and N use efficiency between manure treatments. Summary statistics and discussion of results: Corn grain and silage yield response to applied N fertilizer were modeled. Economic optimum N rate was determined using regression analysis and N recovery efficiency was calculated. Manure N availability will be determined using the fertilizer replacement value concept along with comparing optimum N rates for each manure treatment and application timing. The relationship between N fertilizer rate and residual soil nitrate post harvest will be described using regression analysis. This relationship will be used in conjunction with the yield response relationship to determine the amount of residual nitrate that would be expected when the economically optimum N rate is applied. Combined this information will provide some estimation of how environmentally protective University N rate guidelines are. Key outcomes or other accomplishments realized: none Objective 2: To reassess current N rate and management practice recommendations Major activities completed: This objective cannot be completed until objective 1 is nearer completion. Data collected: none Summary statistics and discussion of results: none Key outcomes or other accomplishments realized: none Objective 3: To develop user-friendly N management decision-making tools for use by growers Major activities completed: This objective cannot be completed until objective 1 is nearer completion. Data collected: none Summary statistics and discussion of results: none Key outcomes or other accomplishments realized: none
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Laboski, C.A.M. and T.W. Andraski. 2013. Efficacy of Instinct to improve nitrogen use efficiency of manure and fertilizer. Proc. Wis. Crop Management Conf. 52:138.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Laboski, C.A.M., W. Jokela, and T.W. Andraski. 2013. Dairy manure application methods: N credits, gaseous N losses, and corn yield. Proc. Wis. Crop Management Conf. 52:20-31.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Sawyer, J.E, C.A.M. Laboski, and E. Nafziger. 2012. Maximum return to nitrogen (MRTN) method for nitrogen recommendations for corn. In Annual meetings abstracts [CD-ROM]. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI.
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Three field research studies were established at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station and on two private farms in fall 2011 and 2012. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications of each treatment. Injected manure was applied at three different times (early fall, late fall, and spring). Manure treatments include the following: 12,000 gal/a raw; 12,000 gal/a of digested/separated manure both with and without nitrification inhibitor (NI); and two no manure strips per replication. Within each manure treatment and on one of the no manure strips, six N fertilizer rates (0 to 224 kg/ha) were applied at sidedress. The second no manure strip will be used to evaluate second year manure N credits during the 2013 growing season. Manure samples were collected from manure at each time of application and analyzed for nutrient and carbon content. Weekly from early-June through mid-July, 30-cm soil samples were collected in subplots (with corn and without corn) of plots that received manure, but no additional fertilizer N. These samples will be analyzed for nitrate and ammonium and will be used to assess in situ N mineralization. In the subplots that contained corn, whole plant samples were collected every other week and used to determine biomass and total N uptake. Soil was collected in 30-cm depth increments 120 cm depth in some of the treatments after harvest and analyzed for nitrate and ammonium. Potential nitrate loss to groundwater will be determined by calculating the changes in soil nitrate concentrations at various depths between sampling periods. Crop canopy reflectance measurements were taken in all plots every 7 to 10 days throughout the growing season. The effect of various treatments on NDVI and other vegetative indices will be assessed. Air temperature and rainfall along with and soil moisture and temperature at 10 cm were measured at each site throughout the growing season. This information will be used to help interpret soil inorganic N concentrations early in the growing season. Weather and N mineralization estimates combined will be used to explain differences in whole plant N uptake and N use efficiency between manure treatments. Corn grain and silage yield response to applied N fertilizer were modeled. Economic optimum N rate was determined using regression analysis and N recovery efficiency was calculated. Manure N availability will be determined using the fertilizer replacement value concept along with comparing optimum N rates for each manure treatment and application timing. The relationship between N fertilizer rate and residual soil nitrate post harvest will be described using regression analysis. This relationship will be used in conjunction with the yield response relationship to determine the amount of residual nitrate that would be expected when the economically optimum N rate is applied. Combined, this information will provide some estimation of how environmentally protective University N rate guidelines are. In fall 2012, early fall and late fall manure treatments were established at three new study sites in preparation for the 2012 growing season. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who worked on the project include Carrie Laboski - PI: administrative tasks, developed relationships with partner organizations and collaborators, experimental design, overall project management; Todd Andraski - researcher: coordinated treatment establishment, assisted with data collection and analysis; Ken Hubbard - graduate research assistant: responsible for all data collection, plot maintenance, data analysis, and database management; Peter Wakeman - research specialist; Caroline D'Huyvetter - undergraduate student: assisted with sample collection and plot maintenance; Luke Voss - undergraduate student: assisted with sample collection and plot maintenance. Partner organizations include Dow AgroSciences, Wisconsin Fertilizer Research Program. Collaborators include Crave Brothers Farm, Statz Brothers Farm, NuSolutions Agronomy. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Two of the three study sites in 2012 were strongly influenced by drought. Yield data from these two sites will not be useful because yield levels were approximately 30% lower than normal and variability between replications within a treatment was very high. It is expected that early season soil sampling will still be useful for assessing soil and manure N mineralization at these sites. Soil and plant samples are still being analyzed in the lab. At this point in time it is too early to disseminate any information.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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