Progress 08/08/01 to 05/31/06
Outputs
Progress Report 1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? This project is aligned with NP202 - Soil Resource Management. This research focuses on determining how to measure and interpret soil quality indicator data so that the soil quality concept can be used as a tool to evaluate the sustainability of land uses and soil management practices. Projects are designed to identify appropriate biological (e.g. potentially mineralizable nitrogen or microbial biomass), chemical (e.g. pH, electrical conductivity, or nutrient concentrations), and physical (e. g. aggregate stability or bulk density) indicators for assessing soil quality by region and/or management practices throughout the U.S. Laboratory and field-plot studies are used to understand how various indicators change due to inherent (naturally occurring) or dynamic (management based) forces.
The research is important because relationships between indicator changes and nutrient cycling, water-use efficiencies, and environmental endpoints such as runoff and leaching can be used to evaluate sustainability of various soil and crop management practices. To combine the biological, chemical, and physical indicator data into meaningful information that can be used as a management tool, user friendly techniques for indexing soil quality are being developed and tested by both researchers and participatory user groups (e.g., farmers, crop consultants, and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field personnel). This research is needed because the soil quality concept is being incorporated into "Conservation Effects Assessment Program" (CEAP) research and the "Conservation Security Program" (CSP). 2. List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) Rhizotron Soil Study 1. ASA presentation 2. initial hydrology test 3. second
hydrology test 4. ASA presentation 5. 15N/13C treatments 6. third hydrology test 7. manuscript prepared Compost/manure on N cylcing 8. data collection 9. manuscripts prepared Rotation/compost effects on 10. data collection partitioning 11. manuscripts prepared Cropping system effects 12. 6-yr yield assessment 13. soil quality evaluated 14. manuscript prepared Organic transition watershed 15. 10 ha certified organic scale 16. manuscript prepared 17. additional 10 ha certified Organic effects on soil quality 18. data collection 19. manuscript prepared 20. manuscript prepared Winter grazing soil quality effect 21. field study completed 22. manuscript prepared Soil quality in CA Central Valley 23. data collected/analyzed 24. focus groups review data 25. manuscript prepared Objective 2: Improve nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) use efficiency for both inorganic and organic nutrient sources
at field, farm, and watershed scales through use of appropriate soil quality indicators, environmental endpoints, and management strategies. Project Milestone Grazing trials 26. plot establishment 27. runoff collection 28. manuscript prepared Profile P 29. resin sheet technique developed 30. sampling/analysis 31. manuscript prepared Starter P 32. field trials 33. manuscript prepared Hybrid P response 34. greenhouse trials 35. field trial initiated 36. field study repeated 37. manuscript prepared P availability study 38. incubation study 39. manuscript prepared Tillage effect on P 40. site selection 41. monitoring 42. manuscript prepared Objective 3: Develop mechanistic models and predictive relationships to describe the persistence, bioavailability and transport of organic chemicals (herbicides, insecticides, antibiotics) in soils and
manure and incorporate this knowledge in soil quality assessments. Project Milestone Atrazine/Imidacloprid 43. degradation & bioavailability Sulfonylurea/Sulfanilimide 44. degradation & bioavailability Sorption kinetics 45. manuscript prepared Modeling 46. include in soil quality Objective 4: Developing soil quality assessment methodology for determining sustainability of various land management practices at field, watershed, and regional scales. Project Milestone Field/watershed analysis 47. digital elevation map 48. landscape manuscript 49. Nitrogen (N) budget model Regional analysis 50. Immobilized N accounted for in N-budget model Soil N trends 51. manuscript prepared 4a List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. Extended Crop Rotations Shown to Improve Soil Quality and
Profitability National Program Component #4, Soil Biology The Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) was used to confirm that extended crop rotations, including at least three years of forage crops in addition to corn and soybean, resulted in the highest soil quality rating and were more profitable than continuous corn in the absence of subsidy payments. Extended rotations had a positive effect on several soil quality indicators, although soil organic matter was the most sensitive because of its many effects on soil biological, chemical, and physical properties and processes. This research suggests that future conservation programs and policies should reward more diverse and extended crop rotations. 4b List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any. Potassium Deficiencies Increasing in Reduced-Tillage Operations Several studies including a long-term tillage and cropping system experiment and a no-till experiment on research plots near Ames, Iowa, have shown more
frequent potassium deficiency symptoms in both corn and soybean crops. Several factors including near surface stratification, increased bulk density, low aeration, higher soil water content, and lower soil temperatures may be contributing to this problem. A presentation at the annual Fluid Forum sponsored by the Fluid Fertilizer Foundation led to subsequent invitations to speak at the 2006 Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference and a producer group meeting in Washington, Iowa. In addition, information was shared with Twin State, Inc., a fertilizer industry leader in the Midwest. Because of the greater removal of potassium (K) with biomass than grain, this soil fertility issue is included in the new project plan developed to replace this project in 2006. Winter Triticale Reduces Potential for Nitrate Nitrogen Loss Winter triticale reduced profile NO3-N by an average of 33, 53, 46, and 53 kg ha-1 following silage corn or soybean at two Iowa sites. Maximum grain yields (3.0 Mg ha-1 to
4.1 Mg ha-1) were produced with 33 kg N ha-1 N fertilizer at one location and with no additional N fertilizer at the second location. The significant reduction in potential nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) loss demonstrates why triticale or a similar crop should be incorporated into current cropping corn and soybean systems for this region. 4c List significant activities that support special target populations. A new 8-acre research site for assessing soil and eventually water quality impacts of organic agriculture was established during FY2006. Oats with alfalfa interseeded were grown during the first year of transition. Organic management treatments will be imposed during 2007 as outlined in the 3625-12000-012-00D project plan. 5. Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. National Program Component #5, Productive and Sustainable Soil Management Systems Development of the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF), demonstration and documentation of
its application for several different types and scales of soil management studies, and its release on CD for further evaluation and improvement is one of the major accomplishments of this research project. The SMAF has helped demonstrate relationships among inherent soil properties and dynamic soil biological, chemical, and physical processes especially with regard to carbon (C) storage, soil aggregation, phosphorus (P) cycling and N use efficiency. Primary users include scientists, NRCS personnel, and land managers interested in developing more sustainable soil and crop management systems and the tools needed to identify those practices and systems. The problem solved by the SMAF was how to scientifically and logically incorporate soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and processes into an evaluation tool that could be easily used to guide and improve land management practices. The research and technology transfer efforts associated with this project have contributed to
the knowledge base that has resulted in the incorporation of soil quality as a goal for Farm Bill programs such as the CSP and the CEAP. 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Attention to Potassium Enhances No-till Corn and Soybean Yield The need to not overlook potassium was emphasized in a presentation at the 2006 Fluid Forum in Scottsdale, Arizona. Soil and plant analysis confirmed that low potassium was contributing to slow early-season growth and development and lower corn and soybean yields in long-term no-till plots near Ames, Iowa. Use of sodium-saturated exchange resins documented that the surface applied K solution penetrated the soil surface to a depth where new plant roots could take it up. The presentation resulted in
invitations to speak at the 2006 Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference and a producer group meeting in Washington, Iowa. The key finding for producers and crop consultants is to not overlook potassium when developing their overall nutrient management plans. Fertilizer Placement Affects Profile P Distribution Invited presentations at the at the annual meeting of the American Society of Agronomy (Salt Lake City, UT) and Simplot Fluid Forum (Minot, ND) described current research being conducted on the distribution of soil bioavailable P in the soil profile, following surface applications of liquid fertilizers. This knowledge benefits both producers and the fertilizer industry by allowing these end users to be confidant that solution P fertilizers are being used effectively, with minimal impact on the environment. Effectiveness of Conservation Practices Evaluated National Soil Tilth Laboratory (NSTL) scientists and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources collaborated to develop a
document that evaluates the impact of various conservation practices on Iowas surface water quality. Selected practices were outlined in the Legislator Newsletter in October 2005 for Iowas legislative leaders. Landscape Position Can Affect Soil Water Availability The potential impact of landscape position on estimates of available plant water were discussed and presented to the scientific community at the World Congress of Soil Science, July 10-14, 2006, Philadelphia. Customer: Scientists interested in landscape effect on soil water use. 7. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Out of Sight crop rotation benefits are more than meets the eye was written by Cindy Snyder for a special bonus page in the December 2005 issue of Successful Farming. Center-Funded Research Confirms Link between Extended Crop Rotations, Soil Quality was written by
Laura Miller to show how an investment by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture into the ARS research project examining the benefits of extended crop rotation paid off for both parties. This article was written for the Leopold Letter and subsequently resulted in a request for a radio interview discussing the research. Kovar, J.L. Positional Availability of Phosphorus from Fall-Applied Surface Bands Proc. 2006 Fluid Forum. Fluid Fertilizer Foundation, Manhattan, KS (available on CD Rom) 2006. Karlen, D.L. and J.L. Kovar. 2006. Is potassium limiting no-till corn yields? Proc. Great Plains Soil Fertility Conf. Mar. 7-8, Denver, CO. 11:206-211. 2006. Karlen, D.L. and J.L. Kovar. No-Till Corn Response To Banded K on Des Moines Lobe Soils. Proc. 2006 Fluid Forum. Fluid Fertilizer Foundation, Manhattan, KS (available on CD Rom) 2006. Karlen, D.L., S.S. Andrews, T.M. Zobeck, and B.J. Wienhold. Soil Quality Assessment: A Potential Policy Tool to Move beyond T. Proc. 18th World
Congress of Soil Science. (available on CD Rom) 2006. Logsdon, S.D. Plant Available Water Modified by Landscape. Proc. 18th World Congress of Soil Science. July 10-14, 2006, Philadelphia, PA. (available on CD Rom) 2006. Kovar, J.L. Differences in Plant Growth and Phosphorus Uptake among Three Riparian Grass Species. Proc. 18th World Congress of Soil Science. July 10-14, 2006, Philadelphia, PA. (available on CD Rom) 2006
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Kovar, J.L., Claassen, N. 2005. Plant growth and phosphorus uptake kinetics of three riparian grass species [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting. Nov. 6-10, 2005, Salt Lake City, UT.
- Moeller, S.L., Kovar, J.L., Russell, J.R. 2005. Potential phosphorus losses from streambanks in grazing lands [CD-ROM]. In: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts, Nov. 6-10, 2005, Salt Lake City, UT.
- Karlen, D.L., Clark, J., Russell, J., Busby, D., Peterson, B., Singleton, P. 2005. Effects of grazing corn stalks on soil physical properties. In: Proceedings of the Heart of American Grazing Conference, January 19-20, 2005, Wilmington, OH.
- Karlen, D.L., Kovar, J.L. 2005. Is K the Cinderella nutrient for reduced tillage systems? [CD-ROM] In: Fluid Fertilizer Foundation Symposium Proceedings, Feb. 13-15, 2005, Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Schwarte, A.J., Gibson, L.R., Karlen, D.L., Liebman, M., Jannink, J. 2005. Planting date effects on winter triticale dry matter and nitrogen accumulation. Agronomy Journal. 97:1333-1341.
- Karlen, D.L., Franzluebbers, A.J., Busscher, W.J., Baumhardt, R.L., Wright, R.J., Jawson, M.D. 2005. The soil resource management national program -- challenges and opportunities [CD-ROM]. In: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts, Nov. 6-10, 2005, Salt Lake City, UT.
- Schroeder, P.D., Kovar, J.L. 2005. Comparison of phosphorus sorption and desorption from an established buffer and adjacent production field [CD- ROM]. In: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts, Nov. 6-10, 2005, Salt Lake City, UT.
- Kovar, J.L. 2005. What limits phosphorus fertilizer efficiency [CD-ROM]? In: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts, Nov. 6-10, 2005, Salt Lake City, UT.
- Zaimes, G.N., Schultz, R.C., Isenhart, T.M., Mickelson, S.K., Kovar, J.L., Russell, J.R., Powers, W.J. 2005. Stream bank erosion under different riparian land-use practices in northeast Iowa. In: Proceedings of the North American Agroforestry Conference. 9th North American Agroforestry Conference, June 12-15, 2005, Rochester, MN. 2005 CD-ROM.
- Karlen, D.L., Kovar, J.L. 2005. Is K the Cinderella nutrient for reduced- till systems? Fluid Journal. 13(4):8-11.
- Kovar, J.L. 2006. Positional availability of phosphorus from fall-applied surface bands. In: Fluid Fertilizer Foundation Symposium Proceedings, February 12-14, 2006, Scottsdale, AZ. 2006 CDROM.
- Schroeder, P.D., Kovar, J.L. 2006. Comparison of organic and inorganic phosphorus fractions in an established buffer and adjacent production field. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 37:1219-1232.
- Schwarte, A.J., Gibson, L.R., Karlen, D.L., Liebman, M., Jannink, J. 2006. Planting date effects on winter triticale grain yield and yield commponents. Crop Science. 46:1218-1224.
- Karlen, D.L., Kovar, J.L. 2006. No-till corn response to banded K on Des Moines lobe soils. In: Fluid Fertilizer Foundation Symposium Proceedings. Fluid Feritlizer Forum 2006, February 12-14, 2006, Scottsdale, AZ. 2006 CD- ROM
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? This research focuses on determining how to measure and interpret soil quality indicator data so that the soil quality concept can be used as a tool to evaluate the sustainability of land uses and soil management practices. Projects are designed to identify appropriate biological (e.g., potentially mineralizable nitrogen or microbial biomass), chemical (e.g., pH, electrical conductivity, or nutrient concentrations), and physical (e.g., aggregate stability or bulk density) indicators for assessing soil quality by region and/or management practice throughout the U.S. Laboratory and field-plot studies are used to understand how various indicators change due to inherent (naturally occurring) or dynamic (management based) forces. The research is important because relationships between indicator changes and
nutrient cycling, water use efficiencies, and environmental endpoints such as runoff and leaching can be used to evaluate sustainability of various soil and crop management practices. To combine the biological, chemical, and physical indicator data into meaningful information that can be used as a management tool, user-friendly techniques for indexing soil quality are being developed and tested by both researchers and participatory user groups (for example, farmers, crop consultants, and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field personnel). This research is needed because the soil quality concept is being incorporated into "Conservation Effects Assessment Program" (CEAP) research and the "Conservation Security Program" (CSP). 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Project Milestone Objective 1: Determine how soil management practices, including tillage, extended crop rotation, compost and/or manure applications,
organic farming practices, perennial grasses, and forages affect sensitivity and response of various soil quality indicators. Rhizotron Soil Study 1. ASA presentation 2. initial hydrology test 3. second hydrology test 4. ASA presentation 5. 15N/13C treatments 6. third hydrology test 7. manuscript prepared Compost/manure on N cylcing 8. data collection 9. manuscripts prepared Rotation/compost effects on 10. data collection partitioning 11. manuscripts prepared Cropping system effects 12. 6-yr yield assessment 13. soil quality evaluated 14. manuscript prepared Organic transition watershed 15. 10 ha certified organic scale 16. manuscript prepared 17. additional 10 ha certified Organic effects on soil quality 18. data collection 19. manuscript prepared 20. manuscript prepared Winter grazing soil quality effect 21. field study completed 22. manuscript prepared Soil quality
in CA Central Valley 23. data collected/analyzed 24. focus groups review data 25. manuscript prepared Objective 2: Improve nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) use efficiency for both inorganic and organic nutrient sources at field, farm, and watershed scales through use of appropriate soil quality indicators, environmental endpoints, and management strategies. Project Milestone Grazing trials 26. plot establishment 27. runoff collection 28. manuscript prepared Profile P 29. resin sheet technique developed 30. sampling/analysis 31. manuscript prepared Starter P 32. field trials 33. manuscript prepared Hybrid P response 34. greenhouse trials 35. field trial initiated 36. field study repeated 37. manuscript prepared P availability study 38. incubation study 39. manuscript prepared Tillage effect on P 40. site selection 41. monitoring 42.
manuscript prepared Objective 3: Develop mechanistic models and predictive relationships to describe the persistence, bioavailability and transport of organic chemicals (herbicides, insecticides, antibiotics) in soils and manure and incorporate this knowledge in soil quality assessments. Project Milestone Atrazine/Imidacloprid 43. degradation & bioavailability Sulfonylurea/Sulfanilimide 44. degradation & bioavailability Sorption kinetics 45. manuscript prepared Modeling 46. include in soil quality Objective 4: Developing soil quality assessment methodology for determining sustainability of various land management practices at field, watershed, and regional scales. Project Milestone Field/watershed analysis 47. digital elevation map 48. landscape manuscript 49. N budget modelYes Regional analysis 50. Immobilized N accounted for in
N-budget model Soil N trends 51. manuscript prepared 3a List the milestones that were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2005. For each milestone, indicate the status: fully met, substantially met, or not met. If not met, why. 7. Rhizotron Soil Study - manuscript preparation. Milestone Substantially Met 9. Compost/manure on N cycling - manuscript prepared. Milestone Fully Met 11. Rotation/compost effects on carbon partitioning - manuscripts prepared. Milestone Fully Met 14. Cropping system effects - manuscript prepared. Milestone Fully Met 16. Organic transition watershed scale - manuscript prepared. Milestone Substantially Met 17. Organic transition watershed scale - additional 10 ya certified. Milestone Not Met Other 20. Organic effects on soil quality - manuscript prepared. Milestone Substantially Met 28. Grazing trials - manuscript prepared. Milestone Substantially Met 31. Profile P - manuscript prepared. Milestone Substantially Met 33. Starter P - manuscript
prepared. Milestone Substantially Met 36. Hybrid P response - field study repeated. Milestone Fully Met 37. Hybrid P response - manuscript prepared. Milestone Substantially Met 39. P availability study - manuscript prepared. Milestone Substantially Met 42. Tillage effect on P - manuscript prepared. Milestone Not Met Other 46. Sulfonylurea/Sulfanilimide Sorption kinetics Modeling - include in soil quality. Milestone Not Met Progress slowed by resource limitation (human,fiscal,equipment, etc. 3b List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2006, 2007, and 2008). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? Current project terminates in 2006 - new milestones will address the following objectives as identified in the current PDRAM and Prospectus: * Assess and monitor the effectiveness of past, present, and future soil resource management practices using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). * Develop
innovative, ecologically-based crop and soil nutrient management practices for enhanced productivity and negligible off-site agricultural impacts. * Conduct field-scale evaluations of selected conservation practices to support the Conservation Effects Assessment Program (CEAP) and quantify landscape effects on soil water and nutrient availability. The anticipated impact of these evaluations will be refinement of the SMAF tool for use in evaluating alternate soil and crop management practices for Farm Bill programs such as the Conservation Security Program (CSP). 4a What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) A framework for assessing the impact of soil management practices on soil function was developed and documented in the Soil Science Society of America Journal. A prototype version was also made available on a CD for further evaluation and refinement by researchers and land managers. The framework design allows
researchers to continually update and refine the interpretations for many soils, climates, and land use practices. It was demonstrated using case study data from Georgia, Iowa, California, and the Pacific Northwest (WA, ID, OR). A minimum set of indicators can be chosen using an expert system with decision rules or by an expert panel. Measured indicator data are then transformed into unitless scores based on site-specific algorithmic relationships to soil function. Scored values or a combined index using all scored values can then be used to scientifically and statistically defend treatment differences due to land management. The SMAF is currently being used to evaluate effects of conservation practices on soil quality at sites associated with the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) and for quantifying the impact of removing crop residues for bio-energy or bio-fuel production on soil resources. 4b List other significant accomplishments, if any. Several studies including a
soil fertility evaluation within the South Fork CEAP watershed in north-central Iowa and a long-term tillage and cropping system experiment on research plots near Ames, Iowa have shown more frequent potassium deficiency symptoms in both corn and soybean crops. Several factors including near surface stratification, increased bulk density, low aeration, higher soil water content, and lower soil temperatures may be contributing to this problem. A presentation at the annual Fluid Forum sponsored by the Fluid Fertilizer Foundation led to a subsequent popular press release and at least two additional requests for information. Because of the greater removal of potassium (K) with biomass than grain, this soil fertility issue is included in the new project plan being developed to replace this project in 2006. Triticale Helps Diversify Midwestern Cropping Systems Winter triticale can provide a sink for residual soil N in the fall, soil protection from early-season thunderstorms in the spring
and a source of lysine and other essential nutrients for swine if used to diversify current Midwestern cropping systems. An evaluation of above-ground dry matter production, grain yield, N concentration and removal indicated that dry matter production was greatest when at least 300 growing degree days accumulated between sowing and December 31st. Additional studies are being conducted to quantify N requirements for the crop, to determine how it affects several soil quality indicators, and to evaluate feed quality and animal performance when fed to swine in various diets. Adoption of Late-Spring Nitrate Test (LSNT) May Increase Producer Risk A four-year on-farm evaluation of the LSNT within a sub-basin of the Walnut Creek Watershed near Ames, Iowa showed that although watershed- scale implementation of the LSNT can reduce nitrate loss through drainage water, it may also increase producer risk, especially when above-normal rainfall occurs shortly after the sidedress N fertilizer is
applied. To encourage adoption of the LSNT program for its water quality benefits, we suggest that federal, state, or private agencies develop affordable risk insurance or some other financial incentives to help producers minimize the potential crop risk associated with this management practice. 4c List any significant activities that support special target populations. Dr. Cambardella served on the organizing committee for an ARS Workshop on Organic Farming held in January 2005 in Austin, TX. The workshop brought organic farmers together with ARS scientists to identify critical research areas. Research projects in cooperation with colleagues at Iowa State University (ISU) are also being continued. These plot-scale and on- farm research studies are designed to assist organic farmers by quantifyiing crop rotation effects on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling within certified organic production systems. Soil quality impacts of organic farming practices are also being quantified. This
information is needed to help these organic producers develop more efficient, profitable, and environmentally sound nutrient management practices. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. Development of the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF), demonstration and documentation of its application for several different types and scales of soil management studies, and its release on CD for further evaluation and improvement is one of the major accomplishments of this research project. The SMAF has helped demonstrate relationships among inherent soil properties and dynamic soil biological, chemical, and physical processes - especially with regard to C storage, soil aggregation, P cycling and N-use efficiency. Primary users include scientists, NRCS personnel, and land managers interested in developing more sustainable soil and crop management systems and the tools needed to identify those practices and systems.
The problem solved by the SMAF was how to scientifically and logically incorporate soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and processes into an evaluation tool that could be easily used to guide and improve land management practices. The research and technology transfer efforts associated with this project have contributed to the knowledge base that has resulted in the incorporation of soil quality as a goal for Farm Bill programs such as the Conservation Security Program (CSP) and the CEAP (Conservation Effects Assessment Project). 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Winter Grazing Effects on Soil Quality Indicators Effects of winter grazing corn stalks on various soil quality indicators and subsequent crop yields were
discussed at the Heart of America Grazing Conference in Wilmington, Ohio. Grazing effects on soil bulk density, penetration resistance, aggregate stability, surface roughness, stand establishment and soybean yield from a three-year on-farm study were presented. Key findings were that penetration resistance and surface roughness were increased the most when soils were wet and temperatures were above freezing during the grazing period. Producers who want to graze corn stover but minimize risk for having lower soybean yield the following year should either restrict grazing to periods when soils are frozen or consider pre-plant tillage to loosen and prepare a better seedbed. Attention to Potassium Enhances No-till Corn and Soybean Yield The need to not overlook potassium was emphasized in a presentation at the 2005 Fluid Forum in Scottsdale, Arizona. Soil and plant analysis confirmed that low potassium was contributing to slow early-season growth and development and lower corn and soybean
yields in long-term no-till plots near Ames, Iowa. In 2004, a knifed-in dry fertilizer band, surface- applied liquid band or broadcast application of 30 pounds of potassium per acre all increased corn and soybean yield compared to the control. Use of sodium-saturated exchange resins documented that the surface applied K solution penetrated the soil surface to a depth where new plant roots could take it up. The presentation resulted in an ARS news release which resulted in contacts for at least two follow-up popular press articles. The key finding for producers and crop consultants is to not overlook potassium when developing their overall nutrient management plans. Fertilizer Placement Affects Profile P Distribution A presentation at the 228th American Chemical Society National Meeting described current research being conducted on the distribution of soil bioavailable P in the soil profile, following surface applications of liquid fertilizers. This knowledge benefits both producers
and the fertilizer industry by allowing these end users to be confidant that solution P fertilizers are being used effectively, with minimal impact on the environment. 7. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). No-Till Can Reduce Yields, Study Shows - a popular press article written for the Cedar Rapids Gazette by Ms. Marlene Lucas discusses the potassium availability research associated with reduced tillage systems in Iowa. Published on July 10, 2005. Karlen, D.L. and J.L. Kovar. Is K the Cinderella Nutrient for Reduced Tillage Systems? Proc. 2005 Fluid Forum. Fluid Fertilizer Foundation, Manhattan, KS (available on CD-ROM). 2005. Karlen, D.L. Effects of Grazing Corn Stalks on Soil Physical Properties. p. 24-31. In: Proc. 2005 Heart of America Grazing Conference, Jan. 19-20, 2005. Wilmington, OH. Available from NRCS, Lancaster, OH. Kovar,
J.L., P.D. Schroeder, and W.M. Jarrell. Use of Anion Exchange Membranes to Characterize Positional Availability of Soil Phosphorus. ACS FERT Symposium Abstracts, Philadelphia, PA. 22-26 August 2004. CD-ROM. 2004.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Karlen, D.L., Jaynes, D.B., Pellack, L.S., Heikens, K.E. 2004. Soil, Wheat, and Sorghum Response to Tillage Under Rhizotron Conditions [CD-ROM]. ASA- CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Madison, Wisconsin.
- Delate, K., Cambardella, C.A., Burcham, B., Mc Kern, A. 2004. Beyond agronomics: Neely-Kinyon long-term agroecological research (LTAR) results in year six [CD-ROM]. Madison, WI. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts.
- Kelly, J.M., Kovar, J.L., Moorman, T.B., Sokolowsky, R. 2004. Phosphorus Uptake in a Loess Hills Mixed Species Riparian Buffer [CD-ROM]. ASA-CSSA- SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Madison, Wisconsin.
- Kovar, J.L., Claassen, N. 2005. Soil-root interactions and phosphorus nutrition of plants. Book Chapter. In: Sims, J.T. and Sharpley, A.N., editors. Phosphorus: Agriculture and the Environment. Madison, WI: ASA- CSSA-SSSA. p 379-414.
- Zaimes, G.N., Schultz, R.C., Isenhart, T.M., Mickelson, S.K., Kovar, J.L., Russell, J.R., Powers, W.P. 2004. Influence of Land-use Practices on Stream Bank Erosion in Iowa [CD-ROM]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Madison, Wisconsin.
- Wang, Z., Kelly, J.M., Kovar, J.L. 2005. Rhizosphere solution chemistry and the nutrient status of juvenile corn, cottonwood, and switchgrass plants. Plant and Soil Journal. 270:213-221.
- Kanwar, R.S., Cruse, R., Ghaffarzadeh, M., Bakhsh, A., Karlen, D.L., Bailey, T. 2005. Corn-soybean and alternative cropping systems effects on NO3-N leaching losses in subsurface drainage water. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 21(2):181-188.
- Karlen, D.L. 2004. Soil Degradation in the United States: Extent, Severity, and Trends (A Book Review). Soil Science. 169(8):609-611.
- Karlen, D.L., Dinnes, D.L., Jaynes, D.B., Hurburgh, C.R., Cambardella, C.A. , Colvin, T.S., Rippke, G.R. 2005. Corn response to late-spring nitrogen management in the Walnut Creek watershed. Agronomy Journal. 97:1054-1061.
- Cambardella, C.A., Andrews, S.S., Moorman, T.B. 2004. Multi-scale soil resource evaluation using the soil management assessment framework (SMAF) [abstract]. Soil and Water Conservation Society. Available: http://www. swcs.org/t_what2004confabstractsCONTACTS.htm
- Karlen, D.L. 2004. The Conservation and Improvememt of Sloping Land, Vol. 1: Practical Understanding (a book review). Journal of Environmental Quality. 33:1577-1578.
- Bakhsh, A., Kanwar, R.S., Karlen, D.L. 2005. Effects of liquid swine manure applications on NO3-N leaching losses to subsurface drainage water from loamy soils in Iowa. Agriculture Ecosystems and the Environment. 105:118-128.
- Karlen, D.L. 2004. Liquid swine manure management challenges on tile- drained soils. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 20(5):693-699.
- Clark, J.T., Russell, J.R., Karlen, D.L., Singleton, P.L., Busby, W.D., Peterson, B.C. 2004. Corn Stover Grazing Effects on Soil Physical Properties and Subsequent Soybean Yield. Agronomy Journal. 96(5):1364-1371.
- Schultz, R.C., Isenhart, T., Simpkins, W.W., Colletti, J., Raich, J., Mickelson, T., Cambardella, C.A., Parkin, T.B. 2003. Recreating natural riparian buffers in agroecosystems [CD-ROM]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Madison, Wisconin.
- Andrews, S.S., Karlen, D.L., Cambardella, C.A. 2004. The soil management assessment framework: a quantitative soil quality evaluation method with case studies. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 68:1945-1962.
- Delate, K., Cambardella, C.A. 2004. Agroecosystem performance during transition to certified organic grain production. Agronomy Journal. 96:1288-1298.
- Hatfield, J.L., Karlen, D.L. 2004. Implementing the SMAF for environmental quality policy: water quality implications in Iowa [abstract]. Soil and Water Conservation Society. Available: http://www.swcs. org/t_what2004confabstractsCONTACTS.htm.
- Liebman, M., Menalled, R.D., Buhler, D.D., Richard, T.L., Sundberg, D.N., Cambardella, C.A., Kohler, K.A. 2004. Impacts of composted swine manure on weed and corn nutrient uptake, growth, and seed production. Weed Science. 52:365-375.
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? This research focuses on determining how to measure and interpret soil quality indicator data so that the soil quality concept can be used as a tool to evaluate the sustainability of land uses and soil management practices. Projects are designed to identify appropriate biological (e.g., potentially mineralizable nitrogen or microbial biomass), chemical (e.g., pH, electrical conductivity, or nutrient concentrations), and physical (e.g., aggregate stability or bulk density) indicators for assessing soil quality by region and/or management practice throughout the US. Laboratory and field-plot studies are used to understand how various indicators change due to inherent (naturally occurring) or dynamic (management based) forces. The research is important because relationships between indicator changes and
nutrient cycling, water-use efficiencies, and environmental endpoints such as runoff and leaching can be used to evaluate sustainability of various soil and crop management practices. To combine the biological, chemical, and physical indicator data into meaningful information that can be used as a management tool, user friendly techniques for indexing soil quality are being developed and tested by both researchers and participatory user groups (e.g., farmers, crop consultants, and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field personnel). This research is needed because the soil quality concept is being incorporated into "Conservation Effects Assessment Program" (CEAP) research and the "Conservation Security Program" (CSP). 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Objective 1: Determine how soil management practices, including tillage, extended crop rotation, compost and/or manure applications, organic farming practices, perennial grasses, and
forages affect sensitivity and response of various soil quality indicators. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Rhizotron Soil Study 2001 ASA presentation Yes 2001 initial hydrology test Yes 2003 second hydrology test Yes 2003 ASA presentation No Submitted for 2004 mtg. 2004 15N/13C treatments No Dropped from plan 2004 third hydrology test No In progress 2005 manuscript prepared No Compost/manure 2001-03 data collection Yes on N cycling 2004 manuscripts prepared Yes Two accepted by journal Rotation/compost 2001-03 data collection Yes effects on carbon 2004 manuscripts prepared Yes partitioning Cropping system 2002 6-yr yield assessment No Data being effects analyzed 2004 soil quality evaluated No Data
being collected 2005 manuscript prepared No Organic transition 2001-03 10 ha certified organic Yes watershed scale 2004 manuscript prepared No Outline in progress 2005 additional 10 ha certified No Study terminated Organic effects 2001-03 data collection Yes on soil quality 2003 manuscript prepared Yes 1 done, 1 submitted 2005 manuscript prepared No Winter grazing 2002 field study completed Yes soil quality effect 2003 manuscript prepared Yes in press (Agron J. ) Soil quality in 2001 data collected/analyzed Yes CA Central Valley 2002 focus groups review data Yes 2003 manuscript prepared Yes project completed Objective 2: Improve nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) use efficiency for both inorganic and organic nutrient sources at field, farm, and watershed scales through use of appropriate soil quality indicators, environmental
endpoints, and management strategies. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Grazing trials 2001 plot establishment Yes 2002-03 runoff collection Yes continuing 2004 manuscript prepared No data being collected Profile P 2001-02 resin sheet technique Yes developed 2003 sampling/analysis Yes study being repeated 2004 manuscript prepared No project was delayed Starter P 2001-03 field trials Yes 2004-05 manuscript prepared No data being analyzed Hybrid P response 2002 greenhouse trials Yes 2003 field trial initiated Yes 2004 manuscript prepared No data being analyzed P availability study 2001 incubation study Yes 2002-03 manuscript prepared Yes journal review Tillage effect on P 2001 site selection Yes 2002-04 monitoring Yes
still in progress 2005 manuscript prepared No Objective 3: Develop mechanistic models and predictive relationships to describe the persistence, bioavailability and transport of organic chemicals (herbicides, insecticides, antibiotics) in soils and manure and incorporate this knowledge in soil quality assessments. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Atrazine/Imidacloprid 2001-03 degradation & Yes Completed bioavailability Sulfonylurea/ 2002-04 degradation & Yes Completed Sulfanilimide bioavailability Sorption kinetics 2001-04 manuscript prepared No Modeling 2002-05 include in soil quality No Will not be done Objective 4: Developing soil quality assessment methodology for determining sustainability of various land management practices at field, watershed, and regional scales. Project Year Milestone Completed Current
Status Field/watershed 2001 digital elevation map Yes analysis 2002 landscape manuscript Yes 2002 N budget model Yes In press Regional analysis 2003 Immobilized N accounted Yes Book chapter in for in N-budget model preparation Soil N trends 2002-04 manuscript prepared No data being collected 3. Milestones: A. List the milestones (from the list in Question #2) that were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2004. How many milestones did you fully or substantially meet in FY 2004 and indicate which ones were not fully or substantially met, briefly explain why not, and your plans to do so. Objective 1. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Rhizotron Soil Study 2003 ASA presentation No Submitted for 2004 mtg. 2004 15N/13C treatments No Dropped from plan 2004 third hydrology test No In progress A poster presentation
entitled "Soil, Wheat, and Sorghum Response to Tillage under Rhizotron Conditions" is being prepared for the 2004 ASA- CSSA-SSSA meetings in Seattle, WA. The data is also being summarized for a manuscript to be submitted during FY05. The four-year assessment of hydraulic conductivity is currently underway and will be included in the poster presentation if completed. This data will also be incorporated into the "tillage" manuscript or if appropriate used to develop a second manuscript focused on hydrology changes within the soil columns. Addition of 15N and/or 13C was dropped from the project plan because we did not want to fractionate the columns and thus destroy them at this time. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Compost/manure 2004 manuscript prepared Yes on N cycling Two manuscripts were published, one is in revision, and two are in preparation. We found that (1) N-supply efficiency was greatest for fall- applied
composted swine hoop house manure and least for spring-applied fresh swine hoop house manure; (2) corn grown with composted swine manure was significantly larger and produced more grain than corn grown with fresh swine manure; and (3) weed species differed in their responses to compost and manure amendments. These results will help in the development of management tools for selection of appropriate forms and timing of composted swine hoop house manure to optimize nutrient-use efficiency, soil quality, and weed-management strategies. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Rotation/compost 2004 manuscript prepared Yes effects on carbon partitioning For several reasons, the timeline for this project has been delayed. Soil sampling at the WALCO and Goldstein research farm plots was completed in autumn 2002. The long-term laboratory incubations will be completed in August 2004. An Iowa State University (ISU) student's "Masters Thesis"
focusing on the impact of manure or compost application on soil carbon pools and crop yield for on-farm studies in Iowa was completed. Iowa on-farm data is in the analysis phase. Analysis of on- farm data from Wisconsin and Illinois sites will begin during the summer of 2004. Analysis of the research plot data will begin in late 2004. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Cropping system 2004 soil quality evaluated No Data being effects collected The primary activity associated with this timeline was the farming system evaluations at the Deep Loess Research Station (DLRS). Due to changes in the overall ARS watershed research program, the death of a long-time farmer-cooperator farming the site, and other factors, it was decided that research activities at the DLRS would be phased out during the next 2-3 years. Although manuscript preparation has not begun during FY2004, data analysis and summarization with regard to all three
milestones has begun. As a result of personnel changes at the National Soil Tilth Laboratory (NSTL), Dr. Dan Olk has initiated a new cooperative study associated with this project area. He and University of Arkansas cooperators are evaluating long-term effects of continuous no-till rice production with regard to productivity and soil quality. They found an increase of greater than 60% in soil carbon (C) when comparing the two-year no- tillage rice field with the 41-year no-tillage field (13 vs 21 g C kg-1 soil). There was also a 70% increase in soil N and a significant increase in the proportion of larger (2-mm and 4-mm) aggregates in the long-term no-tillage field. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Cropping system 2004 soil quality evaluated No Data being effects collected Termination of research activities at the DLRS also resulted in a premature termination of this research project. A final soil quality assessment is
planned for autumn 2004 after which an evaluation will be made against productivity and water quality endpoints. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Organic transition 2004 manuscript prepared No Outline in watershed scale progress Termination of research activities at the DLRS resulted in a premature termination of this research project. A small area (10 ha) had been successfully converted and certified as an organic farming operation prior to closing, so we still intend to develop a manuscript documenting the transitional changes in soil quality indicators and crop productivity. Organic effects 2004 data collection Yes on soil quality Field studies at the Neely-Kinyon, McNay, Muscatine, and Crawfordsville research sites in Iowa are continuing as planned. Winter grazing - soil quality effects Project has been completed, publication in Agron. J. is in
press. The results showed that grazing corn stover will have minimum impact on subsequent soybean yield if grazing is restricted to periods when soils are frozen or if soil is disked prior to planting in the spring. Soil quality in CA Central Valley Project has been completed and published, documenting the utility of soil quality indexing and contributing to overall development of the soil management assessment framework (SMAF). Objective 2. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Grazing trials 2004 manuscript prepared No Data being collected In 2003, we determined the effects of grazing management practices on the relation of phosphorus (P) losses via erosion and runoff during natural rainfall events to surface soil content of P derived from cattle manure, fertilizer, plant residues, and mineralization of organic matter. Four rainfall simulations were conducted on large field plots (1.0 ha) at the Iowa State University
Rhodes Farm. Runoff was collected after each rainfall event and 1-L duplicate samples analyzed for sediment and P. Surface soil samples were collected and analyzed for available P, exchangeable potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sodium (Na), as well as total nitrogen (N) and carbon content, so that changes in nutrient status with time can be monitored. Plant available P concentrations in surface samples were determined with the Bray 1 extraction methods. The relationship between total and dissolved P concentrations in runoff and soil available P is to be determined via regression analysis, following the final collection of samples in April of 2004. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Profile P 2004 manuscript prepared No project was delayed To evaluate the profile distribution of P, concentrations of soil solution P and labile P were determined on surface samples, as well as subsurface samples.
Final sampling to a depth of at least 100 cm will occur in May of 2004. Results will be compared with those of samples collected at the beginning of the grazing study. The soil solution and labile P measurements together provide information on the P adsorption capacity of the soils, another important parameter for estimating the potential for subsurface transport of P, as well as for calculating a P Index for these treatments. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Starter P 2004-05 manuscript prepared No data being analyzed Exchange-resin membranes were used to characterize P movement, following application of NP starter fertilizer. Treatments consisted of a control and 0-30-0, 15-30-10, or 60-30-10 starter fertilizer dribbled (30 gal./A) on the soil surface two inches to the side of the corn row at the time of planting. Higher concentrations of bioavailable P were measured near the soil surface for all three of the
starter treatments 23 days after application. By 42 days after application, the highest concentration of P was found one to two inches below the surface for both the 15-30-10 and 60-30-10 starter treatments. At 63 days after application, the highest concentration of bioavailable P was measured at a depth of more than three inches below the surface for the 15-30-10 starter treatment. In contrast, no measurable differences in bioavailable P concentrations were found in plots in which 0-30-0 or 60-30-10 was dribbled on the soil surface. The reason for differences among the treatments is unclear; however, the results suggest that at least some of the P applied to the soil surface will move into the profile. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Hybrid P response 2004 manuscript prepared No data being analyzed Early-season shoot dry matter production and root growth were similar for two non-transgenic corn hybrids (36R10 and
33P66) and their transgenic isolines (36R11 and 33P67). The transgenic corn hybrids, however, tended to produce higher grain yields than the non-transgenic hybrids. This difference was probably the result of corn borer damage to the non-transgenic hybrids. P availability study Two publications have been prepared and are in journal review Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Tillage effect on P 2004 monitoring P levels No Work transferred This research project is now being coordinated by Drs. Moorman and Tomer under the NSTL Watershed CRIS 3625-13000-008. Objective 3. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Sulfonylurea/ 2002-04 degradation & Yes Sulfanilimide bioavailability Sorption kinetics 2001-04 manuscript prepared Yes Adsorption and desorption studies for two metabolites of the sulfonyl- amino-carbonyl-triazolinone herbicide,
flucarbozone were completed. Water extractable and solvent extractable forms of these compounds were measured over time. As residence time in the soil increased, the solvent extractable fraction (adsorbed chemical) became the more dominant form. Both metabolite compounds behaved in a similar manner. The results suggest that the bioavailable, water extractable potion of these chemicals decreases more rapidly than would be predicted by conventional methods which measure total solvent extractable residues. This research also demonstrates the problems associated with modeling pesticide transport using static coefficient (Kd) values. Similar work was also completed with the chloronicotinyl herbicide, imidacloprid, and the same general trends in decreasing bioavailability over time were observed. Research to measure antibiotic residues in water, lagoon slurry, and manure was initiated. An high performance liquid chromotography (HPLC) /mass spectrometry method was developed for measurement
of sulfamethazine, a sulfonamide antibiotics and tylosin, a macrolide antibiotic. Studies were also initiated to determine the sorption and degradation of these compounds in swine lagoon material. Knowledge of these processes is important to the issue of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant microorganisms emanating from animal production systems. Objective 4. Project Year Milestone Completed Current Status Field/watershed 2004 landscape analysis Yes analysis Two manuscripts were published in a special issue of Soil and Tillage Research documenting that soil quality increases on backslope and shoulder landform elements are responsible for higher watershed-scale soil quality ratings, and providing information for scientists seeking to understand effects of tillage systems on soils and the impact of agricultural practices on carbon storage by soils. B. List the milestones (from the list in Question #2) that you expect to address over the
next 3 years (FY 2005, 2006, & 2007). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? Objective 1. Soil quality indicator responses in four different soils under rhizotron conditions. * Complete analysis of four double-crop wheat/sorghum effects on soil and hydrology. * Establish new objectives for use of these soil columns with one possibility being to determine if the response to swine manure is the same for all soils. Another may be to compare organic and inorganic fertilizer management strategies. Cropping system effects on soil quality indicators and productivity * Assess soil quality in CEAP watershed areas. * Evaluate and improve the soil management assessment framework (SMAF). * Prepare new CRIS project consistent with revised NP-202 goals. Organic cropping system effects on soil quality * Adding a water quality impact assessment to Iowa's organic long-term agroecology research (LTAR) site * Using the SMAF to quantify soil quality
impact of organic farming practices * Prepare new CRIS project consistent with revised NP-202 goals. Objective 2. Quantifying P and K Use Efficiencies from Organic and Inorganic Nutrient Sources * Evaluate alternate K placement and rates for no-till and reduced tillage systems in Iowa * Prepare new CRIS project consistent with revised NP-202 goals. 4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Single most significant accomplishment during FY 2004: Tillage Affects Soil Quality Long-term effects of conventional and ridge tillage on soil quality in three small watersheds in the loess hills (major land resource areas (MLRA) 107) of western Iowa were quantified and the information published in a special issue of Soil and Tillage Research. The study showed that soil quality was higher under long-term ridge-tillage compared with conventional tillage. The differences were documented using various soil quality indicators, by computing soil quality index values, and by
comparing indicator and index results with independent assessments of critical soil functions (i.e., sediment loss, water partitioning at the soil surface, and crop yield). The study demonstrates that the soil management assessment framework (SMAF) is sensitive to subtle differences caused by tillage and confirms that conservation tillage systems such as ridge-tillage or no-tillage should be used on fragile resources such as the deep loess soils. B. Other significant accomplishment(s), if any: Landscape Position Affects Soil Carbon Long-term changes in soil carbon and soil loss within three small watersheds in the loess hills (MLRA 107) of western Iowa were quantified and the information was published in a special issue of Soil and Tillage Research. The landscape for each watershed was divided into different categories (i.e., shoulder positions, backslopes, toeslopes, or footslopes) representing various physical locations. Soil carbon content was lower in backslope positions than in
footslope or toeslope areas because of the combined effects of soil erosion and deposition. Soil carbon content was positively correlated with a wetness index, showing that soil carbon increased where runoff water and sediment accumulated. Although there was considerable variability within each of the watersheds, this study demonstrated that watershed units can be used to quantify soil quality effects of various agricultural practices. Potassium Deficiencies Increasing in Reduced-Tillage Operations Long-term tillage and cropping system research plots and farmer fields are beginning to show more frequent potassium deficiency symptoms in both corn and soybean crops. Several factors including the predominance of less responsive crops (i.e. alfalfa is very responsive to K), less research because N and P have environmental impacts that K doesn't have, and tight production margins that result in lower inputs of K appear to be contributing to the problem. Concerns about the problem have been
raised by NSTL customer groups and the fertilizer industry willingly funded cooperative research to address the issue. Analyses of soil and plant tissue samples from several locations confirm that the problem is real and apparently increasing in magnitude. Increased emphasis will be placed on this topic when the current CRIS project is rewritten. C. Significant activities that support special target populations. ARS scientists at NSTL in cooperation with colleagues at ISU are continuing to assist organic farmers by conducting plot-scale and on-farm research. Studies are being conducted to quantify crop rotation effects on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling and availability to plants within certified organic production systems. Soil quality impacts of organic farming practices are also being quantified. This information is needed to help this organic producers develop more efficient, profitable, and environmentally sound nutrient management practices. 5. Describe the major
accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. The research and technology transfer associated with this CRIS project have provided significant international leadership toward development and implementation of soil quality as a tool for assessing sustainability of agricultural and other soil management practices. This directly addresses goal number 2 listed under Objective 5 within National Program (NP) 202 and eight milestones under Objective 1 in our project plan. The studies have provided an understanding of relationships among inherent soil properties and dynamic soil biological, chemical, and physical processes-- especially with regard to C storage, soil aggregation, P cycling and N use efficiency under different management systems. This addresses goal number 3 listed under Objective 5 of NP 202, four milestones listed under Objective 1, and eleven milestones listed under Objective 2 in our project plan. Mechanistic research associated
with Objective 3 in the project plan has provided basic bioavailability and degradation information needed to develop soil management practices that help mitigate the off-site movement of pesticides into soil and water resources. Substantial progress has been made toward development of improved techniques for assessing soil biodiversity and more affordable bioremediation procedures for clean up of pesticide, nutrient and heavy metal contaminated soil and water. This fulfills four of the milestones listed under Objective 4 of the project plan. The soil quality indexing process has generated substantial interest both in the U.S. and around the world. This addresses all three goals listed under NP 202. With continued development, we expect the soil management assessment framework (SMAF) to help provide improved interpretation of various combinations of soil quality indicators and to provide useful guidelines. 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is
the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Fertilizer Placement Effects on Profile P Distribution Presentations at the 2004 Fluid Forum and 2004 Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference described current research being conducted on the distribution of soil bioavailable P in the soil profile, following surface dribble applications of liquid fertilizers. Although there have been differences among the various fertilizer materials used in several studies, the results suggest that much of the P applied to the soil surface will move into the profile. This knowledge benefits both producers and the fertilizer industry by allowing these end users to be confidant that solution P fertilizers are being used effectively, with minimal impact on the environment. Soil Quality Assessment Information about the Soil Management Assessment
Framework (SMAF) was incorporated into the NRCS training program entitled "Soil Quality: Assessment and Applications for Field Staff" that was presented to NRCS Field Office personnel at 12 different locations during FY04 by the NRCS Soil Quality Institute. 7. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. A presentation at the VII World Soybean Research Conference outlined current organic soybean research being conducted in Iowa and elsewhere throughout the U.S. Critical challenges associated with organic soybean production include weed control, crop rotation, bean leaf beetles (Ceratoma trifurcata) - primarily as vectors for the seed-staining bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) and other seed-staining fungi such as Cercospora kikuchii and Fusarium - and the near-by use of genetically modified (GM) soybean cultivars. It was concluded that despite the many challenges, increasing consumer demand for certified
organic soybean certainly warrants more aggressive and participatory research around the world. Information about the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) was incorporated into the NRCS Soil Quality homepage currently available at http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- EXNER, D.N., DELATE, K., KARLEN, D.L. SOIL FERTILITY PARADIGMS -- CATION RATIO AND SUFFICIENCY -- COMPARED ON-FARM AND ON-STATION. ASA-CSSA-SSSA ANNUAL MEETING ABSTRACTS. 2003. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- KOVAR, J.L. STARTER COMPOSITION AND HYBRID SELECTION AFFECT EARLY GROWTH AND YIELD OF CORN. FLUID FERTILIZER FOUNDATION SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS. 2004. V. 21. P. 131-141.
- Anders, M.M., Olk, D.C., Harper, T., Daniel, T., Holzhauer, J. 2004. The effect of rotation, tillage, and fertility on rice grain yields and nutrient flows [CD-ROM]. TB-321. Raleigh, NC. North Carolina Agricultural Research Service Technical Bulletin.
- Haan, M.M., Russell, J.R., Powers, W.J., Mickelson, S.K., Ahmed, S.I., Kovar, J.L., Schultz, R.C. 2003. Effects of grazing management on sediment and phosphorus in runoff. In: Prosser, Jr., P.J. (ed.). Proceedings Ninth International Symposium on Animal, Agricultural, and Food Processing Wastes, October 12-15, 2003. Raleigh, NC. p. 318-386.
- Kovar, J.L. 2003. Evaluating starter fertilizer placement options for corn [CD-ROM]. Indiana Crop Advisor Conference Abstracts. Purdue University. West Lafayette, IN.
- Kovar, J.L., Schroeder, P.D., Washburn, Jr., K.L. 2004. Positional availability of phosphorus from surface fertilizer bands. In: A.J. Schlegel (ed.). Proceedings of Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference. March 2-3, 2004, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. p. 271-276.
- ZAIMES, G.N., SCHULTZ, R.C., ISENHART, T.M., MICKELSON, S.K., KOVAR, J.L., RUSSELL, J.R., POWERS, W.P. LAND-USE PRACTICE IMPACTS ON STREAM BANK EROSION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON GRAZING PRACTICES. ASA-CSSA-SSSA ANNUAL MEETING ABSTRACTS. 2003. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- KOVAR, J.L., DOERGE, T.A. EARLY GROWTH AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE OF TRANSGENIC AND NON-TRANSGENIC CORN HYBRIDS. ASA-CSSA-SSSA ANNUAL MEETING ABSTRACTS. 2003. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- Cambardella, C.A., Moorman, T.B., Andrews, S.S., Karlen, D.L. 2004. Watershed-scale assessment of soil quality in the loess hills of southwest Iowa. Soil & Tillage Research. 78(2):237-247.
- Karlen, D.L., Delate, K., Turnbull, R., Boes, J. 2004. Organic soybean production: challenges and perspectives of an increasing trend. Soybean Research World Conference Proceedings. p. 319-327.
- CLARK, J.T., KARLEN, D.L., RUSSELL, J.R. SOIL QUALITY INDICATOR RESPONSE TO CORN STALK GRAZING. ASA-CSSA-SSSA ANNUAL MEETING ABSTRACTS. 2003. CD- ROM. MADISON, WI.
- Wang, Z., Kelly, J.M., Kovar, J.L. 2004. In situ dynamics of phosphorus in the rhizosphere solution of five species. Journal of Environmental Quality. 33:1387-1392.
- KARLEN, D.L., WIENHOLD, B.J., ANDREWS, S.S. SOIL QUALITY, FERTILITY, AND HEALTH - HISTORICAL CONTEXT, STATUS, AND PERSPECTIVES. SCHJONNING, S., ELMHOLT, S., CHRISTENSEN, B.T., EDITORS. CAB INTERNATIONAL, CAMBRIDGE, MA. MANAGING SOIL QUALITY: CHALLENGES IN MODERN AGRICULTURE; CHAPTER 2. 2004. P. 17-33.
- DELATE, K., CAMBARDELLA, C.A., KARLEN, D.L. SOIL QUALITY IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS. IOWA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PUBLICATION. 2002. PM #1882. ISU COOP EXTENSION SERVICE, AMES, IA.
- Karlen, D.L. 2004. Rain-fed maize-soybean rotations of North America. Dekker Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science. p. 358-362.
- GOLDSTEIN, W., WOOD, A., WANDER, M., CAMBARDELLA, C.A., BARBER, W., JENSEN, K., MULCAHY, J. ORGANIC CORN PRODUCTION, ORGANIC MATTER MANAGEMENT, AND ROOT HEALTH. ASA-CSSA-SSSA PROCEEDINGS. 2003. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- PETERS, J., COMBS, S., HOSKINS, B., JARMAN, J., KOVAR, J.L., WATSON, M., WOLF, A., WOLF, N. RECOMMEDED METHODS OF MANURE ANALYSIS. ASA-CSSA-SSSA ANNUAL MEETING ABSTRACTS. 2003. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- KOVAR, J.L. EFFICIENT USE OF NUTRIENTS - ARE WE IGNORING THE HIDDEN HALF OF THE CROP?. ASA-CSSA-SSSA ANNUAL MEETING ABSTRACTS. 2003. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- GASTON, L.A., KOVAR, J.L., SAUER, T.J. PREDICTING PHOSPHORUS LOSS IN RUNOFF USING A DISPLACEMENT TECHNIQUE. ASA-CSSA-SSSA ANNUAL MEETING ABSTRACTS. 2003. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- Boehm, J.L., Kovar, J.L., Allan, D.L. 2003. Growth and phosphorus accumulation of bromegrass following phosphonate application. ASA-CSSA- SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. CD-ROM. Madison, WI.
- Cambardella, C.A., Isenhart, T.M., Schilling, K.E., Drobney, P., Schultz, R.C. 2004. Soil carbon assessment across a native prairie restoration chrononsequence. In: Fore, Stephanie, editor. Proceedings of the 18th North American Prairie Conference, June 23-27, 2002, Kirksville, MO. p. 49- 53.
- Marques Da Silva, J.R., Soares, J.M., Karlen, D.L. 2004. Implement and soil condition effects on tillage-induced erosion. Soil & Tillage Research. 78:207-216.
- KOVAR, J.L. SEARCHING FOR MORE EFFECTIVE CORN STARTERS IN CONSERVATION- TILLAGE SYSTEMS. FLUID JOURNAL. 2003. V. 11(2). P. 8-11.
- Karlen, D.L. 2004. Soil quality as an indicator of sustainable tillage practices. Soil & Tillage Research. 78:129-130.
- Moorman, T.B., Cambardella, C.A., James, D.E., Karlen, D.L., Kramer, L.A. 2004. Quantification of tillage and landscape effects on soil carbon in small Iowa watersheds. Soil & Tillage Research. 78(2):225-236.
- CAMBARDELLA, C.A., KARLEN, D.L., ANDREWS, S.S., DUFFY, M.D. LINKING SOIL QUALITY TO ECONOMICS USING MANAGEMENT PRACTICE INDICATORS. ASA-CSSA-SSSA PROCEEDINGS. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- LOECKE, T.D., LIEBMAN, M.Z., CAMBARDELLA, C.A., RICHARD, T.L. TIMING OF APPLICATION AND COMPOSTING AFFECT ON CORN YIELD RESPONSE TO SOLID SWINE MANURE. ASA-CSSA-SSSA PROCEEDINGS. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- CAMBARDELLA, C.A., DELATE, K. SHORT-TERM TILLAGE EFFECTS ON BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SOIL ORGANIC MATTER. ASA-CSSA-SSSA PROCEEDINGS. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- ZHANG, H., MARQUEZ, C.O., CAMBARDELLA, C.A., SCHULTZ, R.C., ISENHART, T.M., NELSON, J.L. SOIL AGGREGATION DYNAMICS UNDER RIPARIAN PASTURES, FOREST, AND CROPLANDS IN NE MISSOURI. ASA-CSSA-SSSA PROCEEDINGS. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- DELATE, K., CAMBARDELLA, C.A., CHASE, C., DUFFY, M., FREIDRICH, H., BURCHAM, B., HARTZLER, R., DEWITT, J. COMPARISION OF ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL CROPS IN A LONG-TERM AGROECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTAR) SITE: YIELDS, SOIL QUALITY AND ECONOMICS IN YEARS 1-6. ASA-CSSA-SSSA PROCEEDINGS. 2003. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- ANDREWS, S.S., KARLEN, D.L., NORFLEET, L., CAMBARDELLA, C.A. APPLICATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE SOIL MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK. ASA-CSSA- SSSA PROCEEDINGS. 2003. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it? This research focuses on determining how to measure and interpret soil quality indicator data so that the soil quality concept can be used as a tool to evaluate the sustainability of land uses and soil management practices. Projects are designed to identify appropriate biological (e.g. potentially mineralizable nitrogen or microbial biomass), chemical (e.g. pH, electrical conductivity, or nutrient concentrations), and physical (e. g. aggregate stability or bulk density) indicators for assessing soil quality by region and/or management practice throughout the U.S. Laboratory and field-plot studies are used to understand how various indicators change due to inherent (naturally occurring) or dynamic (management based) forces. Relationships between those indicator changes and nutrient cycling, water use efficiencies, and environmental endpoints such as runoff and leaching are also determined.
To combine the biological, chemical, and physical indicator data into meaningful information that can be used as a management tool, user-friendly techniques for indexing soil quality are being developed and tested by both researchers and participatory user groups (ex. farmers, crop consultants, and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field personnel). 2. How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? Understanding how to measure, interpret, and use soil quality as an indicator of sustainability was identified by the National Academy of Sciences as a high-priority need in their book "Soil and Water Quality: An Agenda for Agriculture." The NRCS established a Soil Quality Institute (SQI) recognizing that traditional measurements of only soil erosion were not sufficient to fully understand the value of soil as one of our natural resources. Farmers, sustainable agriculture groups, and many other public and private organizations throughout the U.S. and around the world have
identified soil quality assessment as an important need. However, it is important to emphasize that soil quality is not an "end-in-itself" as some have suggested. Rather, it is a tool to help quantify the sustainability of various land-use practices through a consistent and definable process. By identifying appropriate indicators, critical threshold values and their relationship to both economic and environmental endpoints, this research will provide tools that can be used to easily and effectively assess the sustainability of various land uses and soil management practices. 3. How does it relate to the National Program(s) and National Program Component(s) to which it has been assigned? National Program 202 - Soil Resource Management (100%) This project contributes directly or indirectly to all specific problem areas identified under the Nutrient Management, Soil Biology, and Sustainable Soil Management System components of the National Program 202 - Soil Resource Management.
Projects contributing to this project include 3625-12660-001-00D entitled "Site- and Time-Specific Crop, Tillage, and Weed Management for Sustainable Agroecosystems" listed under National Program 207 - Integrated Agricultural Systems, 13000-007-00D entitled "Water Quality Improvement from Management Practices in Agricultural Watersheds" listed under National Program 201 - Water Quality Management, and a specific cooperative agreement with Iowa State University, 3625-12000-011-01S, "Testing Various Compost Technologies as a Way to Improve Soil Quality in Organic Production". Other activities contributing to this project include collaboration with the NRCS Soil Quality Institute (SQI), Fluid Fertilizer Foundation, Iowa Turkey Federation, and the University of California to determine which indicators are most representative for soils from different physiographic regions and how those soils respond to various management practices including both conventional and certified organic
management. This project also provides critical information for collaboration with University of Illinois Natural Resources Department colleagues, University of Illinois Cooperative Extension personnel, and NRCS personnel in the development of a website for soil quality and sustainable agriculture education and assessment (funded in part by USDA's North Central Region (NCR) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Professional Development Program). 4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Single Most Significant Accomplishment during FY 2003: Using soil quality indicators as tools for effective environmental risk assessment can involve characterizing and quantifying the bioavailability of pesticides and toxic organic chemicals in soils. Scientists at the USDA-ARS National Soil Tilth Laboratory (NSTL), Ames, IA, in cooperation with Iowa State University faculty, other ARS scientists, and private industry quantified the adsorption and desorption
of two metabolites of the sulfonyl-amino-carbonyl-triazolinone herbicide, flucarbozone. Both metabolites behaved in a similar manner, showing that as residence time in the soil increased the solvent extractable fraction (adsorbed chemical) became the dominant form. The results suggest that the bioavailable, water extractable portion of these chemicals decreases more rapidly than would be predicted by standard analytical methods that measure total solvent extractable residues which could change how pesticide fate and transport are determined, and shows how soil quality assessment can be used to improve our understanding of basic soil processes affecting environmental quality. B. Other Significant Accomplishment(s), if any: Producer and consumer needs for research and information on organic agricultural production systems continues to increase because of the nearly 20% annual growth rate associated with that industry. NSTL, in cooperation with Dr. K. Delate from Iowa State University,
have helped prepare extension bulletins and conducted a variety of field studies to evaluate transition effects on soil quality, productivity, and economics associated with implementing certifiable organic production practices. Field studies evaluating primary tillage strategies for converting post- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land to certified organic production sites showed few significant differences in corn, oat, or soybean yield, weed control, or insect infestations. The most critical factor for successful conversion from CRP to certified organic grain production is not the tillage tool, but the awareness and dedication of the land manager. The concept of soil quality and its use as an assessment tool to evaluate the sustainability of soil resource management practices has continued to evolve throughout the past decade. NSTL scientists, with colleagues from the NRCS-SQI and other ARS locations have conducted research trials, led focus groups, provided training courses, and
published many articles related to soil quality assessment. With further development, especially linking economics with soil quality, the soil management assessment framework will help prioritize management goals, identify critical soil functions necessary for achieving those goals, and help select indicators that provide useful information regarding how a specific soil is functioning. The assessment framework will also help land managers sustain soil resources throughout the world. Producers are planting corn before the optimum date and risking low soil temperatures that can inhibit seedling development to increase their management flexibility. Scientists at the NSTL conducted greenhouse multiple-year field experiments with starter fertilizer to determine what factors controlled plant responses, the conditions under which a yield response was likely, and which application methods were most economically and environmentally sound. The results show that starter fertilizer promotes corn
root growth, increases yield on some soils, is very profitable for the producer when yield responses occur, and has minimal environmental impact. As a result of this research, starter fertilizer is being promoted as a management tool by Cooperative Extension personnel in many states and by an industry group--the Fluid Fertilizer Foundation. Compost made from bedding materials and swine manure from hoop structures, which are becoming increasingly popular for swine production in the north-central United States, can be used as a soil amendment, but little is known about its effects on soil quality, crop performance, and weed pressure. Scientists at the NSTL, in cooperation with Iowa State University faculty, quantified the effects of compost versus fresh manure and the time of application on nitrogen release and availability, crop and weed response, and soil quality. Nitrogen from fall-applied compost was used more efficiently by a subsequent corn crop than that from fresh manure
applied during the spring. The results are being used to develop improved management tools for selecting a form of compost and the appropriate time of application to optimize nutrient-use efficiency, soil quality, and weed management. C. Significant activities that support special target populations: ARS scientists at the NSTL in cooperation with colleagues at Iowa State University are continuing to assist small organic farmers and their marketing cooperative by conducting on-farm research to evaluate certified organic strategies for minimizing soybean seed staining and the resultant economic loss and potential threat to the cooperative's tofu marketing contracts. Research is also being conducted to quantify crop rotation effects on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling and availability to plants within certified organic production systems. Changes during the first five years of transition to organic grain production were compared with a conventionally managed corn and soybean rotation.
Changes were small but the active pool is becoming more important as the organic rotations become established. This information is needed to help this group of constituents develop more efficient, profitable, and environmentally sound nutrient management practices. D. Progress Report: Long-Term Tillage Effects on Soil Carbon Long-term effects of tillage on soil carbon are important for soil quality, sustainable agriculture, and global carbon cycles. We quantified soil carbon and soil loss in three field-scale watersheds managed using either disk- or ridge-tillage and cropped to continuous corn at the Deep Loess Research Station near Treynor, IA. The ridge-tillage system had greater carbon contents in the surface soil than the disked soils and was more effective in retaining soil within the watershed. However, long-term carbon retention within the ridge-tillage watershed was not different from the disked watershed. Respiration by soil microorganisms accounted for 97% of the C (carbon)
loss in the ridge tillage watershed compared to a C loss of 3% in eroded sediment. Less total C was present in backslope soils than in footslope or level positions reflecting combined effects of erosion and deposition. Watershed-Scale Assessment of Soil Quality Soil quality is a concept that integrates soil biological, chemical, and physical factors to evaluate the condition of soil resources. The long- term effects of conventional disk tillage and ridge tillage on soil quality within three field-scale watersheds in the loess hills of southwest Iowa were quantified. Site-specific differences in soil quality at erosion prone backslope and shoulder landscape positions accounted for significant watershed-scale differences in soil quality using several independent measurement methods: quantification of soil indicator variables, comparison of function endpoints (yield, erosion, runoff, etc.) , or calculation of index values using the Soil Management Assessment Framework. Terrain analysis
and the framework are viable approaches for integrating field- and landscape-scale information in a manner that represents outcomes measured at the watershed scale. Winter Grazing Effects on Soil Quality Indicators Stored feed costs represent one of the largest expenses associated with beef cow-calf production. Winter grazing of corn crop residue can substantially reduce these costs, but what effect will that practice have on soil quality and subsequent soybean yield? NSTL scientists in cooperation with Iowa State University researchers conducted a 3-year on- farm study near Atlantic, IA, to answer those questions. Grazing increased soil surface roughness and compaction, especially if it occurred when soil moisture was high and soil temperatures were above freezing. However, with or without preplant tillage, the overall effects of grazing on soil quality indicators and subsequent soybean stand establishment, growth, and yield were small compared to the added benefit of using the crop
residue as an inexpensive feed source. Crop Rotation, Compost, and Manure Effects on Soil Carbon Partitioning Scientists from the NSTL, University of Illinois, and Michael Fields Research Institute are conducting a multi-state collaborative on-farm study. Soil samples were collected in autumn 2002 and are being analyzed for several soil quality indicators. The data will be summarized using the soil management assessment framework and will provide information regarding soil management effects on soil carbon and the overall sustainability of soil resources. Antibiotic Fate and Transport Studies were initiated to measure antibiotic residues in water, lagoon slurry, and swine manure. We developed an High Performance Liquid Chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) method for measurement of sulfamethazine, a sulfonamide antibiotic and tylosin, a macrolide antibiotic. Studies were also initiated to determine the sorption and degradation of these compounds in swine lagoon material.
Knowledge of these processes is an important link required to address the issue of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant microorganisms emanating from animal production systems. Long-term Effects of Rice-Soybean Cropping on Soil Quality Indicators Wet aggregate stability and other soil quality indicators were evaluated for an Arkansas soil that had been cropped for several years using conventional tillage and a rice-soybean rotation prior to the initiation of a no-tillage study by Dr. M. Anders, University of Arkansas, in an effort to improve soil quality. After three years of no-tillage, the percent of topsoil (0-6 inches) recovered as macroaggregates increased slightly but consistently from 9% for conventional tillage to 11% for no- tillage. All of this increase occurred in the smaller, more dynamic macroaggregate fractions (7% versus 9%, respectively). By comparison, 55% of topsoil from a near-by, long-term prairie site was recovered as macroaggregates. Samples from the cultivated
and prairie sites as well as from other fields under continuous rice cropping or receiving animal manure are being evaluated to identify management options for reversing soil degradation and to help develop scoring curves for interpreting soil quality data for the rice-soybean management system. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. The research and technology transfer associated with this project has provided significant international leadership toward development and implementation of soil quality as a tool for assessing sustainability of agricultural and other soil management practices. It has provided an understanding of relationships among inherent soil properties and dynamic soil biological, chemical, and physical processes--especially with regard to C storage, soil aggregation, P cycling, and N use efficiency under different management systems. It has led to the development of management practices to
mitigate the off-site movement of pesticides into soil and water resources. Both of these needs were identified within the Soil Resource Management National Program as important problem areas. Progress has also been made toward development of improved techniques for assessing soil biodiversity and more affordable bioremediation procedures for clean up of pesticide, nutrient and heavy metal contaminated soil and water. The soil quality indexing process has generated substantial interest both in the U.S. and around the world. With continued development, improved interpretation of various soil quality indicator combinations is expected to provide useful guidelines for assessing long- term effects of agricultural and other land use practices. 6. What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years? Additional workshops for ARS scientists will be held during the next year to demonstrate the soil management assessment framework that has been developed as a quantitative tool
for evaluating the sustainability of soil management practices. Our goal is to develop various teams from around the U.S. who will evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of the scoring curves for their locations. Currently, scoring curves for 12 soil quality indicators are adjusted for organic matter class based on suborder, textural class, climate, mineralogy, weathering classification, time of sampling, region, crop, slope, and soil-test P extraction method. A secondary, long-term goal associated with the workshops is to add additional indicators that will be useful for assessing how well critical soil functions are being performed for a variety of soil and crop management goals. Collaborative studies designed to improve our understanding of carbon and nitrogen cycling within soils managed using organically-approved farming practices will continue to be a major focus for FY2004 and FY2005. This need was identified by National Program 202 clientele as being very important in order to
provide better guidelines for interpreting soil quality impacts of organic farming systems. A rhizotron study designed to quantify the impact of eight, two-crop cycles on various soil quality indicators within four different soils with tilled and non-tilled surface management is beginning its fourth crop (wheat-sorghum) cycle. The primary purpose of this controlled environment study is to determine if soils with different inherent soil characteristics respond similarly with regard to dynamic soil quality when managed under the same controlled environmental conditions. The results of this long-term study will provide information needed to interpret soil quality indicators and predict soil response to no-till management. 7. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the
technology products? A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) entitled "Predicting Pesticide Toxicity via QSAR (Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships) and Ensembles" was developed because, with limited time and resources, a vast majority of chemical compounds have not undergone even basic toxicity testing. The alternative to testing is developing computational hazard assessment models, but this requires methodologies for accurate quantitative predictions using only limited experimental data. The models must also be applicable to a wide variety of compound classes and biological endpoints. Preliminary results show considerable promise for creating an automated computational approach for hazard assessment testing. This project is a foundation for future research and commercial efforts leading to pesticide hazard assessment and accelerated agrochemical product development. Soil samples collected from multiple locations throughout the Midwestern and Southern U.S.
were analyzed to determine effects of no-tillage, strip- tillage, and conventional tillage on key soil quality indicators. Conducted in cooperation with private industry, this survey project introduced the concept and utility of soil quality assessment to multiple farmers, crop consultants, and researchers throughout these two regions. The "Agronomic principles of fertilizer placement" were discussed at the 52nd Fertilizer Industry Roundtable, Charleston, SC (October 2002). The "Agronomic principles of fertilizer placement" were discussed at two Fluid Fertilizer Schools held in Lansing, MI, (January 2003) and Springfield, IL (February 2003). Information on phosphorus movement in soil and starter fertilizer use was presented to the Fluid Fertilizer Foundation at the 2003 Fluid Forum in Scottsdale, AZ (February 2003). Information on phosphorus and nitrogen availability in soils amended with animal manure was presented at the American Farm Bureau Foundation's Watershed Heroes Conference
in St. Peter, MN (June 2003). 8. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: This does not replace your peer-reviewed publications listed below). "Knowing When Plants Capture Phosphorus." Pons, L. Agricultural Research. January 2003. v. 51. p. 16. "Field Testing Reveals Clues To A Proper Phosphorus Balance in Soil." Dealer Applicator Staff. Dealer Applicator Magazine. March 2003. Available from: http://www.dealerandapplicator. com/Home/Issues/Mar03/article_industry_news.asp. "Researchers Zero in on Phosphorus Availability." Schoonmaker, K. Dairy Herd Management. April 2003. v. 40. p. 58.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- KARLEN, D.L., DORAN, J.W., ANDREWS, S.S., WIENHOLD, B.J. SOIL QUALITY -- HUMANKIND'S FOUNDATION FOR SURVIVAL. JOURNAL OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION. 2003. V. 58(4). P. 171-179.
- BAKHSH, A., KANWAR, R.S., BAILEY, T.B., CAMBARDELLA, C.A., KARLEN, D.L., COLVIN, T.S. CROPPING SYSTEM EFFECTS ON NO3-N LOSS WITH SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE WATER. TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS. 2002. V. 45(6). P. 1789-1797.
- KOVAR, J.L. EFFECTIVE STARTER FERTILIZERS FOR CORN IN CONSERVATION TILLAGE SYSTEMS. FLUID FERTILIZER FOUNDATION SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS. 2003. V. 20. P. 230-240.
- KOVAR, J.L. METHODS OF DETERMINATION OF P, K, CA, MG, AND TRACE ELEMENTS. BOOK CHAPTER. 2003. AVAILABLE FROM: WWW.UWEX.EDU/CES/PUBS/PDF/A3769.PDF. UW EXTENSION.
- KARLEN,D.L., DITZLER,C.A., ANDREWS,S.S., SOIL QUALITY: WHY AND HOW?, GEODERMA, 2003. V. 114(3-4), P. 145-156.
- ANDREWS, S.S., KARLEN, D.L., FLORA, C.B., NISSEN, T.M., MITCHELL, J.P. THE NEED FOR AND ATTEMPTS AT RELATING SOIL QUALITY ASSESSMENT TO ECONOMIC RETURN. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY MEETINGS. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- KARLEN, D.L., DELATE, K., GIBSON, L.R., BRUMMER, E.C. TRANSITION CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY MEETINGS. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- KARLEN, D.L., HURLEY, E.G., ANDREWS, S.S., DUFFY, M.D., MALLARINO, A.P., CAMBARDELLA, C.A. DOES SOIL QUALITY SHOW AN ECONOMIC BENEFIT FOR LONG-TERM CROP ROTATION?. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY MEETINGS. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- DELATE, K., CAMBARDELLA, C.A., KARLEN, D.L. TRANSITION STRATEGIES FOR POST- CRP CERTIFIED ORGANIC GRAIN PRODUCTION. CROP MANAGEMENT AT WWW. CROPMANAGEMENT.ORG. 2002. AVAILABLE FROM: WWW.CROPMANAGEMENT.ORG.
- KOVAR, J.L., SAUER, T.J., MOORMAN, T.B. TURKEY LITTER AS A PHOSPHORUS SOURCE FOR CORN. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY MEETINGS. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- KOVAR, J.L. WHAT ARE THE BEST P AND K PLACEMENT OPTIONS FOR CORN. SOIL SCIENCE SOCIETY OF AMERICA ANNUAL MEETING. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- JAWSON, M.D., KARLEN, D.L. SEWAGE SLUDGE AND SOIL SUSTAINABILITY. MEETING ABSTRACT. 2002. P. 7-15.
- GASTON, L., COOPER, D., KOVAR, J.L., BELL, P. REDUCING SOIL PHOSPHOROUS BY HAY HARVEST. AGRONOMY ABSTRACTS. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- WANG, Z., KELLY, M.J., KOVAR, J.L. DEFINING COTTONWOOD UPTAKE OF PHOSPHORUS USING RHIZOSPHERE SOLUTION PHASE MESUREMENTS. AGRONOMY ABSTRACTS. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- BOEHM, J.L., KOVAR, J.L., RUSSELL, J.R., HAAN, M.M., POWERS, W.J., MICKELSON, S.K., SCHULTZ, R.C. GRAZING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TO MINIMIZE PHOPHORUS LOSSES FROM UPLAND PASTURES. AGRONOMY ABSTRACTS. 2002. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- AHMED, S., MICKELSON, S.K., RUSSELL, J.R., POWERS, W.J., SCHULTZ, R.C., KOVAR, J.L. IMPACT OF DIFFERENT GRAZING SYSTEMS AND VEGETATIVE FILTER STRIPS ON SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENT LOSSES WITH SURFACE RUNOFF. AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. 2002. PAPER NO. 022141.
- KOVAR, J.L. AGRONOMIC PRINCIPLES OF FERTILIZER PLACEMENT. PROSSER, P.J. EDITOR. ANNUAL FERTILIZER INDUSTRY ROUND TABLE. 2002. CD-ROM. FOREST HILL, MD.
- KARLEN, D.L., CAMBARDELLA, C.A. SWINE MANURE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES ON TILE- DRAINED SOILS. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY MEETINGS. 2001. CD-ROM. MADISON, WI.
- KARLEN, D.L. FINE-TUNING YOUR WRITING - A BOOK REVIEW. CROP SCIENCE. 2002. V. 42. P. 655-656.
- KARLEN, D.L., ANDREWS, S.S. SOIL QUALITY RESEARCH IN THE U.S.A. KOREAN SOCIETY OF SOIL SCIENCE AND FERTILIZER CONFERENCE. 2001. P. 39-46.
- VIATOR, R., KOVAR, J.L., HALLMARK, W. GYPSUM AND COMPOST EFFECTS ON SUGARCANE ROOT GROWTH, YIELD, AND PLANT NUTRIENTS. AGRONOMY JOURNAL. 2002. V. 94(6). P. 1332-1336.
- ANDREWS,S.S., FLORA,C.B., MITCHELL,J.P., KARLEN,D.L., GROWERS' PERCEPTIONS AND ACCEPTANCE OF SOIL QUALITY INDICES, GEODERMA, 2003. V.114. P. 187-213.
- KOVAR, J.L. FACTORS AFFECTING N AND P NEEDS IN STARTERS: FORMULATIONS AND PLACEMENT FOR REDUCED-TILLAGE CORN. FLUID FERTILIZER FOUNDATION SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS. 2002. V. 19. P. 12-20.
- ANDREWS, S.S., MOORMAN, T.B. LETTER TO THE EDITOR (AGRONOMY JOURNAL). AGRONOMY JOURNAL. 2002. V. 94(1-2). P. 1212-1214.
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Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it? This research focuses on determining how to measure and interpret soil quality indicator data so that the soil quality concept can be used as a tool to evaluate the sustainability of land uses and soil management practices. Projects are designed to identify appropriate biological (e.g. potentially mineralizable nitrogen or microbial biomass), chemical (e.g. pH, electrical conductivity, or nutrient concentrations), and physical (e. g. aggregate stability or bulk density) indicators for assessing soil quality by region and/or management practice throughout the U.S. Laboratory and field-plot studies are used to understand how various indicators change due to inherent (naturally occurring) or dynamic (management based) forces. Relationships between those indicator changes and nutrient cycling, water use efficiencies, and environmental endpoints such as runoff and leaching are also determined.
To combine the biological, chemical, and physical indicator data into meaningful information that can be used as a management tool, user-friendly techniques for indexing soil quality are being developed and tested by both researchers and participatory user groups (ex. farmers, crop consultants, and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field personnel). 2. How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? Understanding how to measure, interpret, and use soil quality as an indicator of sustainability was identified by the U.S. National Academy of Science as a high-priority need in their book "Soil and Water Quality: An Agenda for Agriculture". The NRCS established a Soil Quality Institute recognizing that traditional measurements of only soil erosion were not sufficient to fully understand the value of soil as one of our natural resources. Farmers, sustainable agriculture groups, and many other public and private organizations throughout the U.S. and around the world have
identified soil quality assessment as an important need. However, it is important to emphasize that soil quality is not an "end-in- itself" as some have suggested, but rather a tool to help quantify the sustainability of various land-use practices through a consistent and definable process. By identifying appropriate indicators, critical threshold values and their relationship to both economic and environmental endpoints, this research will provide tools that can be used to easily and effectively assess the sustainability of various land uses and soil management practices. 3. How does it relate to the national Program(s) and National Program Component(s) to which it has been assigned? This project contributes directly or indirectly to all specific problem areas identified under the Nutrient Management, Soil Biology, and Sustainable Soil Management System components of the National Program 202 - Soil Resource Management (100%). Projects contributing to this project include
3625-22610-001-00D entitled "Site- and Time-Specific Crop, Tillage, and Nutrient Management for Sustainable Agroecosystems" listed under the National Program 207 - Integrated Agricultural Systems. Other activities contributing to this project include collaboration with the NRCS Soil Quality Institute, Iowa State University, Fluid Fertilizer Foundation, Iowa Turkey Federation, and University of California to determine which indicators are most representative for soils from different physiographic regions and how those soils respond to various management practices including both conventional and certified organic management. This project also provides critical information for collaboration with University of Illinois (UI) Natural Resources Department colleagues, UI Cooperative Extension personnel, and NRCS personnel in the development of a website for soil quality and sustainable agriculture education and assessment (Funded in part by USDA- SARE-PDP). 4. What was your most significant
accomplishment this past year? A. Single Most Significant Accomplishment during FY 2002: Different methods for selecting soil quality indicators and presenting the information to consultants, farmers, farm advisors, resource conservationists, and other land managers were evaluated to provide a framework or decision tool (i.e. index) that could be used to help determine the most sustainable soil management strategies. ARS scientists at the National Soil Tilth Laboratory (NSTL)in Ames, Iowa in cooperation with colleagues at the University of California-Davis conducted this research using data from the Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems (SAFS) study and from on-farm studies evaluating the use of supplemental carbon management practices (i.e cover crops, manure, and/or compost additions) within the San Joaquin Valley. Comparisons between statistical techniques (multivariate principle component analysis) and expert opinion showed that either method could be used to select a
representative minimum data set (MDS) of carefully chosen soil quality indicators. The MDS can then be used in a simple, non-linearly scored index to provide information needed for selection of best management practices. Soil quality indices for the on-farm study demonstrated that soil organic matter and its associated benefits could be obtained in this region despite the very high temperatures, intensive tillage, and need for irrigation. The impact of this research is that it quantitatively confirms that increasing carbon inputs and using organic management practices can result in detectable soil quality improvements, thus having applicability to carbon sequestration, global change, and sustainable agriculture policies and programs. B. Other Significant Accomplishment(s), if any: Members of the Practical Farmers of Iowa were unable to locate reliable information documenting multi-year soil-test changes for farms using long- term crop rotations, ridge-tillage and nutrients supplied by
a mixture of organic amendments (i.e. animal manure plus municipal sewage sludge). ARS scientists at the NSTL conducted an on-farm research project to characterize yearly changes in surface soil-test parameters including stratification, compare soil-test methods, and evaluate soil-test interpretation strategies. Use of the Mehlich III extract resulted in the same soil-test phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) interpretations as with Bray P1 and 1 M ammonium acetate, respectively. Our results suggest that either soil-test method can be used for soils with medium to high ratings. However, the Mehlich procedure extracted more calcium (Ca) which caused the apparent K saturation percentages to be very low when the soil-test data were interpreted using the basic cation saturation ratio. This research helps farmers and crop consultants choose appropriate soil-test procedures and interpretation methods. Methods to quickly estimate soil carbon concentrations are needed to answer questions
regarding carbon sequestration and global climate change. ARS scientists at the NSTL and their colleagues demonstrated that National Resource Inventory (NRI) data could be used to estimate soil organic carbon levels for different land use and conservation practices. Land use, hill-slope position, and slope aspect effects on soil organic carbon levels were evaluated using rigorous statistical analyses. The impact of this research is that it provides an effective tool for estimating soil organic carbon levels at the regional scale. Effective utilization of animal manures as a crop nutrient source is limited by the amount and timing of nutrient release from the applied manure. In a laboratory study, ARS scientists at the NSTL measured changes in phosphorus (P) availability in four soils amended with either turkey litter or commercial fertilizer. The soils and litters were collected from farms owned by members of the Iowa Turkey Federation, and loosely represented the range of chemical
and physical properties found in the turkey-producing areas of the state. During seven weeks of incubation, soil P availability tended to increase, regardless of the P source. Following incubation, P availability to corn seedlings was determined in a controlled-climate chamber study. Depletion of plant available P was evaluated by growing three cycles of corn seedlings in each of the treated soils. Phosphorus addition had little effect on early growth of corn during first cycle, because variability among seedlings masked differences. Early shoot and root growth of corn seedlings in cycles two and three were improved by both the fertilizer and turkey litter amendments, but the results suggest that the residual nutrient value of the litter may be its greatest benefit. This research will have its greatest impact by enabling producers to make better decisions regarding how to use animal manures for improved nutrient use efficiency. Organic farming, which has increased to an $8
billion industry and continues to expand a rate of nearly 20% per year, needs rigorous science- based research to better understand its production and environmental benefits. In response, ARS scientists at the NSTL have started to convert a 150-acre, instrumented watershed at the Deep Loess Research Station near Treynor, IA to organic production practices. Conversion was begun on 25 acres in 2001 by planting oat/alfalfa, oat/red clover, field corn, food-grade soybean, sweet corn, triticale, and medic in a long-term rotation. Crop performance, transition challenges, and soil quality effects are being monitored. This participatory project is managed by a local farmer cooperator who is willing to expand the organic acreage as issues of weed control, nutrient sources, and market are resolved. When fully implemented, this site will also provide water quality impact data on organic production systems that currently are not available at a watershed scale. ARS scientists at the NSTL completed
two field studies evaluating effects of compost and manure on soil quality and crop yield in 2001. In the first study, data were analyzed and interpreted with regard to differences between compost and fresh manure, and with respect to the time of application (i.e. autumn versus spring). In the second study, synchronization of N release and uptake (i.e. nutrient use efficiency) are being examined. Effects of compost and fresh manure on various soil quality indicators were unknown. To provide this information, ARS scientists at the NSTL in cooperation with colleagues at Iowa State University quantified soil quality indicator changes to compare organic farming systems with conventionally managed corn-soybean systems. Cooperative studies were conducted at three locations in Iowa, with the longest being in its fifth year since transition from conventional practices. Corn, soybean, oat/alfalfa, and various vegetable crops are being evaluated as part of these crop rotations. ARS scientists
are providing the rigorous scientific evaluations for these studies, while our partners are focusing on outreach and technology transfer to producers and consumers interested in organic agriculture. These studies are being coordinated with a multi- state USDA-CSREES-Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS) project to enhance outreach and technology transfer. C. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations: ARS scientists at the NSTL in cooperation with colleagues at Iowa State University are continuing to assist small organic farmers and their marketing cooperative by conducting on-farm research to evaluate certified organic strategies for minimizing soybean seed staining and the resultant economic loss and potential threat to the cooperative's tofu marketing contracts. Research has confirmed that the bean leaf beetle is a primary vector for this virus-induced seed staining. The problem has become more severe, not only for organic farmers, but also
for conventional soybean producers, because of above normal Midwestern winter temperatures between 1997 and 2001. Research results are currently being summarized to provide recommendations for both farmers and the organic cooperative. D. Progress Report: A web-based soil quality educational package that includes information on indexing and an Excel spreadsheet template for combining 12 biological, chemical, and physical indicators into a soil quality index has been completed. Indicator scoring curves are adjusted for organic matter class based on suborder, textural class, climate, mineralogy, weathering classification, time of sampling, region, crop, slope, and soil-test P extraction method. The first 20 acres of a 150-acre Deep-Loess Watershed have been converted to organic farming practices. Oat-red clover, oat- alfalfa, corn, soybean, sweet corn, triticale, and medics are being evaluated using swine manure and compost as nutrient sources. If fully successful, this fully
instrumented field-scale watershed will provide a unique opportunity to quantify the environmental and economic sustainability of organic farming practices. 5. Describe your major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact? The research and technology transfer associated with this project has provided significant international leadership toward development and implementation of soil quality as a tool for assessing sustainability of agricultural and other soil management practices. It has provided an understanding of relationships among inherent soil properties and dynamic soil biological, chemical and physical processes--especially with regard to C storage, soil aggregation, P cycling, and N use efficiency under different management systems. It has also led to the development of management practices to mitigate the off-site movement of pesticides into soil and water resources. Both of these needs were identified within the Soil
Resource Management National Program as important problem areas. Progress has also been made toward development of improved techniques for assessing soil biodiversity and more affordable bioremediation procedures for clean-up of pesticide, nutrient and heavy metal contaminated soil and water. The soil quality indexing process has generated substantial interest both in the U.S. and around the world. With continued development, improved interpretation of various soil quality indicator combinations is expected to provide useful guidelines for assessing long- term effects of agricultural and other land use practices. 6. What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years? A Workshop for ARS scientists will be held at the NSTL to demonstrate the framework that has been developed to using soil quality assessment as a quantitative tool for evaluating the sustainability of soil management practices. Our goal is to develop various teams from around the U.S. who will
evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of the scoring curves for their locations. Currently, scoring curves for 12 soil quality indicators are adjusted for organic matter class based on suborder, textural class, climate, mineralogy, weathering classification, time of sampling, region, crop, slope, and soil-test P extraction method. A secondary goal is to add additional indicators to the suite than might be used to develop the most appropriate minimum data sets for various soil functions and overall goals. Collaborative studies designed to improve our understanding of carbon and nitrogen cycling within soils managed using organically-approved farming practices will continue to be a major focus for FY 2003 and FY 2004. This need was identified by National Program 202 clientele as being very important in order to provide better guidelines for interpreting soil quality impacts of organic farming systems. A rhizotron study designed to quantify the impact of six, two-crop cycles on various
soil quality indicators within four different soils with tilled and non-tilled surface management will be continued through FY 2005. The primary purpose of this controlled environment study is to determine if soils with different inherent soil quality respond similarly with regard to dynamic soil quality when managed under the same controlled environmental conditions. This information will provide an improved foundation for interpreting soil quality indicators and predicting soil response to no-till management. 7. What technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the technology likely to become available to the end user (industry, farmer other scientist)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption durability of the technology? Soil samples collected from multiple locations throughout the Midwestern and Southern U.S. were analyzed to determine effects of no-tillage, strip- tillage, and conventional tillage on key soil quality indicators. Conducted in cooperation
with private industry this survey project introduced the concept and utility of soil quality assessment to multiple farmers, crop consultants, and researchers throughout these two regions. A presentation on the soil quality indexing framework and assessment process was given to the NRCS Soil Quality Institute and other Agency personnel. Auburn, AL (May 2002). A workshop on "Organic Grain Research" was presented to approximately 125 people at the Iowa Organic Ag Conference, Des Moines Area Community College. Ankeny, IA (Nov. 2001). A seminar on "Carbon Sequestration" was presented to approximately 40 participants at a NRCS meeting in Montezuma, IA (February 2002). The agronomic principles of fertilizer placement was discussed in a series of invited talks for the 2002 Fluid Fertilizer Schools held in Jackpot, NV, (January, 2002), Perry, GA, (January, 2002), Wichita, KS, (February, 2002), and Urbana, IL, (February, 2002). Information on phosphorus and nitrogen availability in soils
amended with swine manure was presented to the Iowa Pork Board at their annual meeting (January, 2002). Information on phosphorus movement in soil and starter fertilizer use was presented to the Fluid Fertilizer Foundation at the 2002 Fluid Forum in Scottsdale, AZ (February, 2002). 8. List your most important publications and presentations, and articles written about your work (NOTE: this does not replace your review publications which are listed below) Wood, M., Chavez, L., Comis, D., Arnold, J. Organic Grows on America. Agricultural Research. February 2002. v. 50(2). p. 4-9. Wallace Farmer's Staff. Research on composting hoop barn manure shows promise. Wallace's Farmer. http://www.farmprogress. com/frmp/articleDetail/0,1494,6139+45,00.html
Impacts
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Publications
- Karlen, D.L., Buhler, D.D., Ellsbury, M.M., Andrews, S.S. Soil, weed and insect management strategies for sustainable agriculture. Online Journal of Biological Sciences. 2002. v. 2. p. 58-62.
- Karlen, D.L., Andrews, S.S. Soil quality analysis: Can they fit into a soil test lab operation? Proceedings of Soil-Plant Analysts's Workshop. 2001. p. 33-42.
- Andrews, S.S., Mitchell, J.P., Mancinelli, R., Karlen, D.L., Hartz, T.K., Horwath, W.R., Pettygrowve, G.S., Scow, K.M., Munk, D.S. On-farm assessment of soil quality in California's central valley. Agronomy Journal. 2002. v. 94. p. 12-23.
- Andrews, S.S., Karlen, D.L., Mitchell, J.P. A comparison of soil quality indexing methods for vegetable production systems in northern California. Agricultural Ecosystems and Environment. 2002. v. 90(1). p. 25-45.
- Karlen, D.L., Kohler, K.A., Laird, D.A., Thompson, R.L., Buhler, D.D. Soil- test dynamics throughout a five-year "Thompson Farm" rotation in Iowa. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture. 2001. v. 17(1). p. 9-17.
- Brejda, J.J., Mausbach, M.J., Goebel, J.J., Allan, D.L., Dao, T.J., Karlen, D.L., Moorman, T.B., Smith, J.L. Estimating surface soil organic carbon content at a regional scale using the national resource inventory. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 2001. v. 65. p. 842-848.
- Delate, K., Cambardella, C.A. Long-term agroecological research (LTAR) in Iowa: Certified organic comparisons. CD-ROM. Madison, WI. American Society of Agronomy. 2001. Abstract.
- Karlen, D.L., Andrews, S.S. Soil quality research in the U.S.A. Proceedings of Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizer Conference. 2001. p. 39-46.
- Karlen, D.L. Fine-tuning your writing - A book review. Crop Science. 2002. v. 42. p. 655-656.
- Karlen, D.L., Clearfield, F., Nowak, P. Conservation tillage and cropping innovation: Constructing the new culture of agriculture. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 2001. v. 56 p. 272-273.
- Karlen, D.L. Structure, plant establishment and. Lal, R., editor. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY. Encyclopedia of Soil Science. 2002. p. 1269- 1272.
- Karlen, D.L., Cambardella, C.A., Kanwar, R.S. Swine manure management challenges on tile-drained soils. CD-ROM. Madison, WI. American Society of Agronomy. 2001. Abstract.
- Andrews, S.S., Carroll, C.R. Identifying a soil quality minimum data set for guiding poultry litter management. Ecological Applications. 2001. v. 11(6). p. 1573-1585.
- Karlen, D.L. Visual soil assessment. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 2001. v. 56. p. 270-271.
- Wander, M.W., Walter, G.L., Nissen, T.M., Bollero, G.A., Andrews, S.S., Cavanaugh-Grant, D. Soil quality: Science and process. Agronomy Journal. 2002. v. 94. p. 23-32.
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