Progress 09/26/08 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The objective of this cooperative research project is to investigate soil organic carbon dynamics in the long-term plots at CBARC in Pendleton using a process-based soil carbon (C) model, the CQESTR model. Specifically this project is conducted to: 1) determine soil organic carbon dynamics over 75 years of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources, fertilizer levels, and tillage practices; 2) predict the potential of C accretions or losses with varying crop rotation, tillage, and amendment scenarios. Approach (from AD-416): Long-term field experiments (LTE) with repeat additions or removal of carbon sources are ideal to examine soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics and validate soil C models. CBARC is home to the oldest experiments in the western U.S. with some of the experiments dating back to the 1931. The management and treatments of most of the experiments have changed little since their establishment. Several residue burn treatments had a minor change in 1978. Nitrogen was broadcast as (NH_4)_2SO_4 from 1931 to 1961 and as NH_4NO_3 since 1962. The spring residue burning with no N addition, fall burning with no N addition, manure application at 11.2 t/ ha/yr (741 kg C and 56 kg N/ha/yr), pea vine addition at 1.12 t /ha/yr (397 kg C and 17 kg N/ha/yr), or no residue burning with 0, 45, and 90 kg N/ha have all been in place since 1967. These treatments were initiated to diminish or eliminate the detrimental effects of conventional tillage winter wheat-summer fallow system, which is the predominant cropping system in the Pacific Northwest, on SOC. Soil carbon content of these long-term plots is determined every 10 years. The collected SOC data will be used to prepare a database for these fields to elucidate the effect of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources on soil carbon accretion or loss. Soil carbon dynamics during 75 years will be determined. CQESTR, a C balance model developed by ARS scientists at the Columbia Plateau Soil Conservation Research Center (CPCRC) in Pendleton, will be used to predict SOC status at the field-scale. RUSLE files (c-factor files) for LTE plots will be prepared for use with CQESTR. Simulation runs with the CQESTR model will be performed to predict changes in SOC. Simulation results will be compared to the measured SOC. The influence of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources or different C sources on SOC will be determined. Prediction runs with the CQESTR model will be undertaken with varying crop rotation, tillage, and amendment scenarios. This is the final report that has terminated in August 31, 2013. Several decades of intensive conventional tillage farming has resulted in decreased soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. We used the CQESTR model to predict effects of tillage and management practices (manure, or fertilizer application) on SOC in the long-term experiments (LTEs) at the Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center (CBARC) in Pendleton, Oregon, and sites across North America. Prediction runs with the CQESTR model were undertaken with varying tillage and C input scenarios. The results from the Tillage-Fertility experiment indicate that the model is able to simulate the continuous decreasing trend of SOC in the plots with three tillage practices and four fertilizer treatments. Manure application under conventional moldboard tillage (CT) in winter wheat-fallow rotation was the only treatment maintaining SOC stocks in the top 12� of soil; however, SOC was still lost in the lower 12-24� soil layer. The CQESTR model predicted an increase in SOC stocks from 1.3 to 1.5% in the top soil layer after 73 years simulation of no-till (NT) scenario. Under no- till the model predicted that SOC would approach the initial SOC stocks in the top soil after 41 years of manure application, while it would take 81 years under 80 lb N fertilizer in a winter wheat-fallow rotation. Fertilizer use alone was insufficient to overcome impacts of residue and tillage on SOC; however, with proper management such as the use of conservation tillage, organic amendments, and/or cropping intensification, SOC losses could be reversed. Crop residues play a vital role in maintaining soil organic matter (SOM), which is not only required for preserving soil functions, but also for ensuring the sustainable long- term production of biofuel feedstock. This progress is directly relatd to the Sub-objective 1.c. Evaluate performance of modified CQESTR to estimate tillage, crop rotation, and amendment effects on long-term carbon sequestration of the parent project.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The objective of this cooperative research project is to investigate soil organic carbon dynamics in the long-term plots at CBARC in Pendleton using a process-based soil carbon (C) model, the CQESTR model. Specifically this project is conducted to: 1) determine soil organic carbon dynamics over 75 years of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources, fertilizer levels, and tillage practices; 2) predict the potential of C accretions or losses with varying crop rotation, tillage, and amendment scenarios. Approach (from AD-416): Long-term field experiments (LTE) with repeat additions or removal of carbon sources are ideal to examine soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics and validate soil C models. CBARC is home to the oldest experiments in the western U.S. with some of the experiments dating back to the 1931. The management and treatments of most of the experiments have changed little since their establishment. Several residue burn treatments had a minor change in 1978. Nitrogen was broadcast as (NH_4)_2SO_4 (Ammonium Sulfate) from 1931 to 1961 and as NH_4NO_3 (Ammonium Nitrate ) since 1962. The spring residue burning with no N addition, fall burning with no N addition, manure application at 11.2 t/ha/yr (741 kg C and 56 kg N/ha/yr), pea vine addition at 1.12 t /ha/yr (397 kg C and 17 kg N/ha/yr), or no residue burning with 0, 45, and 90 kg N/ha have all been in place since 1967. These treatments were initiated to diminish or eliminate the detrimental effects of conventional tillage winter wheat-summer fallow system, which is the predominant cropping system in the Pacific Northwest, on SOC. Soil carbon content of these long-term plots is determined every 10 years. The collected SOC data will be used to prepare a database for these fields to elucidate the effect of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources on soil carbon accretion or loss. Soil carbon dynamics during 75 years will be determined. CQESTR, a C balance model developed by ARS scientists at the Columbia Plateau Soil Conservation Research Center (CPCRC) in Pendleton, will be used to predict SOC status at the field-scale. RUSLE files (c-factor files) for LTE plots will be prepared for use with CQESTR. Simulation runs with the CQESTR model will be performed to predict changes in SOC. Simulation results will be compared to the measured SOC. The influence of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources or different C sources on SOC will be determined. Prediction runs with the CQESTR model will be undertaken with varying crop rotation, tillage, and amendment scenarios. Concern about CO2 emissions has enhanced interest in soil carbon sequestration. The CQESTR model successfully predicted temporal and spatial changes of soil organic carbon (SOC) and impacts of long-term agriculture management on SOC accretion in three diverse regions of the USA. The Simulation results indicated cultivation and crop residue removal decreased SOC; however, with appropriate management such as the use of conservation tillage, organic amendments, and/or cropping intensification, SOC losses could be reversed. This research contributes to objective 2 of the in-house project.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this cooperative research project is to investigate soil organic carbon dynamics in the long-term plots at CBARC in Pendleton using a process-based soil carbon (C) model, the CQESTR model. Specifically this project is conducted to: 1) determine soil organic carbon dynamics over 75 years of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources, fertilizer levels, and tillage practices; 2) predict the potential of C accretions or losses with varying crop rotation, tillage, and amendment scenarios. Approach (from AD-416) Long-term field experiments (LTE) with repeat additions or removal of carbon sources are ideal to examine soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics and validate soil C models. CBARC is home to the oldest experiments in the western U.S. with some of the experiments dating back to the 1931. The management and treatments of most of the experiments have changed little since their establishment. Several residue burn treatments had a minor change in 1978. Nitrogen was broadcast as (NH_4)_2SO_4 from 1931 to 1961 and as NH_4NO_3 since 1962. The spring residue burning with no N addition, fall burning with no N addition, manure application at 11.2 t/ha/yr (741 kg C and 56 kg N/ha/yr), pea vine addition at 1.12 t /ha/yr (397 kg C and 17 kg N/ha/yr), or no residue burning with 0, 45, and 90 kg N/ha have all been in place since 1967. These treatments were initiated to diminish or eliminate the detrimental effects of conventional tillage winter wheat-summer fallow system, which is the predominant cropping system in the Pacific Northwest, on SOC. Soil carbon content of these long-term plots is determined every 10 years. The collected SOC data will be used to prepare a database for these fields to elucidate the effect of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources on soil carbon accretion or loss. Soil carbon dynamics during 75 years will be determined. CQESTR, a C balance model developed by ARS scientists at the Columbia Plateau Soil Conservation Research Center (CPCRC) in Pendleton, will be used to predict SOC status at the field-scale. RUSLE files (c-factor files) for LTE plots will be prepared for use with CQESTR. Simulation runs with the CQESTR model will be performed to predict changes in SOC. Simulation results will be compared to the measured SOC. The influence of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources or different C sources on SOC will be determined. Prediction runs with the CQESTR model will be undertaken with varying crop rotation, tillage, and amendment scenarios. This research relates to objective 1b of the parent project. Crop residues play a vital role in maintaining soil organic matter, which is not only required for preserving soil functions, but also for ensuring the sustainable long-term production of biofuel feedstock. Databases for five long-term experiments in North America (Breton, AB, Canada, Morrow, IL, Pendleton, OR, Sanborn, MO, Lethbridge, AB, Canada) were prepared. RUSLE c-factor files were established for no-till simulations under various agricultural management systems. The CQESTR model simulated soil organic carbon dynamics for conventional tillage were compared with measured data. The potential of soil organic carbon stocks maintenance for no-till with five residue removal rates scenarios were predicted. Using fertilizer alone was insufficient to overcome residue removal impact on soil organic carbon. Manure or cover-crop/intensified crop rotation under no-till were options to mitigate loss of crop residue carbon from agricultural soils. These results will have important implications for farmers, crop advisors, scientists, and policy makers interested in biofuel. This project is monitored by phone calls, electronic mail, and reports.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this cooperative research project is to investigate soil organic carbon dynamics in the long-term plots at CBARC in Pendleton using a process-based soil carbon (C) model, the CQESTR model. Specifically this project is conducted to: 1) determine soil organic carbon dynamics over 75 years of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources, fertilizer levels, and tillage practices; 2) predict the potential of C accretions or losses with varying crop rotation, tillage, and amendment scenarios. Approach (from AD-416) Long-term field experiments (LTE) with repeat additions or removal of carbon sources are ideal to examine soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics and validate soil C models. CBARC is home to the oldest experiments in the western U.S. with some of the experiments dating back to the 1931. The management and treatments of most of the experiments have changed little since their establishment. Several residue burn treatments had a minor change in 1978. Nitrogen was broadcast as (NH_4)_2SO_4 from 1931 to 1961 and as NH_4NO_3 since 1962. The spring residue burning with no N addition, fall burning with no N addition, manure application at 11.2 t/ha/yr (741 kg C and 56 kg N/ha/yr), pea vine addition at 1.12 t /ha/yr (397 kg C and 17 kg N/ha/yr), or no residue burning with 0, 45, and 90 kg N/ha have all been in place since 1967. These treatments were initiated to diminish or eliminate the detrimental effects of conventional tillage winter wheat-summer fallow system, which is the predominant cropping system in the Pacific Northwest, on SOC. Soil carbon content of these long-term plots is determined every 10 years. The collected SOC data will be used to prepare a database for these fields to elucidate the effect of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources on soil carbon accretion or loss. Soil carbon dynamics during 75 years will be determined. CQESTR, a C balance model developed by ARS scientists at the Columbia Plateau Soil Conservation Research Center (CPCRC) in Pendleton, will be used to predict SOC status at the field-scale. RUSLE files (c-factor files) for LTE plots will be prepared for use with CQESTR. Simulation runs with the CQESTR model will be performed to predict changes in SOC. Simulation results will be compared to the measured SOC. The influence of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources or different C sources on SOC will be determined. Prediction runs with the CQESTR model will be undertaken with varying crop rotation, tillage, and amendment scenarios. Documents SCA with OSU. Several decades of dryland winter wheat-summer fallow with intensive conventional tillage farming systems have resulted in reduced soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, and contributed to soil erosion. We used the CQESTR model to predict effect of tillage and two management practices (manure, or fertilizer application) on soil organic carbon in the Crop Residue Management Long-term Experiment at the Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center (CBARC), Pendleton, OR. After 73 years of manure application under conventional moldboard tillage and winter wheat- fallow rotation, manure is the only treatment maintaining SOC stocks in the top 12� of soil; however, SOC is still lost in the lower 12-24� soil layer. The CQESTR model predicted an increase in SOC stocks from 1.3 to 1. 5% in the top 12� depth after 73 years simulation of direct-seeding (no- tillage) scenario. The CQESTR model predicted that SOC stocks would approach the initial SOC stocks in the top 12� after 41 years of manure application under direct-seeding, while it would take 81 years under 80 lb N fertilizer in a winter wheat-fallow rotation. This project is ADODR monitored by telephone calls, electronic mail and reports.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this cooperative research project is to investigate soil organic carbon dynamics in the long-term plots at CBARC in Pendleton using a process-based soil carbon (C) model, the CQESTR model. Specifically this project is conducted to: 1) determine soil organic carbon dynamics over 75 years of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources, fertilizer levels, and tillage practices; 2) predict the potential of C accretions or losses with varying crop rotation, tillage, and amendment scenarios. Approach (from AD-416) Long-term field experiments (LTE) with repeat additions or removal of carbon sources are ideal to examine soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics and validate soil C models. CBARC is home to the oldest experiments in the western U.S. with some of the experiments dating back to the 1931. The management and treatments of most of the experiments have changed little since their establishment. Several residue burn treatments had a minor change in 1978. Nitrogen was broadcast as (NH_4)_2SO_4 from 1931 to 1961 and as NH_4NO_3 since 1962. The spring residue burning with no N addition, fall burning with no N addition, manure application at 11.2 t/ha/yr (741 kg C and 56 kg N/ha/yr), pea vine addition at 1.12 t /ha/yr (397 kg C and 17 kg N/ha/yr), or no residue burning with 0, 45, and 90 kg N/ha have all been in place since 1967. These treatments were initiated to diminish or eliminate the detrimental effects of conventional tillage winter wheat-summer fallow system, which is the predominant cropping system in the Pacific Northwest, on SOC. Soil carbon content of these long-term plots is determined every 10 years. The collected SOC data will be used to prepare a database for these fields to elucidate the effect of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources on soil carbon accretion or loss. Soil carbon dynamics during 75 years will be determined. CQESTR, a C balance model developed by ARS scientists at the Columbia Plateau Soil Conservation Research Center (CPCRC) in Pendleton, will be used to predict SOC status at the field-scale. RUSLE files (c-factor files) for LTE plots will be prepared for use with CQESTR. Simulation runs with the CQESTR model will be performed to predict changes in SOC. Simulation results will be compared to the measured SOC. The influence of repeat additions or removal of carbon sources or different C sources on SOC will be determined. Prediction runs with the CQESTR model will be undertaken with varying crop rotation, tillage, and amendment scenarios. Documents SCA with OSU. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations Conventional tillage and fallow rotation systems for wheat production in the rainfed PNW dryland region are detrimental to soil organic matter (SOM) content, and contribute to soil erosion. We prepared RUSLE c-factor files (e.g. croplist.dat and oplist.dat ) and carried out preliminary simulations of SOM using the CQESTR model and three decades of soil organic carbon data from the tillage and fertility long-term experiment at CBARC, Pendleton, OR. The results indicate that the model is able to simulate the continuous decreasing trend of SOM in the plots with three tillage practices and four fertilizer treatments. This project is ADODR monitored by telephone calls, electronic mail, and in person meetings.
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