Progress 10/01/22 to 09/30/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences include farmers, crop consultants, and other ag professionals in central and southern North Dakota Changes/Problems:Between May 2022 and August2023, the program encountered challenges due to the absence of a soil scientist. During this period, Szilvia Yuja, a soil research specialist, was successfully in charge of the program, maintaining the high quality of ongoing applied research and updating all research reports. Throughout the past two growing seasons, Szilvia Yuja collaborated with Dr. Mike Ostlie, a research agronomist and Director of the Carrington Research Extension Center, working on a diverse pool of research projects in soil science. Dr. Sergio Cabello Leiva assumed the position of soil scientist in September 2023 and is working aligned with the objectives of the Soil Science program at Carrington REC. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?These trials provided opportunities for high school students who worked with the soils research team in the growing season, to collect plant and soil samples, crop-data, and participate in the maintenance of the plots. The researchers use these opportunities to involve the students in ways that educate them about setting project objectives, planning activities, research designs, fertilizer treatment application, and what the impact of the quality of their work can have on the trial results and the farmers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of a few trials were submitted for publication in the Carrington Research Extension Center's annual report for 2023. Field day presentations were also given during the CREC annual field day in the summer of 2023. Results of various trials have also been presented in an online blog, Center Points, hosted by the NDSU Carrington REC. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Several projects are aligned with the main objectives for the next period. Objective 1 In the 2024 season, this objective will be addressed by different funded projects because it will be aligned with optimal fertilizer rates and sources to achieve fertilizer efficiency in: Impact of fall versus Spring Nitrogen Fertilization, rates, and Sources on corn, funded by ND Corn Council Cover Crops and Biological Tillage to Enhance Corn Yield and Mitigate Soil Compaction in No-Till Systems, funded by ND Corn Council. This project is related to Nutrient cycling Enhancing Spring Wheat Yields through Split In-Season Nitrogen and Sulfur Applications in No-Till Systems, funded by the Minnesota Wheat Council Objective 2 In 2024, this objective will be addressed by the Project "Impact of Fall versus Spring Nitrogen Fertilization, rates, and Sources on Corn," founded by the ND Corn Council, where the main objectives are: Compare nitrogen use efficiency of corn following fall and spring granular urea application under conventional and no-till management Assess the ability of urea-based enhanced efficiency nitrogen products to mitigate nitrogen losses in fall and spring application under conventional and no-till management Assess the economic impact of using different nitrogen fertilizer sources and timing Two trial sites (conventionally tilled and no-till) will be established in the fall at the Carrington Research Extension Center to address the research objectives. Fall and spring-applied N fertilizer treatments from four sources: Agrotain (urease inhibitor), ESN (a polymer-coated urea-based fertilizer), SuperU (a urea-based fertilizer with nitrification and volatilization inhibitor), and Urea, at a single nitrogen rate of 80 lbs/acre, and spring Urea application of 40, 120, and 160 lbs/acre. Objective 3 ?During the 2024 season, this objective will be addressed. Active sensors such us Crop Circle and Greenseker and passive sensors such as drone and multispectral cameras (MicaSense Red NDVI) will allow the collection of wheat, corn, and soybean information when plants are actively growing in several stages, allowing the use of vegetation indexes such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Red Edge Index (NDRE). The main objective is to correlate N and S plant status in season, N and S rates, and grain yield and protein content in all these crops. Also, to determine soil salinity and soil water content, Electromagnetic induction (EM38) will be used in the following projects: Impact of fall versus Spring Nitrogen Fertilization, rates, and Sources on corn, funded by ND Corn Council Cover Crops and Biological Tillage to Enhance Corn Yield and Mitigate Soil Compaction in No-Till Systems, funded by ND Corn Council Mitigating salinity impact: Spring-planted cover crops boost soybean yields in North Dakota, funded by the ND Soybean Council Enhancing Spring Wheat Yields through Split In-Season Nitrogen and Sulfur Applications in No-Till Systems, funded by the Minnesota Wheat Council
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1 Phosphorus rates: State-wide evaluation of P rates required by soybeans in North Dakota PI. Dr. David Franzen, Co-PI.: Dr. Lindsay Malone, funded by the Soybean Council The main objective of this project is to determine and update the phosphorus rate for soybeans nationwide. Five phosphorus rates were applied as triple super phosphate (0, 23, 46, 69, and 92 lbs. of P2O5 per acre). Both sites tested low phosphorus levels before planting (4.2 and 4.0 ppm of phosphorus), which was intended for the project objectives. The preliminary analysis did not show significant differences in the two locations in seed yield (41.6 bu/acre), seed oil content (19.2%), seed protein (34.5%), and seed test weight (57.4 lbs/bu). Both locations had significant differences in soil phosphorus content (Soil P) post-harvest. In the check treatment, without phosphorus fertilizer, the Soil P was 4.0 and 2.3 ppm; meanwhile, in the treatments with 92 P2O5 lb/acre of phosphorus, the Soil P levels were significantly higher with 12.5 and 8.5 ppm, respectively. This could answer to diverse groups of factors, and a complete analysis will be necessary for better conclusions. These are only preliminary results, and the data from the other sites has yet to be made available. Dr. Lindsay Malone leads this project and will continue these trials next year. She will work closely with extension specialists to ensure the final results are disseminated to farmers and will also seek to publish the results in a peer-reviewed journal. Nitrogen rates: Utilizing soybean hulls as a supplemental slow-release nitrogen source. PI.: Szilvia Yuja, Co-PI.: Dr. Mike Ostlie, funded by the Soybean Council The objective was to evaluate the potential of utilizing soybean hulls as a supplemental slow-release nitrogen source in crop production by measuring yield impact and soil residual nitrogen after harvest. To achieve this objective, the following treatments were applied on a dryland site with conventional tillage, an irrigated site with conventional tillage, and a dryland no-till site: Check no N, 40 lbs N applied as urea, 40 lbs N from soybean hulls, Optimum N rate from a mix of 40 lbs N from hulls + urea, and Optimum N rate from urea. In both dryland sites, significant differences were observed. The treatments where soybean hulls were applied at the 40 lbs/A nitrogen rate did not yield significantly different from the untreated check at any of the sites. Urea at the 40 and 90 lbs N-rate produced a significant yield increase compared to both the check and the soybean hull treatment at both dryland sites. This shows a nitrogen response at those sites, but the nitrogen from the soybean hulls was not available to the plants when they needed it. Similarly, the treatments where soybean hulls were applied with urea yielded significantly lower than those where only urea was applied at the same rate. The grain protein results followed this exact pattern as well. The application of urea increased protein content, but the soybean hulls had no effect. Unsurprisingly, grain nitrogen uptake, calculated from grain yield and crude protein, followed this trend. Post-harvest soil nitrates were highest in the check and the 90 lbs urea-nitrogen treatments. The rest of the treatments were not significantly different from each other. On the other hand, no significant differences were observed at the irrigated site for any of the variables. Based on the results, nitrogen release from soybean hulls seemed slow to non-existent in the year applied under all three management practices. This could be caused by a too high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio for a quick breakdown under the climatic conditions of the trial year. Further data analysis will be needed to understand the results; in the future, more environments will be required to make solid conclusions. The no-till trial area will be planted back to spring wheat to observe the soybean hulls' nitrogen contribution to the following year's crop. Effect of nitrogen fixing biological additives on spring wheat yield and protein. PI: Szilvia Yuja, Co-PI: Dr. Leandro Bortolon This study also contributes nitrogen response data in hard red spring wheat. The study's main objective was to evaluate the effect on wheat grain yield and quality of two biological products with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria as their active ingredient: Envita by Azotic North America and Utrisha by Corteva Agriscience. The bacteria in these products thrive in oxygen-rich environments. Therefore, nodules are not needed. They enter the plants through the tissues, stomata, or root hairs. Once they infect the plant, they get carbohydrates from the plant in exchange for the nitrogen they fix, decreasing N needs from regular fertilizers. The trial was conducted at two locations: Carrington and Minot. Entiva and Utrisha were foliar applied to spring wheat at the end of the tillering stage (Feekes 5) on plots with nitrogen applied at the 0 or 60 lbs per acre rate as a starter. Additionally, some plots received 30, 90, 120, or 150 lbs of nitrogen per acre as a starter to get a nitrogen yield response curve. All other nutrients were uniformly applied based on the soil test. The biological treatments were mixed with chlorine-free water on the field before application. Results showed no significant yield increase from either Utrisha or Envita at either of the locations. However, it's important to point out that there was no significant response to nitrogen fertilizer at the Minot site. For this reason, it is unsurprising that biological products meant to augment nitrogen uptake also did not affect that location--a weak nitrogen yield response at the Carrington site plateaued at the 30 lbs N-rate. In light of this, the lack of response from biologicals at the 60 lbs N-rate is unsurprising. However, Utrisha and Envita did not increase yield even when no nitrogen was applied. It is not possible to draw any long-standing conclusions based on these results. More site years of data will be necessary to accurately judge these products' efficacy. Objective 2 In the past, Dr. Jasper Teboh collaborated with Renuvix LLC to provide field testing for newly developed, polymer-coated urea fertilizer products. The polymer coating was derived from soybean hulls. Some of the funding came from the Soybean Council. These products are not on the market yet. The plan was to continue testing in 2023, but this fell through due to lack of funding. Therefore, this objective was not addressed at all in 2023. Objective 3 No study was conducted specifically to address this objective in 2023. However, NDVI data was taken from corn, wheat, and soybeans during the growing season for several trials to assess crop vigor as a matter of protocol. This data will be added to our existing database to strengthen the correlation between NDVI and several variables such as yield, grain quality, and biomass production.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Yuja, S and J Teboh (202) Efficiency of sulfur fertilizer affected by nitrogen availability in canola. CREC annual report. P 22-25.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Ostlie, M and J Teboh (2022) Rate response of MES and MESZ as a starter fertilizer for spring wheat. CREC annual report. P 25-27.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Ostlie, M and J Teboh (2022) Biofortification strategies in spring wheat. CREC annual report. P 7-9.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Franzen D, C Keene, S Yuja, K Cooper, and H Eslinger (2022) Nitrogen fixing bacteria for corn: testing two commercial products. CREC annual report. P 12-16.
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Progress 10/01/21 to 09/30/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences include farmers, crop consultants, and other ag professionals in central and southern North Dakota. Changes/Problems:Dr. Jasper Teboh, the soil scientist at the CREC who formulated the goals in this report and was in charge of soil science related research for 10 years, resigned his position in the May of 2022. The search for a new soil scientist is in progress. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?These trials provided opportunities for high school students who worked with the soils research team in the growing season, to collect plant and soil samples, crop-data, and participate in the maintenance of the plots. The researchers use these opportunities to involve the students in ways that educate them about setting project objectives, planning activities, research designs, fertilizer treatment application, and what the impact of the quality of their work can have on the trial results and the farmers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results of a few trials were submitted for publication in the Carrington Research Extension Center annual report. Field day presentations were also given during the CREC annual field day in the summer. Results of various trials have also been presented in an on-line blog, Center Points, hosted by the NDSU Carrington REC. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Further evaluate of existing and newly developed enhanced efficiency N fertilizers and other specialty fertilizer products and biological growth enhancers. Conduct further fertility trials in canola wheat and corn in different production environments. In particular, the plan is to continue the nitrogen and sulfur fertility trials in canola for another year. Continue to use remote sensing to study the correlation between mid-season crop vigor and yield. Investigate the impacts of winter grazing on soil fertility in response to request for collaboration and interest expressed by our constituents.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1) In the 2022 trial year there were seven trial sites dedicated to reaching this goal. There was a project in which different nitrogen and sulfur rates were applied to canola with a site on dryland and one under irrigation. This was a continuation of research from the previous two years. In 2022 there were 8 treatment combinations that were all applied at planting. Three flat nitrogen rates (60, 90 and 120 lbs/a) were combined with two sulfur rates (10 and 20 lbs/a) in a factorial design. Another canola fertility study compared three nitrogen rates (30, 60, 90 lbs/a) on early or late planted canola under dryland and irrigation. A study in corn compared the effects of fall applied nitrogen in the form of plain urea or urea based enhanced efficiency fertilizer products, SuperU and ESN, to spring applied plain urea, on dryland and under irrigation. 2) This year, there were two major projects involving biological additives. One of those was a continuation of a trial from the previous two years, in which the treatments applied were meant to enhance mychorrhizal colonization of corn roots. In that trial corn was grown after beet or canola which are considered non-mychorrhizal or after soybean which is a mychorrhizal crop. Rye was planted in the fall in half of the plots after the previous crop in order to provide a potential overwintering host for the mychorrhizal fungi. Another treatment was the application of a commercial mychorrhizal inoculant at corn seeding. Grain yield data and mychorrhizal colonization of the roots were assessed from this trial. The Carrington REC participated in a multi-site trial initiated by Dr. Franzen that was testing products with non-nodule forming symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria. Two such products were tested in corn. One of the products was applied in-furrow at planting, and the other was sprayed onto the foliage at the 6-leaf stage. These products were meant to allow the corn plants to benefit from symbiotic nitrogen fixation, thus lowering the need for nitrogen uptake from the soil. The products were applied at two nitrogen rates: 0 and 80 lbs/a. Their yield effect was compared to a nitrogen yield response without these additives at 6 rates of nitrogen: 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 lbs/a. A trial tested the efficacy of experimental fertilizer products from Sulvaris. The main purpose of these products was to deliver sulfur to the plants, but several of them also contained one or more of the main macronutrients as well. These blends were tested against the traditionally available fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, urea, muriate of potash or triplesuper phosphate. A trial was initiated to test the seed safety of ESN, a polymer coated urea product, applied with the seed. ESN was applied with the planter together with the seed in the same furrow at three rates, 30, 60 and 90 lbs N/acre. Because this method of fertilization is of interest mostly to no-till farmers, the ESN treatments were compared with applying Agrotain coated urea at the same rates on the surface without incorporation. 3)Throughout the growing season crop vigor was monitored in several trials using both a hand-held Greenseeker sensor and a drone mounted camera. Both the drone and the hand-held sensor provided normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values, while the drone mounted camera also took color images.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Yuja, S and J Teboh (2021) Experiences using distillers byproducts as a fertilizer in corn and spring wheat. CREC annual report. P 18-22.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Teboh, J, S Yuja, E Aberle, and M Ostlie (2021) Impact of soil K test and smectite/illite clay ratio on K fertilization. CREC annual report. P 22-24.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Teboh, J, S Yuja, and M Ostlie (2021) Effects of enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers on corn and wheat grown under irrigation. CREC annual report. P 28-30.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Teboh, J, S Yuja, and M Ostlie (2021) Impact of sulfur and nitrogen as starter and topdress applications on canola. CREC annual report. P 30-32.
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Progress 10/01/20 to 09/30/21
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached wereNorth Dakota farmers, Extension Agents, Academic professionals/researchers at local and international meetings, and various agroindustry collaborators. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?These trials provided opportunities forthree to five high school students whoworked with the soils research team in summer, to collect plant and soil samples, cropdata, and maintain the plots. The researchers use these opportunities to involve the students in ways that theylearn about setting project objectives, planning activities, research designs, fertilizer treatment application, and what the impact of the quality of their work can haveon the trial results and thefarmers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results of a few trialswere submitted for publication in the Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC) annual report to be available inJanuary, 2022. Field day presentations were also given duringthe CREC annual field day in summer. Results of various trials have also been presented in an on-line blog, Center Points, hosted by the NDSU Carrington REC, and at a ResearchExtension meeting of Extension Agents and at the American Society of Agronomy Annual Conference meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Further evaluation of existing and newly developed enhanced efficiency N fertilizers (EENFs) Conduct fertilizer rate trials on wheat and corn in different production environments Examine the predictability of N fertilizer requirementsfor corn based on mid-season canopy reflectance using a handheld remote sensor.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Results from canola field trials to test the interaction effects of nitrogen and sulfur fertilizer rates and application timing showed that interaction effects were not significant. Nitrogen fertilization significantly improved seed yields. However, significant differences observed were between the control treatment versus N rates at 120 and 150 lbs N. Yields between 90 lbs N were not different from either the control nor at the higher N rates. Split application of N neither improved yields nor N use efficiency. Sulfur fertilization did not impact yields, which was probably due to adequate available sulfur in the soil. The study suggested that, rather than split apply N at pre-plant and the rest as topdress, a one-time pre-plant application of N fertilizer and sulfur remains the most reliable practice for farmers to employ. From five corn and wheat studies that were conducted at three locations to assess the impact of enhanced efficiency N fertilizers on corn and wheat, none of the results produced any yield or economic advantages if farmers were to purchase these specialized fertilizers and applied to the soil to minimize N losses under normal field conditions or conditions of moderate susceptibility for fertilizer N loss. Handheld remote sensors were used for collecting canopy reflectance by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to detect response of biomass differences to N rates. Based on the NDVI data, no additional N fertilizer was recommended during midseason growth of both corn and wheat, which was reflected in the absence of significant yield and protein differences between low and high N rate treatments.
Publications
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