1. Quantifying Nitrate Leaching Below Root Zone Across Site Specific Management Zones
Dr. Raj Khosla, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University Ms. Stefanie Van Wychen, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University
Contact Information: R. Khosla, Department of Soil & Crop Sciences,
C013 Plant Sciences Building, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1170 970-491-1920 970-491-2758 rkhosla@colostate.edu
Currently, agriculture is one of the leading contributors to the nitrate contamination of both surface and ground waters. Development of more efficient nitrogen (N) management strategies such as variable rate N application using Site-specific management zones may reduce the potential for nitrate contamination of soil and water systems. The objective of this study was to quantify nitrate leaching losses below the root zone across three site specific management zones. This study was conducted on two irrigated continuous corn (Zea mays L.) fields in northeastern Colorado in 2004. Fields were classified into high, medium, and low site specific management zones using a commercially available technique of delineating management zones. The N management strategies consisted of a control (0 kg N ha-1), a variable yield goal N rate based on the productivity potential of each zone, and a uniform N rate based on a constant yield goal across management zones. Soil sample cores were randomly collected from geo-referenced locations before planting and after harvest from each nitrogen management strategy within each management zone. Each soil samples was analyzed for nitrate and total N content. Aboveground biomass samples were collected from each soil sample location at crop physiological maturity and were analyzed for total N content. Results of this study on nitrate leaching losses below the root zone across site-specific management zones will be presented in the paper. Nitrate Leaching, Site-Specific Management Zones
2. GIS use on the private landscape
Joe T. Smith
Contact Information: Joe T. Smith, USDA-NRCS, 206 First St., P.O. Box 725, Sergeant Bluff, IA 51054
Phone: 712-943-6727 Fax: 712-943-6729 Email:joe.t.smith@ia.usda.gov
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) work with private landowners on a day by day basis to improve and assist in private landuse management. A geographic information system (GIS) is used by the NRCS to help design landuse conservation plans, conservation structure plans, wetland development plans, grazing management plans, and nutrient management plans. These plans are developed by incorporating topographic, governmental unit, SSURGO soil, and infrared satellite imagery coverages which allow them to be relayed to the private landowner in a clear, concise manner.
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3. Agricultural Management Effects on Properties of Semi-Arid Sandy Soils
Ted M. Zobeck, USDA-ARS, Lubbock, TX; Deanna Halfmann, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX; Veronica Acosta-Martinez, USDA-ARS, Lubbock, TX; Kevin Bronson, Texas A & M University, Lubbock, TX; Dan R. Upchurch, USDA-ARS, Lubbock, TX.
Contact Information: Ted M. Zobeck, USDA-ARS, 3810 4th St. Lubbock, TX 79415
Phone: 806-723-5240 Fax: 806-723-5272 Email: ted.zobeck@ttu.edu
Sustainable agricultural management is vital to the production of a stable and safe food supply. The effects of agricultural management on the environment depend on many factors. No-tillage farming systems have been shown to reduce soil erosion and modify soil chemical, biochemical, and physical properties in many areas of the US, but little information is available for sandy semi-arid soils of the Southern High Plains. In this study, soil chemical, biochemical, and physical properties were measured on long-term (approximately 20 years) no-till, conventionally-tilled fields and native rangeland of sandy soils in west Texas. Systems investigated included no-till cotton/wheat, conventionally-tilled cotton, conservation reserve grassland, and native grassland. Soil properties observed included soil total organic carbon (OC) and nitrogen, particulate organic matter (POM), enzyme activities of C, N and S cycling (beta-glucosaminidase, beta-glucosidase, arylsulfatase), wet aggregate stability (WES), bulk density, penetrometer resistance, and water infiltration. Most soil properties had significant depth (within the surface 30cm) and depth by management system interactions. Native grassland and no-till systems had the highest enzyme activity and nutrient levels. Native grassland had the highest OC content and WES, among systems. Conventionally-tilled cotton had the lowest OC content and WES. No differences among systems were found for POM. Infiltration was highest on the native rangeland and lowest on the dryland cotton fields, regardless of tillage system used. Our results demonstrate that although long-term, no-till increased the values of selected soil quality parameters, they were still lower than the same parameters observed for native grassland in these sandy soils.
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4. Effects of Potato-Grain Rotations on Phosphorous Pools of Rangeland Sandy Soils
J.A. Delgado, R.A. Bownman, R.T. Sparks, M.F. Vigil, and M.A. Dillon
Contact Information: Jorge A. Delgado, USDA-ARS, Ft. Collins, CO 80526;
Phone: 970-492-7260 Fax: 970-492-7213 Email: jdelgado@lamar.colostate.edu
South central Colorado is dominated by soils with low organic matter content and a coarse sandy texture over coarse textured substratum. Phosphorous is one of the key nutrients used in this important agricultural region which has over 2000 center-pivot irrigated circles with a predominately small grain-potato rotation. After harvest of crops such as potato that leave only a small amount of fragile crop residue, soils are susceptible to wind erosion. Thus winter cover crops are a strongly recommended practice for this region when potatoes are grown in consecutive years instead of rotating to a high residue small grain crop. We evaluated the effects of cropping systems on the status and pools of phosphorous. To identify these impacts we collected plant biomass and soil samples at 0.3 m increments to 0.9 m depths to determine the phosphorous content of uncultivated rangeland sites and at adjacent cultivated sites. The USDA-NRCS personnel identified field sites that had similar soils representatives of the major soils in the region. The main variability in management at these study sites was the amount of straw returned to the system. These sites have been cultivated for about two decades. Additionally, we collected samples to determine changes in phosphorous status during the past five years. We found that rangeland soil phosphorous levels have increased by at least 50% at the top 0.3 m and have continued to increase at these sites during the past five years. The data showing increases in several phosphorous pools such as Acid-Pi, Acid-Po, Olsen-Pi, EDTA-Pi, EDTA-Po and AER (resin strips)-Pi in the profile will be presented. A phosphorous budget showing changes and rate of increase per year at these sites will also be presented.
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5. Assessing Soil Fertility in the South Fork Watershed of the Iowa River
Jerry Neppel, independent crop consultant; Mark Tomer and Douglas Karlen, National Soil Tilth Laboratory
Contact Information: Jerry Neppel, 4706 Todd Dr., Ames, IA 50014
Phone: 515-663-9742 Email: jbiej@aol.com
The South Fork Watershed of the Iowa River in north-central Iowa has been selected for intensive monitoring for the inter-agency Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). Intensive swine, corn, and soybean production occur within the watershed and local streams have shown elevated levels of nitrate and phosphorus. Discussions with local stakeholders revealed the lack of baseline soil fertility data for this 220,000-acre watershed. This information is needed to help determine the appropriate practices and to identify where scarce resources should be targeted to provide the greatest environmental benefit. The Iowa NRCS, National Soil Tilth Laboratory (NSTL) and SWCS cooperated to assist local stakeholders obtain this information. Two transects were run across the watershed and 80-acre tracts were sampled every mile (legal section), given landowner permission. Soil samples were collected by soil type and previous management history. Soil analyses included soil pH, phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon and total nitrogen. A total of 221 soil samples were collected from 26 sites. Phosphorus levels had a skewed distribution with 69% of the samples testing high or very high. Potassium levels were more normally distributed with 30% of the samples testing in the optimum soil test class. Organic carbon averaged 1.92% and total nitrogen averaged 0.22% of the soil by mass. This calculates to be an unusually high C:N ratio of 9:1. Additional analysis will examine variation by subwatershed, landscape position, and manure history. Overall, the study was successful and provides important baseline information for the South Fork CEAP project.
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6. The Los Lunas Plant Materials Center partners with New Mexico Soil and Water Conservation Districts to restore riparian areas in the southwestern United States
David Dreesen, Gregory Fenchel, Danny Goodson, and Keith White, USDA-NRCS Los Lunas Plant Materials Center
Contact Information: Gregory Fenchel, USDA-NRCS Los Lunas Plant Materials Center, 1036 Miller St. SW, Los Lunas, NM 87031 Phone: 505-865-4684
The New Mexico Soil and Water Conservation Districts are involved in controlling exotic species, such as salt cedar, Siberian Elm, and Russian olive. Their goal is to restore thousands of acres of riparian areas to their historical condition and to provide more water for agriculture. The Los Lunas Plant Materials Center (LLPMC) has been engaged in developing plant materials and methodologies for riparian restoration in the Southwest since 1983. The LLPMC distributes local ecotypes of native grasses, shrubs, and trees to Soil and Water Conservation Districts and various land management agencies for the restoration of disturbed riparian areas at elevations from 100 to 3000 m. The LLPMC has established plantations of native collections of cottonwoods, willows, and various understory shrub species. Thousands of stem cuttings from these plantations are harvested annually for distribution.
Thousands of stem cuttings from these plantations are harvested annually for distribution. Stem cuttings are planted to the depth of the water table and quickly establish root systems that absorb water from the capillary moisture zone above the water table. Other shrub species that cannot produce a root system from a stem cutting are grown in containers that are 75 centimeters long. This deep root system allows the plant to become quickly established with minimal irrigation. A number of montane willow species are being propagated from seed to ensure genetic and sexual diversity. The LLPMC makes seed from 20 native grass species (many of which are common to riparian areas) available to the general public through the commercial seed industry.
The Soil and Water Conservation Districts have begun their restoration endeavor using LLPMC plant materials and planting methodologies. Before and after photographs of plantings will be included in the presentation.
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7. Potential For Leaching - Urea Fertilized Corn In The Rolling Pampas (Argentina).
Mónica B. Rodríguez. College of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires Raúl S. Lavado. College of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires.
Contact Information: Mónica B. Rodríguez, College of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires., Av. San Martín 4453, C1417DSE Buenos Aires, Argentina
4-11-4524-8076 mrodrigu@agro.uba.ar
The extent to which agriculture in the Rolling Pampas region (Argentina) contributes to water quality degradation is not well known. We determined the potential N available for leaching (NL) from N-urea fertilized corn.
Field experiments were developed in a Typic Argiudoll during two consecutives corn cycles. In a randomized blocks arrangement (n=3), 3 N levels (0, 120 and 180 kg N ha-1) were compared. In the second cycle, microplots were included to apply enriched 15N-urea. At the beginning and the end of each cycle, soil samples from 0 - 3 m were taken at 0.3 m increments and analyzed for nitrates and 15N derived from the fertilizer (15NDF).
The NL (1-3 m deep) was significantly increased by fertilization. It varied from 40.3 to 175.2 and 77.0 to 128.0 kg Nha-1 for the first and second cycles respectively. Only 20 % of the 15NDF was absorbed by the corn. This fact was caused by the high level of nitrates from organic nitrogen mineralization. The 15NDF was significantly higher than the control below the 1 m deep, indicating that it has been carried out below the root zone during the cycle, so increasing the NL. N coming from mineralization significantly affected NL when high rates of nitrogen fertilizer were applied thus increasing the risk of water contamination.
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8. On Farm Manure Testing
Steven Hollister, Agronomist/Water Quality Specialist, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Contact Information: Steven Hollister, 16255 Liberty St., Morrison, IL 61270" 815-772-2124 Ext. 3 Steve.Hollister@il usda.gov
To assist livestock producers with properly utilizing manure as a nutrient source, the nutrient value of the manure must be identified. Currently, this requires a sample to be tested by a lab. This means the producer either needs to agitate liquid manure twice (once to get the sample and another to pump out the manure) so the analysis is known before manure is applied, or apply manure at a predetermined rate that reflects the last test values expecting it is similar to the nutrient value of the manure being pumped. Producers need to be able to apply manure based on a known nutrient value based on an on-farm test. The objective of this proposal was to develop a fast, accurate, inexpensive test that can be conducted any time manure will be spread. Several on-farm test methods have been reviewed. The use of a hydrometer for testing for total N and an electroconductivity (EC) pen to test for ammonium N were chosen as the simplest, fastest and safest methods for on-farm testing. Research also indicates these methods can be quite accurate. The results of this study indicate the hydrometer does not provide accurate test results for Total Nitrogen. However, the EC pen was found to provide a fast, accurate, inexpensive test to determine Total N and ammonium N. Given these 2 values, the Nitrogen value of the manure can be used at the time of application to help determine the rate to apply for the next crop.
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9. Use of GIS to Quantify Ephemeral Gullies for Incorporation into AnnAGNPS
Kent A. McVay, Kansas State, Jeffery Neel, Kansas State University, Dan Devlin, Kansas State University, Lyle Frees, USDA/NRCS Salina, KS
Contact Information: Kent A. McVay, Agronomy, Kansas State, 2014 Throckmorton Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-5504 785.532.0394 kmcvay@ksu.edu
The Cheney Lake watershed is the primary drinking water supply for the city of Wichita, Kansas and has a record of water quality impairments ranging from sediment to nutrients to bacteria. Water quality modeling using AnnAGNPS is being used in this watershed to help target conservation practices toward areas that are most likely contributing pollutants. Current sediment predictions are based on RUSLE within AnnAGNPS, which incorporates only sheet and rill erosion. A significant portion of sediment may be coming from ephemeral gully erosion in this watershed. In order to assess the contribution of pollutants from ephemeral gullies, quantifying their occurrence and extent is needed. TOPAZ, a component of ARC-GIS, is being used to predict flow accumulation for surface runoff potential. Overlaid digital ortho photos are then evaluated for evidence of erosional scars. The mouth of the gully, is then marked where there is evidence of sediment deposition. A routine has been written to extract the gully profile from elevation data, and soil and engineering properties from the associated soil data layer. This new digital layer of ephemeral gullies will be included in the latest version of AnnAGNPS for prediction of pollutants in surface runoff. Our secondary interest is in predicting occurrence of ephemeral gullies. This data set is being analyzed spatially to determine ephemeral gully frequency and location as a function of soil type, slope, hydrography, and landcover. Better prediction of gully occurrence will help locate appropriate structure placement and field management to reduce sediment contribution from this source.
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10. Integrated model for sustainability assessment of intensive agriculture
Milada Stastna and Elmar Stenitzer, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno and Institute of Land and Water Management Petzenkirchen Austria
Contact Information: Milada Stastna, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno, Department of Applied and Landscape Ecology, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic, Phone: +420545132459 Fax: +420545132459 email: stastna@mendelu.cz
Aims of the study were to apply, test and to present the ability of the deterministic simulation model SIMWASER computing soil-water balance components. Two case studies as the assessment of percolation losses from irrigated carrots to deep groundwater at Obersiebenbrunn in the Marchfeld (Austria) and ground water recharge and capillary rise from shallow groundwater in grass lysimeters at Berlin - Dahlem (Germany) are presented to demonstrate the performance of the model by comparison between measured and simulated results from field experiments. At Obersiebenbrunn, simulated percolation and evapotranspiration were 183 and 629 mm, while the respective measured values amounted to 198 and 635 mm. At Berlin - Dahlem simulated capillary rise and evapotranspiration were -122 and 458 mm, whereas the measurement showed -155 and 454 mm. These results testified the SIMWASER as a good applicable tool for assessing the sustainability of intensive agriculture as well as influence of land use.
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11. Dormant Seeding of Warm Season Grasses in the Northeast
Paul. R. Salon and Martin van der Grinten, USDA-NRCS Big Flats Plant Materials Center
Contact Information: Paul Salon, USDA-NRCS 441 So. Salina St. Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: 315-477-6535 Fax: 315-477-6550 Email: paul.salon @ny.usda.gov
A study comparing an incorporated early fall dormant warm season grass seeding and three winter dormant frost seeding dates to a non dormant incorporated spring seeding was conducted at the USDA-NRCS Big Flats Plant Materials Center in Corning, NY. The early fall dormant (late October) and spring non-dormant seedings (early May) were established by rototilling, hand broadcasting, raking and cultipacking (incorporated). The frost seedings were surface applied following an October rototilling. We also compared frost seeding on soil tilled in late August and planted to oats in early September for erosion control. The warm season grasses included switchgrass, little bluestem, big bluestem and indiangrass planted at 40 (PLS) pure live seeds/ft2 4.5, 7.0, 10.0, and 10.0 lbs/ac PLS respectively. They were planted individually in separate plots. The May seedings performed the best with 14.8, 10.6 and 14.8 seedlings/ft2 in 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively. The incorporated late October dormant seeding had 2.0, 1.7 and 6.4 seedlings in 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively. The averages of all frost seedings with and without the oats were 5.0 and 3.2 seedlings/ft2 in 2002 and 1.9 and 2.4 seedlings/ft2 in 2003. In 2004 the frost seedings had excellent emergence with 11.9 seedlings/ft2. The incorporated spring seeding was the best treatment. The frost seedings compared favorably with the incorporated late October dormant seeding. The oat cover treatment did not impede the frost seedings. All treatments had at least 1 plant per ft2 considered adequate for wildlife cover. The low stand density of the fall dormant and frost seedings indicates a need to increase the seeding rate
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12. Data Integration and Modeling Framework for the Assessment of Water Quality Benefits of Conservation Practices at the National Level
Mauro DiLuzio, Steve Potter, Narayanan Kannan, Chinnasamy Santhi, Jeffrey Arnold, Jay Atwood, Robert Kellogg
Contact Information: Mauro DiLuzio, Texas Experimental Agri Station, Blackland Research Center, 720 E. Blackland Rd, Temple, TX 76502 254-774-6100 diluzio@brc.tamus.edu
Modeling is a feasible approach to evaluate the water quality benefits of conservationpractices and to design improvements of new programs to more effectively and efficiently meet the goals of the Farm Bill. The United States Department of Agriculture has initiated the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), which includes the use of models to quantify the environmental benefits of conservation practices at the national scale, termed a national assessment. This poster outlines various data, modeling components, and their linkage being used in the national assessment. A number of data sets, seemlessly covering the conterminous United States, have been developed and/or generated to feed the models. These include weather, landscape characteristics, and management practices. The models include the farm-scale model Agricultural Policy/Environmental Extender (APEX) and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), along with a GIS representation of the landscape. APEX simulates conservation practices for cultivated cropland. Farmer surveys conduted on a subset of National Resource Inventory sample points provide information on current farming activities and conservation practices for APEX. Output from APEX will be input into the watershed scale model, SWAT, in the HUMUS (Hydrologic Unit Modeling for the United States) system for routing the polllutants to the 8-di8git watershed outlet. The system will allow comparison of alternative scenarios (e.g. with and without conservation practices) for on-site and off-site water quality benefits (e.g. reductions in in-stream concentrations and loading of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides, and reductions in the number of days that concentrations exceed human health and ecological thresholds). We will also discuss potential improvements of each system component and their integration within an advenced GIS software system.
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13. Phosphorus Fractionation in SWAT after Manure Application
C.H. Green, USDA-ARS/GSWRL, J.G. Arnold, USDA-ARS/GSWRL, R.D. Harmel, USDA-ARS/GSWRL, R. Haney, USDA-ARS/GSWRL"
Contact Information: Cole Green, USDA-ARS, Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory, 808 East Blackland Road, Temple, TX 76502" 254-770-6507 chgreen@spa.ars.usda.gov
Phosphorus transport from agricultural systems to nearby water bodies is of increasing interest to the environmental community. Mineral (active) and soluble (labile) forms of P can be transported in runoff as dissolved P or as sediment attached P. Due to the impact of P on water quality, an environmental model that can adequately predict P fractionation and its transport from agricultural systems is desired. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) water quality model (version 2003) is designed to assess nonpoint and point source pollution and conduct agricultural management scenario comparisons. In order to effectively simulate P transport, SWAT’s P routine is being improved to account for how phosphorus fractionates with time after surface manure application. Four years of data from a watershed in central Texas have been collected from runoff sampling after rainfall events and will be used for validation.
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14. Cancelled
15. Managing Pine Straw Harvests To Minimize Soil And Water Losses
D.H. Pote, USDA-ARS, T.C. Daniel, University of Arkansas"
Contact Information: Dan Pote, USDA-ARS, 6883 South State Highway 23,
Booneville, AR 72927" 479-675-3834 dpote@spa.ars.usda.gov
Pine straw is a valuable landscape mulch because it conserves soil moisture, moderates soil temperature, inhibits weed growth, and protects the soil surface against erosion, while retaining a loose structure that allows water, air, and fertilizer to easily reach the soil surface. As a result, marketing pine straw has become a multi-million dollar industry, but the loss of those mulching benefits from pine forests can increase runoff, soil erosion and nutrient losses in watersheds where pine straw is harvested. It may be helpful to harvest pine straw relatively early in the fall so that needles dropping later in the season will provide some soil cover throughout the remainder of the year and minimize the environmental impacts of harvesting. To test this hypothesis, runoff plots were constructed in a 17-year-old pine stand with basal area of approximately 42 m2/ha and trees planted on a 3.0 m X 1.5 m spacing. Each plot (2 m X 1 m) had 4% slope, aluminum borders to isolate runoff, and a runoff collector. Pine straw was removed from all 16 plots in early October, and eight of them were immediately covered with screen mesh that allowed light and water to reach the plot surface, but prevented additional pine needle accumulation. Two months later, simulated rainfall was applied (50 mm/h) to produce 20 minutes of runoff from each of the 16 plots for treatment comparisons. Results showed that allowing additional straw to accumulate late in the season decreased erosion and nutrient losses in runoff. pine straw harvesting, water quality, soil erosion, runoff, watershed management.
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16. Knick Point Erosion and Successful Partnering
Les Betts, USDA-NRCS, Keosauqua IA
Contact Information: Les Betts, NRCS, 1016 Franklin St- East Wing, Keosauqua IA 52565
Phone: 319 293 3523; Fax: 319 293 3192
Email Address: les.betts@ia.usda.gov
Can a “knick” point that is moving at nearly 700 feet per year be stopped? That’s the question concerning this unusual geological phenomenon on the Fox River in southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri. If it can’t, the river’s “head cut” or riverbed channel will continue to unravel and create havoc with roads, bridges, field crossings, and cause stream bank erosion and sediment delivery downstream through five counties in two states damaging infrastructure and farmland. It has been estimated that “to do nothing” for one county in SE Iowa (Van Buren), damages could reach well over $10,000,000. But with immediate conservation efforts that figure could be decreased by 8 million dollars. Knick points are also known as head cuts, channel avulsions or channel changes to riverbeds. Migration of this knick point has not gone unnoticed by local conservation groups. Five Soil and Water Conservation Districts along with USDA-NRCS personnel partnered with other groups to coordinate efforts to prevent further erosion. In Van Buren County alone, aggressive efforts have seen nearly 3300 acres enrolled in the WRP Program providing advanced erosion control. Local government entities, non profit groups and the Division of Soil Conservation have committed $355,000 to slow the erosion. The project continues to expand as it involves more partners in efforts to stop the migration of this unusual potentially massive jump of a riverbed into adjacent farmlands. Lessons learned would have application to thousands of other streams and rivers.
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23. Water Use, Runoff, and Recharge in the Mississippi Delta
D. A. DiCarlo, S. M. Dabney, R. W. Steinriede, and M. A. Locke
USDA-ARS National Sedimentation Laboratory, Oxford, MS
Contact Information: D. A. DiCarlo, USDA-ARS National Sedimentation Laboratory, Oxford, MS 38655, ddicarlo@ars.usda.gov
Estimates of recharge to shallow aquifers from agricultural fields in the productive Mississippi Delta region vary widely due to the large clay contents of the soils. We have commenced a study of how the various common crops (rice, soybeans, corn, and cotton) and tillage (conventional or no-till) affect water use and recharge at the Delta Conservation Demonstration Center. This test area consists of 7 precision leveled fields of roughly 15 ha each. Rice and soybean are grown on fields consisting of clay soils while corn and cotton are grown on fields consisting of silty clay to sandy clay loam soils. Precipitation is measured with tipping bucket rain gauges and irrigation from 50-m deep wells is monitored with water meters. Runoff is monitored by measuring depth and velocity in eight 0.56 m drainage pipes. Evapotranspiration is estimated using weather data and the modified Penman equation. Tillage is of particular interest, as the lack of tillage may affect the retention of water due to the large shrink/swell cracks that can be produced in these soils. We show preliminary results on the effect of soil type, and crops on the water balance for the seven fields for the first 2 years of operation.
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24. Assessment of a sinkhole filter for removing agricultural contaminants
Douglas G. Boyer, USDA-ARS
Contact Information: Douglas G. Boyer, USDA-ARS, Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center, 1224 Airport Rd., Beaver, WV 25813
Phone: 304-256-2833 Fax: 304-256-2921 Email: doug.boyer@ars.usda.gov
The impact on water quality by agricultural activity in karst terrain is an important consideration for resource management within the Appalachian Region. Karst areas comprise about 18 percent of the Region's land area. An estimated one-third of the Region's farms, cattle, and agricultural market value are on karst terrain. Two USDA/NRCS-designed sinkhole filter caps for removing contaminants from manure-impacted infiltrating water were assessed for removal efficiency of indicator bacteria and nitrate. One sinkhole filter was located down slope from a barnyard and milkhouse. The other sinkhole filter was constructed in a large sinkhole in a rotationally grazed beef pasture. Geometric mean fecal coliform bacteria concentrations were reduced by 85 to 95 percent after sinkhole filter installation at both locations. Mean nitrate concentrations increased from 2.0 mg N L-1 to 4.6 mg N L-1 and from 11.1 mg N L-1 to 12.6 mg N L-1 at the dairy and pasture sites, respectively. The sinkhole filters were designed to filter water without significantly delaying water infiltration and causing sinkhole flooding. We expect that the sinkhole filters filtered out sediment and associated contaminant, such as fecal coliform bacteria, but had no filtering effect on solutes like nitrate. Nitrate concentrations might have increased because of nitrification in the filter media between runoff events. The sinkhole filter appears to be an effective management tool, along with responsible land management, in order to reduce inputs of pathogens to karst groundwater aquifers.
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25. Native Plants for National Parks: An Interagency Plant Materials Program
Martin van der Grinten, and Russ Haas, USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service
Contact Information: Russ Haas, Plant Materials Technical Advisor to National Park Service, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 1458, Bismarck, North Dakota 58502-1458
Phone:701-530-2026 Fax:701-530-2112 Email: russ_haas@nps.gov
An interagency agreement between the USDI National Park Service and the USDA National Resources Conservation Service, initiated in 1989, has led to an exchange of technical information and the development of native plant materials for parks, new seed and plant technologies and restoration methodologies for revegetation of highways and other park construction projects. The program continues to provide assistance to the National Parks across the country through the NRCS Plant Materials Centers to: identify plant species needed; collect and process native seeds; provide high quality custom grown container plants and field production of native forbs and grasses from site specific collections; and provide technical assistance on site preparation, plant propagation and establishment, weed control, seed collection and processing. In the past fifteen years the program has assisted 45 National Parks with nearly 100 projects in cooperation with twelve NRCS Plant Material Centers; tested over 1000 native species/ecotypes and developed successful propagation techniques for more than 700 species and produced approximately 29,000 PLS pounds of grass/forbs and 720,000 tree/shrub seedlings. The propagation protocols developed by the Natipnal Park Service and the Plant Material Centers are on a website (http://nativeplantnetwork.org) for access by nurseries, seed growers and the general public. With this interagency program, the National Park Service has revegetated disturbed areas within the parks with native plants, controlled erosion by stabilizing the sites, and maintained the genetic integrity of the native plant ecosystem.
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26. Social and economic impacts of open spaces and environmental quality of metro city Chennai, India
Prof. Dr. Abdul Razak Mohamed1 & Bharati Mohapatra2
The environmental quality of the cities in India has changed significantly in recent years with degradation of the composition and configuration of open spaces. The restructuring of the city’s urban form along with its open spaces is not just a consequence of the transition from an industrial era, it is also part of the transition from an industrial to an ‘informational era’. The city landscape pattern and modifications is the hostile impacts of urbanisation. So open spaces are to be comprehended in terms of their environmental, economic and social dynamics.
It is essential to understand the composition and morphology of open spaces within the city fabric. Identification of different functional parameters of social and economic process in shaping the spatial pattern of urban open space is essential to evaluate the consequence environmental quality of cities. An integrated approach for improving environmental quality of open space in terms of its typology, morphology and functional attributes is to be done by identifying spatial distribution of urban open spaces and evaluating the resulting perception of socio cultural public realm. This approach will provide solutions to plan potential open spaces within the city that will provide positive environmental quality of urban life and varieties of opportunities such as sociability and natural diversity. The above mentioned aspects are analysed in the paper within the context of a few selected neighbourhood of the metropolitan city of Chennai. This paper made an attempt to identify social and economic impacts of open spaces and environmental quality within urban processes.
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27. Native Forage Grass Establishment And Use In Southwest Georgia. Charles M. Owsley, Mary S.Goodman, Malcome Kirkland, Larry Vanzant and Donald Surrency, Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Auburn University, and Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Contact Information: Charles M. Owsley, Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center, 295 Morris Drive, Americus, GA 31719 Phone 229 924-4499 Fax: 229- 924-0013, Email: mike.owsley@ga.usda.gov
In 1993, the Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center (PMC) established long-term grazing demonstrations of ‘Pete’ eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.) and ‘Alamo’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) at the PMC in Americus, Georgia. Both native grass pastures were divided into 10 paddocks and cattle were rotationally stocked through each set of paddocks. Heifers on ‘Pete’ eastern gamagrass achieved 1 pound average daily gain (ADG) and steers obtained between 1.5 and 1.75 ADG. Heifers on ‘Alamo’ switchgrass produced an ADG of 0.7-1.0 pound. In 1997, the PMC began a study in cooperation with Auburn University to follow establishment success and invasive plant species control in introduced and native forage grasses under different burn regimes. Six blocks of 6, 50 by 50 foot plots were sown with native and introduced forages at the PMC. Half of the blocks were burned every, and half every-other year. Percent canopy cover was estimated each fall (1998-2002). In mixture with the native grasses big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman ‘Earl’), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L. ‘Cave-in-Rock’) and indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash ‘Americus’), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash ‘Knox City PMC’) cover was not different in year 1 (13%) versus year 5 (17%) after establishment if the mixture was burned every year. However, when burned every other year, little bluestem cover was higher in year 5 (38%) versus year 1 (16%). Initially, bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum L. ‘Pensacola’) was the dominant invasive species in the native grass mix. Regardless of burn frequency, bahiagrass cover was reduced (P<.001) after year 5 (3%) compared to year 1 (26%) while cover of blackberry (Rubus cunefolius Link) increased (P=.024) between year 1 (2%) and year 5 (14%).
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28. Cancelled
29. A Highly Portable Wind Tunnel for Field Use
R. Scott Van Pelt, USDA-ARS Cropping Systems Research Lab, Big Spring, Texas, Ted M. Zobeck, USDA-ARS Cropping Systems Research Lab, Lubbock, Texas
Contact Information: R. Scott Van Pelt, USDA-ARS, 302 W. I-20, Big Spring, TX 79720 432/263-0293 svanpelt@lbk.ars.usda.gov
The management of vegetation and soil surfaces has a profound impact on the susceptibility of the landscape to wind erosion and fugitive dust production. In order to understand management effects on wind erosion, it is common to test the susceptibility of the surface under controlled and repeatable conditions using a field wind tunnel. Field wind tunnel designs have varied from small units that can be moved and operated by a single person to large trailer mounted tunnels requiring tractors and hydraulic cranes to move and deploy. We have constructed a pusher-type field wind tunnel that is very portable, can be moved and deployed by two persons, and yet maintains many of the advantages of larger tunnels. The Big Spring field wind tunnel is self contained and fits on a tandem car trailer of 5m length and 2 m width. The tunnel is driven by a radial fan capable of producing 9.4 m3 s-1 of air flow through the 0.5 m wide by 1 m tall conditioning and test sections resulting in a maximum average wind velocity of over 18 m s-1. The flow conditioning section has a solid floor and consists of a .5 m straightening section 0.2 m in front of a replaceable tripping fence and 0.3 m in front of abrader drop chutes. The test sections have an open floor and the 2 m sections can be linked together to form a test section of desired length. Flow and performance data will be presented. Wind Erosion, Dust generation, Wind Tunnel, Field Surfaces
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30. Minimizing Nitrogen Losses in a Corn-Soybean-Winter Wheat Rotation with Best Management Practices
Susantha Jayasundara, Gary Parkin, Claudia Wagner-Riddle, Peter von Bertoldi, and Jon Warland, University of Guelph
Contact Information: Susantha Jayasundara, Land Resource Science, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
Phone: 519 824 4120 x54801 Fax: 519 824 5730 Email: sjayasun@uoguelph.ca
Conventional fertilization practices in field crops might contribute to NO3 contamination of ground water by leaching of excess N and to increasing N2O emissions. We studied the combine effect of several best management practices (BMP) on reducing NO3 leaching and N2O emissions from a corn-soybean-winter wheat rotation compared with conventional practices (CONV) at Elora, Ontario, Canada. CONV practices included N rates normally recommended for corn and winter wheat in southwestern Ontario (150 and 90 kg N ha-1, respectively), and tillage. BMP included optimum N management practices (N rates according to soil NO3 test and application at 6th leaf stage for corn), zero tillage, and use of a cover crop (red clover). During the first four years (2000-2003), BMP reduced sub-surface drainage and cumulative NO3-N losses by 7% and 46% respectively, compared with CONV practices. Flow weighted mean NO3-N concentration during different drainage periods ranged from 5.5 – 34.0 mg L-1 in the CONV system and 3.0 – 17.7 mg L-1 in the BMP system. Averaged across two systems, 72% of the annual NO3-N loss occurred during the inter-growing season. Total N2O-N emissions for the same period were 10.98 kg N ha-1 in the CONV and 6.48 kg N ha-1 in the BMP system. Grain yields of corn (2000 and 2003) and winter wheat (2002) were not significantly different between two systems. Soybean (2001) yield was significantly higher in the BMP system compared with CONV system. The results illustrate the beneficial effects of BMP in reducing N losses from crop production systems.
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31. Agrohydrology Views On The Soil Conservation Problems In Bosnia And Herzegovina
Prof. dr. Hamid Custovic, University of Sarajevo, Agricultural Faculty,, Prof. Dr. Mihovil Vlahinic, Academy of Science B&H
Contact Information: Prof. dr. Hamid Custovic University of Sarajevo Agricultural Faculty St. Zmaja od Bosne 8. 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia & Herzegovina is characterized by high annual precipitation (average 1200 mm), moderate potential (PET) evapotranspiration (about 725 mm), reduced real (RET) evapotranspiration (about 600 mm), small water deficit (about 125 mm) and high water surplus (about 600 mm). Distribution of precipitation through the year is very uneven and is not in concordance with potential evapotranspiration. Because of that the surplus of water is appearing during the cold part of the year, provoking the soil erosion, slides and torrents in upland sloping areas and floods in lowland flat areas. On the contrary. the drought is appearing during the warm part of the year damaging the agricultural, forest and range production. About 84,1% of its territory belongs to the land with over 13% of slope (Finci-Muftic, 1967) what means that B&H is mostly hilly mountain country. Forty five percent is hilly country (300-700 m ASL), thirty five percent is mountain areas (over 700 m ASL) and less than twenty percent is mostly flat land in river valleys and Karstic fields. Flat land is suitable for intensive agricultural production, but the problem of land reclamation, drainage and floods is yet actual in these areas. The runoff being born in upland areas is damaging the soil by erosion in upstream areas and by floods in downstream areas. The major types of soil in the hilly mountain zones are the following: Distric Cambisols, Calkocambisols, Eutric Cambisols, Rankers, Litosols, Terrarossa, Rendzina and others. The land is mainly used as grassland and forest land. The main problem of these soils is soil water conservation giving the preference to grassland, forestation, contouring strip cropping, mulching and improvement of physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Technical engineering measures include bench terraces, gradons and hilly farm ponds. In the flat low land zones are present the following soils: Gley, Pseudogley, Semigley, Amphygley, Fluvisol, Luvisol, Vertisols and others. The agrohydrological analysis was based on three input data as follows: monthly precipitation in mm (P), monthly potential evapotranspiration (PET), and soil water storage capability of 100 mm (R). In this way, three output parameters were obtained: monthly real evapotranspiration (RET), monthly surplus (S), and monthly deficiency (D). Three locations in B.& H. were chosen to illustrate the high variability of agrohydrological conditions: Mostar, Bihac and Bijeljina in the long-term series of 30-years (1951-80). Mean annual precipitation in Mostar (1589 mm) was 2,1 times higher than in Bijeljina and 1,16 higher than in Bihac. But the maximal annual precipitation in Mostar (1881 mm) was 1,76 times higher than in Bijeljina and 1,1 higher than in Bihac. The annual water surplus (runoff, outflow) shows higher variability. The mean annual water surplus in Mostar was 4,77 times higher than in Bijeljina and 1,34 times higher than in Bihac. But the maximal annual surplus in Mostar was 2,9 times higher than in Bijeljina and 1,12 times higher than in Bihac. Maximal daily rainfall in 30-years long-term series was in Jablanica 215 mm, in Gacko 198 mm and in Ljubinje 205 mm. If we know that, after Saccardy (Deloy-Rebour), daily rainfall higher than 30 mm is very dangerous and risky from the erosion point of view we can suppose to which erosion danger are exposed the soils in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main problems of soil water conservation are: very high surpluses of water during the cold part of the year, very high daily rainfall, high percent of sloping land and deforestation.
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32. Comparative study on the impact of chemical fertilizer and biofertilizer on soil health
Neena Arora, Pramila Maini & N.P. Shukla
Contact information- Sri Sathya Sai College for Women Bhopal,(M.P.) India,462024
Phone-91-755-2588722 E-mail-ne.arora@rediffmail.com
The fight to feed the world is not lost. During last two decade the problems of low productivity and increase in cost of cultivation have forced the scientist engaged in agriculture development to think about the sustainability of modern agriculture, which not only maintain the rate of growth along with keeping the soil fertile, productive and healthy but also improve the quality of product.
In the present study a field experiment was conducted in two different farmer's field in a randomized block design for continuously two years (2002-2003) to assess the impact of Rhizobium biofertilizer in unammended soil and in soil fertilized with different level of chemical fertilizer on soil health and yield of Soybean.
Soils were analyzed for total organic carbon & available nitrogen content before sowing and after harvesting the soybean. Continuous application of chemical fertilizer alone deteriorated the soil health by decreasing in organic carbon & available nitrogen content while judicial application of chemical fertilizer along with biofertilizer improved the soil health and hence the yield of Soybean.
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33. Deuel County Gone “Buggy”
Deuel County, Nebraska, Lodgepole Creek Integrated Pest Management Project
Contact Information: Anita Nein, USDA, NRCS, P.O. Box 666, Chappell, NE 69129
Phone: 308-874-2219 FAX 308-874-2402 Email: anita.nein@ne.usda.gov
Expanding acres of the noxious weed Canada thistle caused 12 land users to unite to try six methods of preventing further degradation for wildlife, domestic animals, and people. Led by NRCS, who facilitated workshops and tours, helped with grant writing, and assisted with technical practices, the land users learned and shared information. First, they studied the life cycles of the noxious weeds and the insects used for control. Then, they monitored the thistles and took action. Working together with NRCS, landowners reduced costs for securing biological enemies of the thistles by designating shipping points, bidding three different kinds of insects from suppliers, and dispursing 13,000 insects locally. The insects placed in 2003 and 2004 damaged 10%-40% of the thistles around the insect sites. The thistles were damaged on 10 acres by vinegar herbicide, 600 acres by commercial chemicals, 1000 acres by managed grazing, and 160 acres by mowing, Ten grass seed orders were drilled on four farms to provide grass competition. This weed war began in 2003 with a Sustainable Ag and Research Grant. The practices were applied by spring 2005.
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34. Landscape Restoration and Its Environmental Impacts
David Lobb, Soil Science, David L. Burton, Nova Scotia Agriculture College, Alan P. Moulin, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Rene Van Acker, Plant Science, University of Manitoba
Contact Information: David Lobb, Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
Management Practices, technologies and decision tools for soil, water and/or air quality protection. Quantifying the environmental benefits of management practices and technologies for soil, water, and/or air quality
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35. The NLEAP Mode is Useful To Estimate Nitrates Leaching In The Rolling Pampas (Argentia)
Raúl S. Lavado, Helena Rimski-Korsakov, Mónica B. Rodriguez and Carina R. Alvarez.
College of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires. Av. San Martín 4453, C1417DSE Buenos Aires, Argentina
Contact Information: Raul S. Lavado, College of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires, Av. San Martin 4453, C1417DSE Buenos Aires, Argentia
Simulation models represent a unique tol to predict nitrate leaching under the influence of different environmental and technological circumstances. NLEAP is a model run with easily obtained inputs. Early results have shown that it might be an appropriate tool to predict soil nitrate leaching in the East Pampas conditions. We tested the NLEAP modes during two years in several field experiments in five locations of the Rolling Pampas, varying soils management and rainfall regime. The soils were Typic Argiudoll and Typic Hapludolls cropped with direct seed corn. Our aim was to establish the usefulness of the model on an areal basis. Crop yield and nitrogen concentration, ammonia volatilization, nitrates concentration in soils from top to 3 M depth or the water table depth and other needed values were determined. The experimentally observed values of residual nitrates (N03-N to a 1.50m depth) were compared with those predicted by the model NLEAP. The obtained information from the model supports most experimental results. Residual soil nitrates varied from 23.6 to 89.-kg N ha-1. The correlation between determined and simulated residual soil nitrates was high and significant (r2:0.5765). The potential annual nitrate risk was predicted from low to very low. However, the model failed when high nitrogen doses were applied. Apparently, the problem lay in the nitrogen mineralization rate from organic matter and litter and ammonia volatilization. The next step will be to adapt some equations of the model to the Pampas conditions.
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36. Use of Benthic Macroinvertebrates to Assess Water Quality in a Great Lakes Watershed
Christopher Riley and Shreeram Inamdar, Buffalo State College Great Lakes Cente
