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1. Is Cover Crop Species Mixture and Diversity More Important at Building Soil Health than Shoot Biomass in a Semi-arid Region?Cover crop mixtures (CCMs) as partial fallow replacements have the potential to increase soil health, yet long-term studies on CCMs, especially in semi-arid environments are relatively rare. An eight-year study at two locations in semi-arid Montana sought to evaluate the effect of functional group (N fixer, tap roots, fibrous roots, brassicacae) and species richness (2, 6, and 8 species in a mix) on a range of biological, physical and chemical soil parameters. Although several soil health... P. Miller, C. Jones, C. Zabinski, K. D'agati, M. Housman, S. Tallman |
2. The Elasticity of Biochar Across the Farm: Nutrient Capture, Compost Feedstock, and Soil AmendmentWhen biomass is thermochemically altered through pyrolysis, what results is biochar, a solid, porous material that is high in carbon (C) (e.g. 80%). Owing to its unique physicochemical properties, biochar has been evaluated as a soil amendment, a compost feedstock, a means to mitigate nutrient loss and a way to sequester carbon. Biochar is an appealing material as a farm management tool because its potential use is varied. As part of a Western SARE grant, soil scientists at Washington... N. Stacey, D. Collins |
3. Soil Diversity and Agricultural Adaptation Across MicronesiaMicronesia, a sub-region of Oceania, comprises approximately 2,100 small islands belonging to five sovereign nations scattered across 2.9 million square miles of the Western Pacific. A majority of the islands are low-lying, sandy coralatolls, but high volcanic islands and raised limestone islands are major population centers in the region. Palau, in the west, was first settled by seafaring peoples as early as 4000-4500 BP and the colonization of Marshall Islands at the eastern edge... J. Deenik |
4. Polymer Coated Urea and Urea Blends on PotatoPotato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a globally important crop with significant economic and environmental impacts. Nitrogen (N) has a large impact in both instances. Polymer coated urea (PCU) is a N source with the ability of improving production and the environment. Environmentally Smart Nitrogen (ESN) is a PCU that may reduce the need for continual N application throughout the season. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impacts on potato tuber yield and quality with uncoated... E. Carlock, A. Weigel, T. Searle, T. Hopkins, J. Williams, B. Hopkins |
5. Polymer Coated Urea Impact on Barley Yield and ProteinPolymer coated urea (PCU) is an enhanced efficiency nitrogen (N) fertilizer shown to regulate N release over a season benefiting production and reducing nutrient pollution. The purpose of this study was testing the effect of uncoated and coated urea blends on irrigated barley yield and protein. The study consisted of three N rates applied as all urea or a 50-50 blend of PCU and urea. As expected, N rates increased yields and protein. In general, urea resulted in increased yields with... S. Fahning, T. Searle, A. Weigel, R. Buck, T. Hopkins, B. Hopkins |
6. Boron Fertilization with Aspire® in Alfalfa and PotatoPotassium (K) and boron (B) are essential nutrients. The spatially even distribution of applying K fertilizer is typically not a problem, but for B fertilizer application, it is a problem. This is especially difficult for crops such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) due to low B rate and limited soil exploration by roots. Fertilizer with K and B fused into a single granule could result in even distribution. Trials were performed to evaluate the performance... E. Woolley, T. Searle, T. Hopkins, J. Williams, B. Hopkins |
7. Preliminary Assessment of the Solvita-CO2 Test in Characterizing Management Effects on Soil Biological Activity in Some Soils of HawaiiThe health of agricultural soils depends to a great degree on management practices that promote soil organic matter accumulation. While total soil organic carbon (C) is the standard measure of soil organic matter, it changes slowly and does not provide a sensitive enough test to assess short term management effects on soil health. However, a key indicator of healthy soil is potential biological activity, which can be measured rapidly with soil testing via short-term carbon (C) mineralization following... J. Deenik, M. Loo |
8. Improving Phosphorus Use Efficiency: Right Rate, Timing, and Placement and Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer Sources: Research SummaryPhosphorus (P) fertilization is essential for societal sustainability. However, plant P uptake is inefficient due to poor soil P solubility, especially for crops such as potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plant due to relatively poor rooting efficiency and high demand. Phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) improves with the right rate, timing, placement, and with using enhanced efficiency fertilizer products (EEF). We have conducted several dozen studies over nearly two decades showing PUE is improved... E. Shipp, T. Hopkins, B. Hopkins |
9. Polymer Coated Urea: Meeting Plant Needs While Mitigating Environmental Impacts — Research SummaryFertile soil is the foundation of food production and is maintained by replacing nutrients lost in harvest or to the atmosphere and hydrosphere. Nitrogen (N) accounts for approximately half of global fertilizer inputs. However, N recovery by plants is inherently inefficient due to “leaks” in the system, causing air and water pollution. Additionally, poor fertilizer efficiency is a waste of natural resources and potentially reduces yields, crop quality, and grower profits. Nitrogen-use... S. Bartholomew, T. Hopkins, B. Hopkins |
10. Phosphorus and Organic Acid Bonding Impacts at Varying Soil pHPhosphorus (P) fertilizer is essential for crop production, but reductions are warranted to conserve resources and minimize environmental impacts. Several lab, glasshouse, growth chamber, and field studies have been performed over the past six years with a new P fertilizer (Carbond P; CBP; Land View Fertilizer, Rupert, ID, USA) mostly in calcareous, low OM soil. Studies comparing CBP to ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) applied to soil show season-long increases in... T. Blair, C. Ransom, P. Hosford, J. Svedin, L. Sutton, A. Winchester, K. Manning, T. Hopkins, B. Hopkins |
11. Cover Cropping in the Semi-arid West: Effects of Termination Timing, Species, and Mixtures on Nitrogen Uptake, Yield, Soil Quality, and Economic ReturnSummer fallow still dominates some areas of the northern Great Plains (NGP), providing an opportunity to grow a partial season cover crop for increased soil health or nutrient availability. Over 12 years of research on single species cover crops in semi-arid Montana have revealed the benefits of early termination and multiple cover crop cycles on N availability, subsequent crop yield, soil health, and economic return. Due to high N fixation, pea cover crops have fairly consistently increased subsequent... C. Jones, P. Miller, S. Tallman, M. Housman, C. Zabinski, M. Burgess, J. O'dea, A. Bekkerman |
12. Turf Response to Reduced Rates of Polymer-coated UreaPolymer-coated urea (PCU) is a controlled-release fertilizer which can enhance nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE), reduce N pollution, reduce the need for repeated fertilizer applications, and reduce turfgrass shoot growth and associated costs. A PCU fertilizer rated for 120 d was applied at 50, 75, and 100% of the recommended full rate and compared to an unfertilized control and urea, applied either all at once or split monthly at the full recommended rate. Spring applied PCU showed no initial... B. Hopkins, C. Ransom, M. Ruth, T. Blair, L. Sutton, D. Bradshaw, K. Campbell |
13. Phosphorus and Organic Acid Bonding Enhances Uptake Efficiency and Yield Response in Crop PlantsPhosphorus (P) fertilizer is essential for crop production, but reductions are warranted to conserve resources and minimize environmental impacts. Several lab, glasshouse, growth chamber, and field studies have been performed over the past seven years with a new P fertilizer (Carbond P; CBP; Land View Fertilizer, Rupert, ID, USA) in calcareous, low OM soil. This paper will be a review of a portion of that data. Studies comparing CBP to ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and monoammonium phosphate (MAP)... B. Hopkins, T. Blair, J. Selman, C. Ransom, T. Hopkins |
14. Nitrogen Transformations in Flooded Agroecosystems: a Case Study with Taro (Colocassia Esculenta)Wetland agriculture covers an estimated 170 million ha and contributes significantly to global food supply. Nitrogen fertilizers are subject to numerous potential transformation pathways in flooded systems. The present research was focused on improving our understanding of N transformations in a flooded agricultural system by addressing the following two broad objectives: 1) determine whether the presence of anammox bacteria and its activity contribute significantly to N losses, and 2) evaluate... J. Deenik, C. Penton, B. Popp, G. Bruland, P. Engstrom, J. Mueller, J. Tiedje |
15. The Use of Biochar As a Fertility Amendment in Tropical SoilsBiochars made from modern pyrolysis methods have attracted widespread attention as potential soil amendments to improve plant productivity in the infertile soils of the tropics. Feedstock and pyrolysis conditions affect the physico-chemical properties of biochar with important implications for soil fertility and plant growth. Specifically, biochar volatile matter (VM) significantly affect soil inorganic nitrogen (N) status and ash content impacts soil elemental composition and pH. This paper highlights... J. Deenik, T. Mcclellan |
16. Crop Management Effects on Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Irrigated Systems1The paper objective is to present an overview of the greenhouse gas research results from tillage and N fertility studies conducted by USDA-ARS on irrigated cropping systems near Fort Collins, Colorado from 2002–2010. Within agronomic N rates needed to optimize irrigated crop yields in the Central Great Plains, a linear increase in growing season nitrous oxide (N2O-N) emissions was observed from a clay loam soil with increasing fertilizer N rate. Averaged over a 5 yr period (2002-2006),... A. Halvorson |
17. Improving Phosphorus Use Efficiency with Carbond PPhosphorus (P) fertilizer is integral for maximizing crop production and is used abundantly to achieve desired yields. However, reduction of P fertilizer is warranted, as it is the primary source of nutrient pollution in surface waters (eutrophication leading to hypoxia) and is derived from non-renewable mineral resources. Two research studies were conducted in 2009 to evaluate a new fertilizer product, Carbond® P against traditional fertilizers ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and monoammonium... B. Hopkins, B. Webb, M. Hill, C. Ransom |
18. Biochar Volatile Matter Content Effects on Plant Growth and Nitrogen Transformations in a Tropical SoilBiochars made from modern pyrolysis methods have attracted widespread attention as potential soil amendments with agronomic value. A series of greenhouse experiments and laboratory incubations were conducted to assess the effects of biochar volatile matter (VM) content on plant growth, nitrogen (N) transformations, and microbial activities in an acid tropical soil. High VM biochar inhibited plant growth and reduced N uptake with and without the addition of fertilizers. Low VM charcoal supplemented... J. Deenik, A. Mcclellan, G. Uehara |
19. Soil Testing to Improve Phosphorus Management on Intensive Vegetable Farms in HawaiiAccording to a recent survey of soil samples sent to the Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC) at the University of Hawaii between October 2002 and September 2003, a majority of the samples showed soil test P (STP) levels in the high or excessive categories. Despite high soil test P, many farmers in Hawaii continue to apply P fertilizers. We began a project to evaluate soil P status on a range of vegetable farms throughout the state, to determine crop response to P fertilizers on soils... J. Deenik, S. Fukuda, R. Hamasaki, R. Shimabuku, R. Uchida |
20. Flushed Liquid Dairy Manure Solid Particle and Nutrient DistributionsLarge dairies often use liquid manure handling systems because of their ease of mechanization and low labor requirements. Some of Idaho Magic Valley dairies use flushing systems that result in large amounts of liquid dairy manure that are applied via irrigation systems to adjacent cropland during the growing season. Solids and nutrients found in liquid dairy manure pose challenges to manure handling processes and cause environmental concerns. Separating solids and nutrients from liquid dairy manure... L. Chen, K. Kruger |
21. Ammonia Recovery from Anaerobically Digested Dairy Wastewater Facilitated by In-situ Acid and Base Generation in a Transmembrane Electro-chemisorption SystemNitrogen (N) is essential for living organisms and is a critical element in agricultural production. Ammonia (NH₃), a vital component in the nitrogen cycle, can be produced naturally by nitrogen-fixing bacteria or artificially through the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. Anaerobically digested dairy wastewater (ADDW) could contain high concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) due to the conversion of organic N into NH3-N during the anaerobic digestion process. Ammonia... A.K. Das, L. Chen |
22. Hydrothermal Carbonization of Dairy Manure for Phosphorus Recovery and Runoff Risk Mitigation: Effect of Temperature and CaO AdditionDairy manure contains a significant amount of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), which are essential for soil fertility and crop productivity, but are currently underutilized due to ammonia emissions, P runoff and leaching, and manure N to P ratios do not match crop nutrient needs. Meanwhile, there is a growing concern about P depletion as a non-renewable resource. To address both the excessive use of synthetic P fertilizers and inefficiently direct use of dairy manure, a logical strategy is to... M. Islam, B. He, L. Chen |