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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 healt... P. Miller, C. Jones, C. Zabinski, K. D'agati, M. Housman, S. Tallman |
2. The Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool (FRST) Initiative: National Survey on Soil Fertility Recommendations and Correlation/Calibration DatabaseSoil fertility testing is an integral tool used in nutrient management planning, providing information needed to determine where nutrients are required and how much to apply. While a great deal of effort has been successfully invested in standardizing soil test methods in the U.S. over the last few decades, up-to-date correlation/calibration studies are lacking in many states. In most cases, soil test correlation/calibration efforts lead by land-grant universities are on a state-by-state or l... S.E. Lyons, J.T. Spargo, D.L. Osmond, A.W. Pearce, N.A. Slaton, D.K. Arthur, P.J. Kleinman, J.M. Mcgrath |
3. Evaluation of Lime Requirement Estimation Methods for Oregon Agricultural SoilsSoil testing labs in the Pacific Northwest are considering non-hazardous alternatives to the Shoemaker-McLean-Pratt (SMP) buffer method for lime requirement estimation (LRE). While alternative LRE methods have been adopted in other parts of the U.S., they have not been evaluated for Oregon soils. The goal of this study was to evaluate several LRE methods for agricultural soils from western and eastern Oregon, applying the lime incubation method for actual lime requirement. Twenty-four a... C. Evans, A. Moore, D. Sullivan |
4. 15Nitrogen Uptake and Use Efficiency in Corn in Response to Fertilizer Rate and TimingUrea fertilizer applications at planting are becoming increasingly common for U.S. upper Midwest corn (Zea mays L.) production but wet spring conditions may result in significant nitrogen (N) fertilizer loss. Split-applications may avoid wet conditions and improve fertilizer uptake and use efficiency. Six field studies were performed to determine the effect of urea fertilizer rate and application timing on fertilizer-derived N (FDN) and soil-derived N (SDN) plant uptake over two cons... F. Fernandez, J. Spackman |
5. Is Mitigation of Drought Stress By Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Driven By a Nano-Specific Mechanism or Alleviation of Micronutrient Deficiency?It has been reported that zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) can promote drought tolerance in crops when used as soil amendments. However, many of these experiments were conducted in Zn-deficient growth media with no comparison to currently available Zn fertilization methods, making it unclear if the benefits from adding ZnO NPs were caused by a nano-specifc mechanism or simply by the mitigation of a micronutrient deficiency. A review of the literature shows that of 12 published experimen... J.W. Deakin, M. Potter, A. Cartwright, J. Hortin, D. Sparks, J.E. Mclean, D.W. Britt, A.J. Anderson, A.R. Jacobson, L. Yen |
6. Enhanced Efficiency Nitrogen Fertilizer: Coated UreaNitrogen is the most common fertilizer applied to crops, as it is typically the limiting nutrient in plants. However, about half of the nitrogen added to soil as fertilizer is either emitted to the atmosphere as ammonia, nitrous oxide or other gaseous forms, or finds its way into surface or ground waters as nitrate (Kibblewhite, 2007). The inefficient use of fertilizers depletes natural resources, and increases atmospheric emissions and environmental pollutants. With the use of enhanced effic... B. Geary, S.R. Fahning, B.G. Hopkins |
7. Enhanced Efficiency Phosphorus FertilizersPhosphorus (P) is essential for plants. However, first-year phosphorus fertilizer uptake by plants is low, resulting in economic and environmental impacts. Developments with P Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer (EEF) sources show improved uptake efficiency and increased yield and/or crop quality, while reducing environmental risk. Research with EEFs (including organic acids, maleic itaconic copolymer, and struvite) all show these improvements, especially when: 1) soil test P concentrations are lo... B. Hopkins, S.J. Kobza, C. Seely |
8. Nitrogen and Water Management for Optimized Sugar Beet Yield and Sugar ContentSugar beet (SB) production is based on maximizing: root yield, and sucrose content, and sucrose recovery efficiency. Efficient nitrogen (N) and water management are key for successful SB production. Nitrogen deficits in the soil can reduce root and sugar yield. Overapplication of N can reduce sucrose content and increase nitrate impurities which lowers sucrose recovery. Application of N in excess of SB crop need leads to vigorous canopy growth, while compromising root development and sugar pr... O.S. Walsh, S. Shafian, D. Jayawardena |
9. Soil Health Changes Following Transition from an Annual Cropping to Perennial Management-Intensive Grazing AgroecosystemManagement-intensive Grazing (MiG) on irrigated, perennial pastures has steadily increased in the western US due to pressure for reducing public lands grazing, overall declining land available for pasture, and decreasing commodity prices. However, there are still many unknowns regarding MiG and its environmental impact, especially with regards to soil health. Over a two-year period, we studied changes in soil health under a full-scale, 82 ha pivot-irrigated perennial pasture system grazed wit... J. Ippolito, C. Shawver, J. Brummer, J. Ahola, R. Rhoades |
10. Static Range Nitrogen Management in Northwest U.S. Sugarbeet ProductionNitrogen (N) management is important in sugarbeet production. This paper presents data to support a shift from a yield-based N management approach to a static range N management approach in the Northwest U.S. Production data and research show that yield-based N management can result in over application of N. Past research has been critical to improving and understanding sugarbeet N nutrition. However continued research is needed so cumulative data can be evaluated to improve management practi... D. Bjorneberg, D. Tarkalson, D. Olsen |
11. Developing a Soil Health Assessment Framework for Specialty Crop Systems and Soils of Washington StateTo ensure productive soils, agricultural sustainability, and food security, it is vital to maintain and improve soil health. However, over the decades, intensive agricultural practices have led to a decline in soil health. While most of these intensive agricultural practices negatively affect soil health, research has shown that it is possible to resuscitate soils with practices such as over cropping, and crop rotation. Much of the research on soil health in the US has been done in agronomic ... K.A. Sarpong, M. Mcilquham, L. Michel, D. Griffin |
12. Effects of Lime and Micronutrient Amendments for Acidic Soils of the Inland Pacific NorthwestThe soil pH of agricultural land in the inland Pacific Northwest has dropped precipitously from native soil levels of near 7.0 pH. Changes that were becoming evident in the 1980’s have reached critical levels, leaving tens of thousands of acres of previous prairie soil at pH under 5.0 and unable to grow an increasing number of aluminum-sensitive crops. Some farmers in the region are beginning to use lime application to neutralize soil acidity. However, pH changes and liming can als... R. Wieme, L. Carpenter-boggs, P. Carter, S. Van vleet |
13. Cover Crop Suitability for High Altitude Specialty Crop Organic Food ProductionThere is a growing interest in certified organic, specialty crop food production. With a larger population demanding organic products and organic products offering a higher premium for the producer, farmers are exploring the transition to organic farming. Organic producers in southeatstern Wyoming face multiple challenges in environments with high elevation, low precipitation, and have a short growing season. These challenges include management of persistent weeds, maintaining biodiversity, a... E. Moore, U. Norton |
14. Improving Corn Nitrogen Management Recommendations in the Northwest U.S.The current nitrogen (N) fertilizer recommendations for corn in the Northwest U.S. were developed from limited research (14 potential site-years) in the 1970’s and 1980’s. New data is needed to improve N fertilizer recommendations. Between 2010 and 2017, 17 N rate studies were conducted. Fifteen site-years were conducted for corn grain and 9 site-years for corn silage. Research was conducted on diverse soil types, tillage systems, irrigation systems, ... D.D. Tarkalson, D.L. Bjorneberg |
15. Dairy Manure and Fertilizer Effects on Microbial Activity of an Idaho SoilDairy manure applications that have occurred in the past can have long-term lingering effects on crop production. Understanding the cause is important for current and future management practices. This study was conducted to assess selected microbial activity among past manure application rates. In a past study (2014-2016) in Kimberly Idaho, historic manure applications have been shown to have significant positive and negative effects on sugar beet production. The manure treatment histor... D.D. Tarkalson, R. Dungan, D. Bjorneberg |
16. Soil Health and Ecological Resilience on the PalouseHealthy soil is critical for global food security and other essential ecosystem services but is threatened by processes of soil degradation, with at least 33% of global croplands estimated to be moderately or highly degraded. Current soil health assessments provide insight into soil functional performance but often lack diagnostic criteria that assess management effects on soil function over time. We integrate soil health assessments with ecological resilience theory to better understand mana... A.G. Davis, D.R. Huggins, J.P. Reganold |
17. Vineyard Soil Health: What Soil Properties are Most Important?Washington is the second leading producer of wine grapes (Vitis vinifera) in the US, with over 60,000 acres in vineyards. With such a substantial acreage, it is crucial to know how management practices may affect soil and vine health in wine grape systems. Soil health indicators and threshold values have been extensively studied in commodity crops in the Midwest and the northeastern US, but there is much less information available for specialty crops in the Pacific Northwest. &... M. Mcilquham, D. Griffin-lahue, K. Sarpong, L. Michel |
18. Comparative Analysis of Soil Tests for Soil Health and Nutrient ManagementOptions for soil tests to address soil health and nutrient management objectives have diversified. We compare different soil test methods to evaluate their similarities for providing recommendations. Traditional soil tests, ion exchange membranes and analyses using the Haney Soil Health Nutrient Tool and Soil Health Index were compared for soil sampled from long-term cropping system trials near Ritzville Washington and from the R.J. Cook Agronomy Farm near Pullman WA. Despite strong... D. Huggins, C. Rieser, J. Reganold |
19. Long-term Soil Profile Acidification: Obvious and Hidden DangersSoil acidification is occurring in the dryland farming region of the Northwest. Historically, soil acidification in the surface foot has been characterized; however, potential acidification of subsoil is unknown. We examined soil acidification for soil profiles (0 to 5 ft) at the R.J. Cook Agronomy Farm (92 ac) for 17 years following conversion from conventional tillage to continuous No-tillage (NT). Surface soil depths (0-12 in) acidified under continuous NT to below 5. Surprisingly, subsoil... D. Huggins, S. Shiwakoti |
20. Is Residue Management an Important Factor in the Soil Health of Perennial Grass Seed Production Systems?Residue management in agricultural systems is a crucial pathway of nutrient and organic matter flow and is predicted to affect soil health indices. In Western Oregon, perennial grasses for seed are a major crop, occupying roughly 150,000 ha in the Willamette Valley. Current estimates are that 80-85% of producers remove straw residue, exporting more than 650,000 US tons of straw annually. The primary objectives of this study were: i) evaluate soil health outcomes under residue retention and re... B. Verhoeven, A. Moore, D. Sullivan, M. Gonzalez-mateu |
21. Effects of Semiarid Wheat Agriculture on Soil Microbial Properties: A ReviewAgricultural management decisions on factors such as tillage, fertilization, and cropping system determine the fate of much of the world’s soils, and ... J. Norton, H. Rodgers, L. Van diepen |
22. Soil Test Interpretation: Saturated Paste, EC, SAR and CECSoils of neutral to alkaline pH of the Western United States often contain elevated levels of soluble salts and / or higher concentrations of sodium. Elevated concentrations of soluble salts limit crop growth and sodium may impact water management. Competent agricultural management of these soils is dependent on laboratory analysis of: soil soluble salts and there composition and the irrigation water soluble salt constituents. Soil analysis based on the satura... R. Miller |
23. Impact of Soil Health Practices in an Irrigated AgroecosystemRegional farming practices in cold semiarid irrigated agroecosystems with short growing seasons are shifting to reduced tillage and overhead irrigation to stay economically viable, but more research is needed on the impact of soil health practices such as crop diversification, reduced tillage, and livestock integration on soil physical and chemical properties in these systems. A multi-year study from 2014-2020 in the Bighorn Basin of Northwest Wyoming used a three-crop rotation (diversificati... T. Vance, V. Crowe, J. Norton |