Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council 2013 Projects Annual Report
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Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council 2013 Projects Annual Report In its first year of operation (January – December projects that described plans for summarizing the 2013) the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education results into a package that would allow producers to Council (NREC) allocated funding totaling $1,477,572 determine how the results could be incorporated into for seven research and education projects. All projects management plans for their operation, or to address selected for funding were designed to address specific specific educational needs. problems or opportunities related to the purpose of NREC “to pursue nutrient research and provide The following information has been extracted educational programs to ensure the adoption and from project reports submitted by the researchers. implementation of practices that optimize nutrient The reports are available in their entirety at use efficiency, ensure soil fertility, and address www.illinoisnrec.org. The NREC website also environmental concerns with regard to fertilizer use.” contains information regarding members of the By statute, NREC is required to allocate a minimum Council, the enacting legislation creating NREC, and of 20% of the funds toward programs that include minutes of official NREC Council meetings. Since on-farm demonstrations that study and address water 2013 was the first year for virtually all NREC projects, quality issues. caution must be exerted in drawing conclusions from the results of the research projects. It is also NREC solicited Requests for Proposals in September important to recognize that reactions to treatments 2012 for funding in 2013, and received 30 proposals. may be different from one climatic area or one soil To insure that funds expended for NREC would have type to another. the greatest beneficial impact, the Council reviewed each proposal and selected projects that had identified Project updates on each NREC project were presented problems or opportunities that were impacting the on January 20, 2014 at the Illinois Fertilizer & efficiency of nutrient use on production agriculture Chemical Association conference to over 400 certified and the educational needs of the industry relative to crop advisors in attendance. nutrient use. The Council was more favorable to those 1 Summary of Nutrient Research Projects Funded by NREC (3 projects) Phosphorus Runoff from Surface and Subsurface Fertilizer Applications in No-till and Strip-till Fields with Minimal Slope Gradient in Central Illinois Fabián G. Fernández, Dan Schaefer, Kristin Greer and Chris Rudisill. University of Illinois Purpose: Excess concentration in the phosphorus (P) in surface runoff water when no P water results in eutrophi- had been applied was not cation and a degradation affected by tillage, nor of water quality. Several was it affected by applica- reports have identified tion of P when the P was agriculture as an impor- injected into the soil with tant contributor of P the strip-till applicator. P to freshwater. Factors concentration in the run- that contribute to P loss off water was increased from agricultural soils nearly three-fold when P are steep slopes, high P was broadcast at 92 and concentrations near the 161 lbs P/acre on no-till Rainfall simulator on P test plot soil surface, tilled/easily treatments and nearly erodible soil and manure application on frozen ground, six-fold when broadcast at the 161 lbs P/acre rate on especially when slopes are steep. Little is known about strip-till plots. the impact of P management (tillage, P rates and P placement) on the potential for P loading from runoff, While the magnitude of increase in P concentration especially on relatively flat soils. in the runoff water was significant, the total concen- tration of P even at the highest concentration was This research study evaluates three P management relatively low. The results do suggest that surface practices for reducing P runoff from commercial broadcast P fertilizer is susceptible to runoff even on corn-soybean fields with minimal slope, representing relatively flat soils when intensive rain occurs soon a majority of the highly productive agricultural fields after the application. It also appears from these in central Illinois. Treatments evaluated were zero-till preliminary results that there are management with surface broadcast, strip-till with surface broadcast techniques that can be used in highly sensitive areas P after tillage and strip-till with P injected in strip-till to minimize P runoff. Continuation of this work will operation on fields with less than 2% slope. One week provide more information that can be used to develop after fertilizer was applied, a rainfall simulator was management techniques for P fertilization that will employed to apply water to a small plot area and runoff minimize the potential for off-site movement of P to water was collected for 30 minutes after runoff began surface water supplies and still maintain the potential to measure the movement of P from the plot area. for optimum yield. Preliminary results from one site showed that P 2 Phosphorus and Potassium Recommendations for Illinois Crops Fabián G. Fernández, Antonio P. Mallarino, Kristin Greer, and Chris Rudisill. University of Illinois Purpose: Both the laboratory and chemical extraction Phosphorus and potassium were applied at rates from procedures used for phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) 0 to 120 lb/acre of P & K in 30 lb/acre increments at soil tests have changed in recent years. While individual 10 locations around Illinois. Six of the experiments laboratories have recalibrated the procedures based on were on University of Illinois Research Centers and correlation of the data from the new procedures with four were on farmer’s fields. The experiments are in that of the old procedures, no scientist has recalibrated a corn-soybean or corn-soybean-wheat rotation, with the systems to correlate yield response data from the all crops present each year for the rotation studies. field against the soil test values obtained by using the Since response to fertilizer P and/or K was obtained at new testing procedures. Similarly, new data is needed only one of the locations, the database is not adequate to affirm that current crop removal figures accurately to recalibrate the new testing process. Results of the assess the amount of P & K being removed in analysis of grain samples collected from the experimen- harvested crops. tal plots and from the variety trials are on-going. Agronomic and Environmental Assessment of Cover Crops in Illinois Maria B. Villamil, Emerson Nafziger, Robert Bellm, Dennis Bowman, Russ Higgins, Angie Peltier, Rachel Cook, Gevan Behnke and Ivan Dozier. University of Illinois Purpose: Cover crops form, 2) evaluate effect of have been incorporated cover crops on yield and into row crop production stand of cash crop as well systems for decades. as the resulting economic Often, cover crops were returns of cover cropping, used as a conservation and 3) evaluate interac- tool to minimize the tions between tillage, impact from wind or water cover crops, and cash crop erosion. In more recent yields. years, farmers started incorporating legumes Cover crop research plots into the cover crop were previously estab- rotation in an attempt to lished at four University Hand seeding cover crop at S IL site scavenge more nitrogen of Illinois research sta- (N) from the soil as well as profit from the N fixed by tions (DeKalb, Monmouth, Urbana, and Brownstown). rhizobium bacteria in a symbiotic relationship with the In fall 2013, two research sites in southern IL were legume. The combination of increased fertilizer prices added. All research station sites evaluate two forms of and impacts of excess N on water quality from residual tillage (no-till and conventional), and five cover crops N remaining after harvest has brought about renewed (clover, ryegrass, canola, radish, and hairy vetch + a interest in using cover crops. The objectives of this no-cover control). On-farm cover crop strip trials were research study are to 1) assess ability of cover crops to established at eight locations in IL in September 2013. scavenge N and sequester crop nutrients in an organic Farmers selected one cover crop and compared it to 3 the no-cover control in four replicate strips; all other adversely affected by cover crops in the very dry sum- management decisions (tillage, fertilization, etc.) will mer of 2013 at the UI locations. However, soils were be maintained according to the grower’s usual prac- too dry in the fall of 2013 at some of the locations to tices. Crop management history and soil samples were support growth of the fall cover crop. Determination collected from all on-farm sites in 2013; cover crop of the effect of cover crops on N recovery in soil and biomass and cash crop yields along with other relevant from plant fixation and/or uptake of residual soil N has observations and crop measurements will be reported not been completed as the soil and plant analysis are at the end of the 2014 growing season. Yield was not on-going. Summary of Nutrient Education/Outreach/Water Quality Projects (4 projects) Keep it For the Crop (KIC) Nutrient Stewardship Program Dan Schaefer, Illinois Council on Best Management Practices Purpose: There is a critical need expansion in the number of farm- to engage in targeted education ers participating in on farm nitrogen and outreach efforts with ag retail- rate trials, from 7 trials in 2012 to 33 ers, certified crop advisors, farmers trials in 2013. These trials included and landowners to reduce nutrient 13 standard rate trials (6 rates x 3 losses from agricultural fields in reps), two rate x timing trials (5 rates eight IEPA established watersheds x 3 reps x 2 times), two trials using that have drinking water supplies 5 rates and 3 reps, four variable rate impaired by nitrogen, phosphorus nitrogen vs straight rates trials, nine or both (see map).