This document summarizes a study evaluating the impacts of incorporating summer cover crops into a winter pasture stocker cattle system in southern Oklahoma. The study found that grazing summer cover crops provided additional forage but limited grazing days. Soil quality indicators like bulk density and water infiltration improved with no-till systems using cover crops compared to tilled systems without cover crops. Winter pasture production and cattle performance was generally higher when preceded by a summer cover crop. While cover crops provided benefits, establishing and grazing them posed challenges to profitability that warrant further research into practices like carrying cattle over multiple seasons or feeding cover crop hay.
Dr. Steve Meyer - Prices and Profitability: Economic OutlookJohn Blue
Prices and Profitability: Economic Outlook - Dr. Steve Meyer, Express Markets Inc., from the 2017 Iowa Pork Congress, January 25-26, Des Moines, IA, USA.
More presentations at http://www.swinecast.com/2017-iowa-pork-congress
Dr. Steve Meyer - Pork Industry Economics UpdateJohn Blue
Pork Industry Economics Update - Dr. Steve Meyer, Express Markets Inc., from the 2017 Minnesota Pork Congress, January 17 - 18, 2017, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
More presentations at http://www.swinecast.com/2017-minnesota-pork-congress
Working with Carbon ~ The Interplay of Range Management, Grassfed Beef, Wind ...Andrew Fynn
This document provides details on the planned rotational grazing schedule and herd management for Ranney Ranch in Corona, New Mexico from April to August 2008. It also discusses the ranch's efforts to sequester carbon through sustainable grazing practices and removing invasive juniper trees for use as biomass. The ranch aims to improve rangeland health and water retention while exploring the potential to market biomass and any resulting carbon offsets.
This document discusses the practice of hybridizing yak with cattle in Arunachal Pradesh, India. It finds that yak-cattle hybrids have benefits like higher milk yield, meat production, and adaptability. However, encouraging widespread hybridization could endanger the yak species in the long run as yak populations decline. While hybridization is currently profitable for herders, conservationists argue every response to climate change is not beneficial and the yak is a threatened species that could disappear from the Himalayan region if hybridization replaces yak herds. The document debates the risks and benefits of proliferating yak-cattle hybridization practices.
This recipe calls for frying chicken breast fillets coated in flour in olive oil, then heating cream with grated cheese and adding the chicken to create a creamy chicken dish. The key steps are to cut and salt the chicken breast, coat it in flour, fry it in olive oil, then heat cream mixed with cheese and add the fried chicken to create a creamy chicken dish ready to eat.
The final presentation by Crop Unit of Lakeland College's Student-Managed Farm (SMF) powered by New Holland. The SMF class is taken by second year crop technology students where they manage, operate and market crop lands at Lakeland College.
This document summarizes 4 case studies on the use of low tunnel technology for vegetable production.
Case study 1 found that using a plastic low tunnel and black plastic mulch in brinjal production led to improved growth, earlier yields, and lower pest incidence compared to other mulch and open field conditions.
Case study 2 showed that low tunnel cabbage production in Ladakh led to earlier maturity, higher yields, and greater profits than open field cabbage.
Case study 3 demonstrated that growing onion under a 100cm high low tunnel extended the harvest season and improved survival rates compared to open field in a Himalayan region.
Case study 4 evaluated different planting times for muskmelon under low tunnels and open
Dr. Steve Meyer - Prices and Profitability: Economic OutlookJohn Blue
Prices and Profitability: Economic Outlook - Dr. Steve Meyer, Express Markets Inc., from the 2017 Iowa Pork Congress, January 25-26, Des Moines, IA, USA.
More presentations at http://www.swinecast.com/2017-iowa-pork-congress
Dr. Steve Meyer - Pork Industry Economics UpdateJohn Blue
Pork Industry Economics Update - Dr. Steve Meyer, Express Markets Inc., from the 2017 Minnesota Pork Congress, January 17 - 18, 2017, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
More presentations at http://www.swinecast.com/2017-minnesota-pork-congress
Working with Carbon ~ The Interplay of Range Management, Grassfed Beef, Wind ...Andrew Fynn
This document provides details on the planned rotational grazing schedule and herd management for Ranney Ranch in Corona, New Mexico from April to August 2008. It also discusses the ranch's efforts to sequester carbon through sustainable grazing practices and removing invasive juniper trees for use as biomass. The ranch aims to improve rangeland health and water retention while exploring the potential to market biomass and any resulting carbon offsets.
This document discusses the practice of hybridizing yak with cattle in Arunachal Pradesh, India. It finds that yak-cattle hybrids have benefits like higher milk yield, meat production, and adaptability. However, encouraging widespread hybridization could endanger the yak species in the long run as yak populations decline. While hybridization is currently profitable for herders, conservationists argue every response to climate change is not beneficial and the yak is a threatened species that could disappear from the Himalayan region if hybridization replaces yak herds. The document debates the risks and benefits of proliferating yak-cattle hybridization practices.
This recipe calls for frying chicken breast fillets coated in flour in olive oil, then heating cream with grated cheese and adding the chicken to create a creamy chicken dish. The key steps are to cut and salt the chicken breast, coat it in flour, fry it in olive oil, then heat cream mixed with cheese and add the fried chicken to create a creamy chicken dish ready to eat.
The final presentation by Crop Unit of Lakeland College's Student-Managed Farm (SMF) powered by New Holland. The SMF class is taken by second year crop technology students where they manage, operate and market crop lands at Lakeland College.
This document summarizes 4 case studies on the use of low tunnel technology for vegetable production.
Case study 1 found that using a plastic low tunnel and black plastic mulch in brinjal production led to improved growth, earlier yields, and lower pest incidence compared to other mulch and open field conditions.
Case study 2 showed that low tunnel cabbage production in Ladakh led to earlier maturity, higher yields, and greater profits than open field cabbage.
Case study 3 demonstrated that growing onion under a 100cm high low tunnel extended the harvest season and improved survival rates compared to open field in a Himalayan region.
Case study 4 evaluated different planting times for muskmelon under low tunnels and open
This document outlines the crop rotation and land use of Windy Acres Farm, which consists of 422 acres of certified organic land. 66.8 acres are permanent pastures and buffers. The remaining 355.2 acres are used in a six year rotation, with 59.2 acres planted to corn, 59.2 acres to soybeans, 59.2 acres to small grains, and 177.6 acres used as pastures and hay fields each year. One field is described that was planted with hairy vetch and canola in 1999, and was sampled the following spring, yielding over 4500 lbs of dry matter per acre with notable nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrient levels.
This document summarizes crop yield trials conducted in Montana. Sugar beets had the highest gross return per acre at $2437, followed by corn at $1438. A trial of 16 spring pea varieties found yields ranging from 3181 lbs/acre to 1891 lbs/acre. Stirling yielded the most at 3181 lbs/acre. A lentil trial of 13 varieties found yields ranging from 2165 lbs/acre to 1348 lbs/acre, with Pardina yielding the most at 2165 lbs/acre.
- Grain sorghum residue can be grazed in winter, providing similar nutrition to corn residue. It has an advantage of leaves being more readily consumed than corn stalks.
- Brown midrib sorghum has lower lignin content which increases digestibility. In studies, it increased average daily gain of cattle by 0.36 lbs compared to conventional sorghum residue.
- Cover crops like oats, winter rye and triticale can be used to provide grazing in fall and spring. Planting date and variety selection impacts yield and quality for grazing livestock.
The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) jointly hosted the International Conference on Climate Change and Food Security (ICCCFS) November 6-8, 2011 in Beijing, China. This conference provided a forum for leading international scientists and young researchers to present their latest research findings, exchange their research ideas, and share their experiences in the field of climate change and food security. The event included technical sessions, poster sessions, and social events. The conference results and recommendations were presented at the global climate talks in Durban, South Africa during an official side event on December 1.
Farming Deep In Climate Change: The West Australia ExperienceCarbon Coalition
Tim Wiley is an agronomist with the West Australian Department of Agriculture & Food. He is also a leading member of the soil carbon movement and contributes to the debate at a national level. Tim has lived through the first major Climate Change disaster to strike a western nation, the long drought in WA. His leadership and strength has helped many landholders in the west to hang on.
This document presents the results of a study on the effect of different rates of single superphosphate fertilizer and frequencies of Megagreen application on nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and yield of cowpea. The study found that higher rates of superphosphate and more frequent Megagreen applications generally improved various growth parameters, nodulation rates, and yield components of cowpea. Soil and plant tissue analysis also showed that the treatments affected soil phosphorus levels and plant nitrogen content. The results indicate that cowpea responds positively to optimized phosphorus and Megagreen application rates and frequencies.
This document summarizes a study that examined the effects of potassium fertilizer application rates and timing, and crop stover management, on soil properties, crop yields, and nutrient balances in an upland rice-soybean rotation system on an Indonesian Ultisol. The study was conducted over two years and included six crops - cowpea, cowpea, rice, soybean, rice, and soybean. Treatments included applying potassium as either a single or split application at rates of 70, 250, or 600 kg K/ha, and either returning or removing crop stover after harvest. Key results showed that returning stover allowed maintaining soil potassium levels with a single 70 kg K/ha application, while stover
The Landuse and Agricultural Management Practices web-Service (LAMPS) uses cloud computing to generate crop rotation and management data for agroecosystem modeling. It links geospatial areas to detailed crop rotation records from the LMOD database. LAMPS extracts crop sequence data from the NASS Crop Data Layer, matches it to LMOD rotations, and outputs the rotations and associated management practices. This allows generation of input files for the AgES-W hydrological model to simulate impacts of different land management scenarios.
This document summarizes an industrial training program at ERAS, ESPEK Sdn. Bhd. ERAS provides advisory services and has laboratories for soil, foliar, and fertilizer analysis. The training involves analyzing fertilizer samples to determine nutrient content and ensure it meets standards. Foliar samples from oil palm are also analyzed to determine nutritional status. The results of fertilizer and foliar analyses are presented in tables listing location, nutrient levels, and other details. The training aims to foster skills in agricultural consulting and laboratory analysis.
Lincolnshire is an important agricultural region in the UK. The study examined the use of cover crops to mitigate diffuse water pollution from agriculture in Lincolnshire. Four cover crop treatments were tested: rye and vetch, black oats and vetch, oil radish, and a mix of crops. All cover crops captured nitrogen, reduced leaching of nitrates into deep soil layers compared to ploughed soil without cover crops. Establishing the subsequent cash crop after the cover crops proved challenging on the clayey soil. More research is needed on using cover crops for pollution mitigation in these soil conditions.
This document summarizes agricultural statistics and crop production trends for the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It discusses 11 agro-climatic zones in the state and notes that small and marginal farmers make up 68% of holdings but only 29% of land area. Production of crops like wheat, pulses and oilseeds has been increasing in recent years due to factors like improved seeds and government initiatives. However, productivity remains impacted by issues like erratic rainfall, lack of irrigation, and small landholdings. The document outlines several policy efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and farmer welfare in Madhya Pradesh.
This document contains data from several studies on the effects of different cover crop species and mixtures on soil and subsequent crop yields. Some key findings include:
- Hairy vetch produced the highest nitrogen accumulation, up to 274 lbs/acre, while rye produced the lowest at around 100 lbs/acre.
- Corn yields were highest after hairy vetch, increasing yields by 7 bushels/acre and providing an estimated $46/acre profit after seed costs.
- Soybean yields were highest after cereal rye at 36 bushels/acre, compared to 29 bushels without cover crops.
- Cover crops like radish and cereal rye can help scavenge nutrients, loose
The document discusses oil palm development in the Perambalur and Ariyalur districts of Tamil Nadu. It provides statistics on existing oil palm cultivation including total area under cultivation, production levels, and productivity. It also analyzes constraints to expanding oil palm area and proposes bringing an additional 8,000 hectares in the two districts under oil palm cultivation. Case studies are presented on the productivity levels achieved on individual farms.
Jauhar ali. vol 1. screening for abiotic and biotic stress tolerancesFOODCROPS
This document summarizes research on screening rice populations for cold tolerance at different growth stages. It describes protocols for evaluating germination tolerance at 10°C and seedling tolerance by exposing 12-day old seedlings to 11.8°C for 18 days. A total of 39 populations were screened and 207 lines were selected based on germination rates. For seedling tolerance, 861 plants from 28 populations were selected based on survival rates ranging from 1.4-19.3%. Additional experiments evaluated populations for tolerance at the booting/flowering stage by irrigating plants with cold water at 19°C for 30 days. Several populations and lines demonstrated improved spikelet fertility compared to controls under cold stress conditions.
The TNJFU Referral Lab for Aquatic Animal Health was initiated in 2018 for sample analysis from water, animals, soil, and feed. It has various equipment for testing parameters in water, soil, feed, and animal samples. In 2021-2022, the lab analyzed 244 samples and earned revenue of Rs. 2,00,460, with a cost-benefit ratio of 0.54. Future plans include obtaining NABL accreditation and increasing outreach.
The document discusses the use of low tunnel technology for vegetable production compared to traditional open field cultivation. It provides details on the history, establishment, benefits, and types of low tunnel technology. A case study is presented on the effects of different mulches and plastic low tunnels on soil temperature and brinjal production in northwestern India, finding that plastic low tunnels improved growth, yield, and protected plants from frost and pests compared to other treatments.
The Fertiliser Action Plan aims to promote best practice fertilizer management in Western Australia for both industry and environmental benefits. It involves regulating the phosphorus content in domestic fertilizers, promoting best practice commercial fertilizer management, and enhancing soil amendments. Fertilizer users will receive advice from accredited advisers based on soil tests to apply phosphorus efficiently only where profitable while reducing use where not profitable. The plan is backed by local science, industry groups, and government departments. Firsthand accounts from farmers indicate it can help save money while maintaining production through improved nutrient management.
The bountiful natural terroir of Oregon has left many vineyards with excessive vegetative growth. High vigor can lead to a host of deleterious effects on grape and wine quality. Many grapegrowers annually employ intensive remedial canopy management techniques in response to high-vigor issues. The speakers in this session will address perennial vigor management strategies. From New Mexico State University, Dr. Gill Giese will share results from a long-term study of complete vineyard floor cover cropping and root pruning. From the University of Georgia, Dr. Cain Hickey will discuss results from research on the use of root restriction and rootstocks as a vigor management tool.
This document provides an economic analysis of paddy-prawn farming over 120 days on 1 hectare of land with a stocking density of 30,000 prawn. It estimates the capital costs at Rs. 87,000 and variable costs at Rs. 99,650. Fixed costs are estimated at Rs. 40,998 including depreciation and interest. Total revenue from 4 tons of paddy and 720 kg of harvested prawn is estimated at Rs. 2,55,000, providing an estimated profit of Rs. 1,14,350.
This document summarizes a presentation about using process models to help build trust and understanding when implementing edge of field conservation practices. It discusses how process models can help various stakeholders like conservation professionals, landowners, cities, and contractors understand the time and resources required. It provides examples of process models created for constructed wetlands, saturated buffers, and bioreactors. The presentation discusses the goals of helping more stakeholders and expanding the models, as well as thanking collaborators on the project.
This document discusses the challenges of meeting nitrogen reduction goals in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. It notes that meeting the nutrient reduction goals will be a massive effort that requires a mix of practices across Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois, including wetlands, drainage treatment, and stacked practices. However, there are also many challenges to implementing the necessary practices, including economics, human/social factors, delivery challenges, risk management, climate change, and the need for further research. The document emphasizes that understanding the large scale of the challenge is needed to make progress toward the nutrient reduction goals.
This document outlines the crop rotation and land use of Windy Acres Farm, which consists of 422 acres of certified organic land. 66.8 acres are permanent pastures and buffers. The remaining 355.2 acres are used in a six year rotation, with 59.2 acres planted to corn, 59.2 acres to soybeans, 59.2 acres to small grains, and 177.6 acres used as pastures and hay fields each year. One field is described that was planted with hairy vetch and canola in 1999, and was sampled the following spring, yielding over 4500 lbs of dry matter per acre with notable nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrient levels.
This document summarizes crop yield trials conducted in Montana. Sugar beets had the highest gross return per acre at $2437, followed by corn at $1438. A trial of 16 spring pea varieties found yields ranging from 3181 lbs/acre to 1891 lbs/acre. Stirling yielded the most at 3181 lbs/acre. A lentil trial of 13 varieties found yields ranging from 2165 lbs/acre to 1348 lbs/acre, with Pardina yielding the most at 2165 lbs/acre.
- Grain sorghum residue can be grazed in winter, providing similar nutrition to corn residue. It has an advantage of leaves being more readily consumed than corn stalks.
- Brown midrib sorghum has lower lignin content which increases digestibility. In studies, it increased average daily gain of cattle by 0.36 lbs compared to conventional sorghum residue.
- Cover crops like oats, winter rye and triticale can be used to provide grazing in fall and spring. Planting date and variety selection impacts yield and quality for grazing livestock.
The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) jointly hosted the International Conference on Climate Change and Food Security (ICCCFS) November 6-8, 2011 in Beijing, China. This conference provided a forum for leading international scientists and young researchers to present their latest research findings, exchange their research ideas, and share their experiences in the field of climate change and food security. The event included technical sessions, poster sessions, and social events. The conference results and recommendations were presented at the global climate talks in Durban, South Africa during an official side event on December 1.
Farming Deep In Climate Change: The West Australia ExperienceCarbon Coalition
Tim Wiley is an agronomist with the West Australian Department of Agriculture & Food. He is also a leading member of the soil carbon movement and contributes to the debate at a national level. Tim has lived through the first major Climate Change disaster to strike a western nation, the long drought in WA. His leadership and strength has helped many landholders in the west to hang on.
This document presents the results of a study on the effect of different rates of single superphosphate fertilizer and frequencies of Megagreen application on nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and yield of cowpea. The study found that higher rates of superphosphate and more frequent Megagreen applications generally improved various growth parameters, nodulation rates, and yield components of cowpea. Soil and plant tissue analysis also showed that the treatments affected soil phosphorus levels and plant nitrogen content. The results indicate that cowpea responds positively to optimized phosphorus and Megagreen application rates and frequencies.
This document summarizes a study that examined the effects of potassium fertilizer application rates and timing, and crop stover management, on soil properties, crop yields, and nutrient balances in an upland rice-soybean rotation system on an Indonesian Ultisol. The study was conducted over two years and included six crops - cowpea, cowpea, rice, soybean, rice, and soybean. Treatments included applying potassium as either a single or split application at rates of 70, 250, or 600 kg K/ha, and either returning or removing crop stover after harvest. Key results showed that returning stover allowed maintaining soil potassium levels with a single 70 kg K/ha application, while stover
The Landuse and Agricultural Management Practices web-Service (LAMPS) uses cloud computing to generate crop rotation and management data for agroecosystem modeling. It links geospatial areas to detailed crop rotation records from the LMOD database. LAMPS extracts crop sequence data from the NASS Crop Data Layer, matches it to LMOD rotations, and outputs the rotations and associated management practices. This allows generation of input files for the AgES-W hydrological model to simulate impacts of different land management scenarios.
This document summarizes an industrial training program at ERAS, ESPEK Sdn. Bhd. ERAS provides advisory services and has laboratories for soil, foliar, and fertilizer analysis. The training involves analyzing fertilizer samples to determine nutrient content and ensure it meets standards. Foliar samples from oil palm are also analyzed to determine nutritional status. The results of fertilizer and foliar analyses are presented in tables listing location, nutrient levels, and other details. The training aims to foster skills in agricultural consulting and laboratory analysis.
Lincolnshire is an important agricultural region in the UK. The study examined the use of cover crops to mitigate diffuse water pollution from agriculture in Lincolnshire. Four cover crop treatments were tested: rye and vetch, black oats and vetch, oil radish, and a mix of crops. All cover crops captured nitrogen, reduced leaching of nitrates into deep soil layers compared to ploughed soil without cover crops. Establishing the subsequent cash crop after the cover crops proved challenging on the clayey soil. More research is needed on using cover crops for pollution mitigation in these soil conditions.
This document summarizes agricultural statistics and crop production trends for the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It discusses 11 agro-climatic zones in the state and notes that small and marginal farmers make up 68% of holdings but only 29% of land area. Production of crops like wheat, pulses and oilseeds has been increasing in recent years due to factors like improved seeds and government initiatives. However, productivity remains impacted by issues like erratic rainfall, lack of irrigation, and small landholdings. The document outlines several policy efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and farmer welfare in Madhya Pradesh.
This document contains data from several studies on the effects of different cover crop species and mixtures on soil and subsequent crop yields. Some key findings include:
- Hairy vetch produced the highest nitrogen accumulation, up to 274 lbs/acre, while rye produced the lowest at around 100 lbs/acre.
- Corn yields were highest after hairy vetch, increasing yields by 7 bushels/acre and providing an estimated $46/acre profit after seed costs.
- Soybean yields were highest after cereal rye at 36 bushels/acre, compared to 29 bushels without cover crops.
- Cover crops like radish and cereal rye can help scavenge nutrients, loose
The document discusses oil palm development in the Perambalur and Ariyalur districts of Tamil Nadu. It provides statistics on existing oil palm cultivation including total area under cultivation, production levels, and productivity. It also analyzes constraints to expanding oil palm area and proposes bringing an additional 8,000 hectares in the two districts under oil palm cultivation. Case studies are presented on the productivity levels achieved on individual farms.
Jauhar ali. vol 1. screening for abiotic and biotic stress tolerancesFOODCROPS
This document summarizes research on screening rice populations for cold tolerance at different growth stages. It describes protocols for evaluating germination tolerance at 10°C and seedling tolerance by exposing 12-day old seedlings to 11.8°C for 18 days. A total of 39 populations were screened and 207 lines were selected based on germination rates. For seedling tolerance, 861 plants from 28 populations were selected based on survival rates ranging from 1.4-19.3%. Additional experiments evaluated populations for tolerance at the booting/flowering stage by irrigating plants with cold water at 19°C for 30 days. Several populations and lines demonstrated improved spikelet fertility compared to controls under cold stress conditions.
The TNJFU Referral Lab for Aquatic Animal Health was initiated in 2018 for sample analysis from water, animals, soil, and feed. It has various equipment for testing parameters in water, soil, feed, and animal samples. In 2021-2022, the lab analyzed 244 samples and earned revenue of Rs. 2,00,460, with a cost-benefit ratio of 0.54. Future plans include obtaining NABL accreditation and increasing outreach.
The document discusses the use of low tunnel technology for vegetable production compared to traditional open field cultivation. It provides details on the history, establishment, benefits, and types of low tunnel technology. A case study is presented on the effects of different mulches and plastic low tunnels on soil temperature and brinjal production in northwestern India, finding that plastic low tunnels improved growth, yield, and protected plants from frost and pests compared to other treatments.
The Fertiliser Action Plan aims to promote best practice fertilizer management in Western Australia for both industry and environmental benefits. It involves regulating the phosphorus content in domestic fertilizers, promoting best practice commercial fertilizer management, and enhancing soil amendments. Fertilizer users will receive advice from accredited advisers based on soil tests to apply phosphorus efficiently only where profitable while reducing use where not profitable. The plan is backed by local science, industry groups, and government departments. Firsthand accounts from farmers indicate it can help save money while maintaining production through improved nutrient management.
The bountiful natural terroir of Oregon has left many vineyards with excessive vegetative growth. High vigor can lead to a host of deleterious effects on grape and wine quality. Many grapegrowers annually employ intensive remedial canopy management techniques in response to high-vigor issues. The speakers in this session will address perennial vigor management strategies. From New Mexico State University, Dr. Gill Giese will share results from a long-term study of complete vineyard floor cover cropping and root pruning. From the University of Georgia, Dr. Cain Hickey will discuss results from research on the use of root restriction and rootstocks as a vigor management tool.
This document provides an economic analysis of paddy-prawn farming over 120 days on 1 hectare of land with a stocking density of 30,000 prawn. It estimates the capital costs at Rs. 87,000 and variable costs at Rs. 99,650. Fixed costs are estimated at Rs. 40,998 including depreciation and interest. Total revenue from 4 tons of paddy and 720 kg of harvested prawn is estimated at Rs. 2,55,000, providing an estimated profit of Rs. 1,14,350.
This document summarizes a presentation about using process models to help build trust and understanding when implementing edge of field conservation practices. It discusses how process models can help various stakeholders like conservation professionals, landowners, cities, and contractors understand the time and resources required. It provides examples of process models created for constructed wetlands, saturated buffers, and bioreactors. The presentation discusses the goals of helping more stakeholders and expanding the models, as well as thanking collaborators on the project.
This document discusses the challenges of meeting nitrogen reduction goals in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. It notes that meeting the nutrient reduction goals will be a massive effort that requires a mix of practices across Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois, including wetlands, drainage treatment, and stacked practices. However, there are also many challenges to implementing the necessary practices, including economics, human/social factors, delivery challenges, risk management, climate change, and the need for further research. The document emphasizes that understanding the large scale of the challenge is needed to make progress toward the nutrient reduction goals.
The document summarizes a meta-analysis that compared the nitrate removal performance of different substrates used in denitrifying bioreactors. It found that wood media had the highest nitrate removal rate (NRR) and percentage (NRE), followed by mulch media, nutshell-based media, and inorganic media. However, when considering cost-effectiveness, woodchip and corn cob were the most economical natural organic carbon substrates. Overall, the analysis suggests that mulch media is the optimal material for nitrate removal due to its low cost and potential to overcome deficiencies in other media types.
The document summarizes an investigation into phosphorus transport dynamics in subsurface drainage using high-frequency measurements. Key findings include:
1) TRP concentration had a dynamic pattern that was strongly influenced by drainage discharge levels, highlighting the need for high-resolution sampling.
2) Event flows contributed 78% of the total TRP load despite comprising only 50% of total flow.
3) Flow-proportional sampling strategies provided more accurate TRP load estimates than time-proportional strategies and were more cost-effective. Targeting high flow periods is important for reducing phosphorus loss.
This document summarizes a study that evaluated a procedure for prioritizing maintenance of agricultural drainage ditches. The study measured the critical shear stress of soils using a cohesive strength meter to assess their susceptibility to erosion. Soils with higher root densities and those treated with mixed lime showed higher critical shear stresses, meaning they were less susceptible to erosion. Measurements of pressure on the soil surface during testing were mostly lower than estimates from other studies. The procedure effectively identified the relative erosion resistance of different soils, aiding prioritization of drainage ditch maintenance needs.
ISG worked with Blue Earth County to digitize and modernize their drainage data. They georeferenced existing plans, digitized drainage features, attributed data to the digitized features, and created a geodatabase to house the updated drainage data. This project consolidated Blue Earth County's drainage records, improved data accuracy, and established a process for ISG and the County to regularly update the drainage data going forward. The updated digital records will benefit Blue Earth County, ISG, other engineering firms, and the public.
This document summarizes the results of Latvia's long-term Agricultural Runoff Monitoring programme, which aims to document nutrient concentrations and losses at different spatial and temporal scales. The monitoring covers groundwater, experimental drainage plots, subsurface drainage fields, small catchments, and small/medium rivers at 23 sites. Results show discharge and nutrient concentration data varying by location, scale of monitoring, and between years with flooding or drought. Nutrient levels differed between the Berze and Mellupite monitoring sites and across groundwater, drainage plots, and catchment scales. The programme provides long-term data on agricultural nonpoint source pollution across Latvia.
This document summarizes an applied research and demonstration project evaluating soil and water management practices in undulating soils in southwestern Manitoba. The project aims to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and salt export while improving drought resiliency. Preliminary results show tile drainage is lowering water tables most in lower landscape positions, with soil moisture responding rapidly in drained areas. Tile flow rates increase with decreasing elevation. Water quality measurements also show higher salt concentrations in lower positions. Next steps include water quality treatment analysis, long-term monitoring, modeling, knowledge transfer and reporting.
This document summarizes a coordinated research network studying the impacts of 4R nutrient stewardship practices on crop yields, soil health, and nutrient losses across sites in North America. The network included 8 research sites across 6 states/provinces from 2017-2020. Treatments included different fertilizer application timings, placements, sources, and rates. Standardized data collection allowed comparisons across sites. Preliminary findings showed 4R and advanced 4R practices improved nutrient use efficiency and reduced nitrogen losses while maintaining crop yields. Nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching losses decreased under improved nutrient management, though impacts varied between sites and years. Ongoing research aims to further quantify environmental benefits and optimize fertilizer practices.
The document summarizes research on managing drainage water in the Holland Marsh region of Ontario to improve water quality and agricultural productivity. Key points:
- The Holland Marsh is an important vegetable growing region on organic soils, but drainage into Lake Simcoe contributes excess nutrients.
- A study evaluated controlling water tables with controlled drainage to reduce pumping and nutrient loads in drainage water. Modeling and monitoring found it effective for water conservation but more limited for nutrient reductions.
- Soil phosphorus pools, particularly aluminum and iron-bound phosphorus, were found to influence phosphorus levels in drainage water more than drainage management alone. Fertilizer applications exceeded crop needs, accumulating legacy phosphorus in soils over time.
This document summarizes a study comparing the effects of conventional ditch drainage (FD) and shallow furrow drainage with tile (SD) on crop yields and water quality in eastern North Carolina. Preliminary results found that SD led to a 68% reduction in drainage volume, 80% less nitrate export, and higher average soybean (+9.1%) and corn (+3.7%) yields compared to FD. SD also requires less land area than FD, has lower maintenance needs, and shows potential to improve water quality and agricultural productivity with more efficient drainage management. The research aims to further quantify these impacts of SD drainage design.
1) DRAINMOD simulations were conducted for a field in Harrow, Ontario with an asymmetrical drainage system to determine the best approach to simulate drain outflow. 2) Four approaches using different drain spacings were tested: 3.8m, 5.06m, 7.6m, and 15.2m. 3) The mean absolute error and root mean square error for each approach were acceptable, indicating drain spacing had little impact on outflow simulation, though it did impact soil moisture parameters.
This document discusses how the choice of pipe material influences drain spacing and system cost. It finds that pipe with more rows of perforations, such as an 8-row regular perforated pipe, has a higher effective radius than a 4-row pipe, allowing for wider drain spacing. Experiments show that a sock-wrapped pipe has the highest drain inflow of the pipes tested, both with and without drain sedimentation present. The key takeaways are that the number of perforation rows and slot length most impact effective radius and drain flow, and a sock-wrapped pipe performs best in terms of drain inflow and spacing.
This document summarizes research conducted by the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) on the installation of corrugated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) agricultural drainage pipe. It describes field testing of 30-inch HDPE dual-wall pipe installed at a test site in Ohio, including instrumentation to monitor strain and deflection. Finite element modeling was also used to analyze trench configurations. The research aims to update industry guidance documents to optimize pipe installation practices and trench designs. PPI members also work to increase the use of recycled HDPE and PP materials in pipe production.
The document discusses Ohio's H2Ohio water quality initiative and its funding of conservation practices including two-stage ditches. It launched in 2019 with $172 million to reduce phosphorus runoff from farms using best management practices like wetlands, buffers, and two-stage ditches. A $5 million grant program was announced to fund two-stage ditch projects based on design guidelines. The document provides details on the grant application process, design requirements using regional curves, and goals to fund 20 projects for 30 miles of ditches at $30 per foot on average.
This document provides information on edge-of-field conservation practices and a panel discussion on drainage ditches. It summarizes various practices for nutrient, soil, and sediment removal including vegetated buffers, grassed waterways, prairie strips, wetlands, bioreactors, and controlled drainage. Cost effectiveness data is given for each. The key elements of an edge-of-field roadmap are outlined as building the economic case, increasing implementation capacity, and elevating a culture of conservation. A sample conservation planning scenario shows identified sites for practices treating over 9,000 acres of land. The document concludes with information on connecting with The Nature Conservancy's Ohio agriculture programs.
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This document summarizes research on conservation channel design and sediment capture in two-stage ditches. It finds that self-forming channels accumulated more sediment, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus over time compared to traditional ditches. Sediment analysis showed higher nutrient levels than surrounding soils. A case study site captured over 500 kg of phosphorus over 9 years that could be harvested and reused as fertilizer, offsetting nutrient costs for farmers. The document concludes sediment trapping in two-stage ditches can improve water quality while providing a locally sourced, cost-effective fertilizer resource.
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1. Incorporating Summer Cover-
Crops into a Southern Plains
Winter Pasture Stocker System
James Rogers, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Pasture and Range
Noble Research Institute
jkrogers@noble.org
2. 1981-2010 Normal Rainfall Ardmore, Oklahoma
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
rainfall in inches
3. The cover crop concept is not new
Yearbook of Agriculture, 1938
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Crop Oklahoma Texas
Beggarweed E
Bur-clover R E
Black-medic R E
Alsike, Crimson clover R, E E
Hop clover R, E --
Red, white clover E E
Cowpeas R, E R, E
Crotalaria intermedia -- E
Austrian winter peas R, E R, E
Sericea Lespedeza E E
Stipulacea lespedeza R R
Striata lespedeza R R
Oats R E
Rye, ryegrass R, E E
Weeds -- --
Hairy vetch R, E R, E
R = Recommended, E = Experimental
4. Introduction
• Wheat is the major crop grown in Oklahoma.
• 1,822,500 all purpose hectares planted in 2017.
• Grain only
• Dual purpose
• Graze only
• 1,174,500 hectares harvested for grain.
• 2016 value $470,925,000.
• Summer fallow is common production practice
• Land is susceptible to wind and water erosion.
• No biomass production.
• Lost opportunity for additional revenue.
5.
6. Objectives
1. Measure the impact of a summer cover crop
(grazing cover) on winter pasture production.
2. Monitor change in soil (health, structure) and
water use over time.
3. Evaluate the economics of incorporating a
grazing cover crop into a winter pasture
production system.
7. Study area
Site history –
• 40.5 ha.
• Loam, silt loam soils
• Historically
• 20.25 ha. tillage
• 20.25 ha. no-till
Treatments -
Five, 2-ha paddocks No-till winter pasture – no cover crop (NT)
Five, 2-ha paddocks No-till winter pasture with summer cover crop (NTCC)
Five, 2-ha paddocks Tillage winter pasture – no cover crop (Till)
Five, 2-ha paddocks Tillage winter pasture with cover crop (TillCC)
8. Methods
• Winter pasture planted in September
• Rate – 129 kg/ha
• Nitrogen top dress after emergence 67 kg N/ha.
• NT burn down 2.3-3.5 L/ha glyphosate.
• NT – 1590 John Deere NT drill.
• Till - Conventional 1-2 passes offset disk.
• John Deere 450 drill pulled behind a Brillion cultipacker.
• Graze stocker cattle November-grazeout
• 220 kg at turn out
• Removed in mid-April or early May.
• Target .405 hd/ha stocking rate.
• Summer cover crop planted in April-May
• Seeding rate 34 kg/ha.
• Cover crop grazed in June-August
• Usually July turnout
• 290 kg
• .32 hd/ha (take half leave half)
Grazing Grazing Grazing
Winter pasture Summer cover crop Winter pasture
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
9. What we are measuring
• Biomass production
• Winter pasture
• Cover crop
• Animal performance
• Winter pasture
• Cover crop
• Water infiltration – 2x/yr
• Soil bulk density – 2x/yr after cover crop and winter pasture
• Soil moisture and temperature – 3 depths 7.6, 25, 61 cm
• Soil microbial community (bacteria and fungi)
• Soil carbon
• Standard soil test
• Haney test
10. Variety
% by
weight Kg/ha
Iron & Clay Cowpeas 21 6.7
Grp. 7 Stonewall Soybeans 21 6.7
Sunn Hemp 10 3.4
Pearl Millet – “Tiff leaf III” 10 3.4
German Millet 7 2.2
Brown top millet 7 2.2
BMR Grazing Corn 14 4.5
Buckwheat 10 3.4
17. 2016 Cover crop animal performance
ADG kg Total Gain kg
NTCC TillCC NTCC TillCC
1.29 1.01 36.3 28.0
SE .07 SE 1.91
Grazing days – 28
Change in value - +$7/hd
20. 2016-2017 winter pasture production
following first summer cover crop
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
DMKg/ha
NTCC NT TillCC Till
21. 2016-17 winter pasture animal performance
ADG kg Total Gain kg
NT NTCC Till TillCC Till NT No
Cover
Cover
1.37a 1.22b 1.41a 1.42a 193A 167B 189a 171b
SE .05 SE 4.7
Grazing days –
NT – 132
NTCC – 126
Till – 140
TillCC - 132
22. 2017 summer cover crop production
No-till cover crops planted May 2, 2017
Till cover crop paddocks planted June 8, 2017
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
DMkg/ha
NTCC TillCC
23. 2017 Cover crop animal performance
ADG kg Total Gain kg
NTCC TillCC NTCC TillCC
1.66b 2.10a 82 86
SE .16 SE 6.7
Grazing days –
NTCC - 49
TillCC - 41
24. 2017-2018 winter pasture production
following second summer cover crop
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
5000
11/1/2017 12/1/2017 1/1/2018 2/1/2018 3/1/2018 4/1/2018
DMkg/ha
NTCC NT TillCC Till
26. 2018 summer cover crop production
NTCC planted on May 29, 2018
TillCC planted on June 13, 2018
500
700
900
1100
1300
1500
1700
1900
2100
2300
2500
DMkg/ha
NTCC TillCC
27. 2018-2019 winter pasture production
following third summer cover crop
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
DMkg/ha
NT NTCC Till TillCC
All paddocks planted October 3-5, 2018
29. Water infiltration rate cm/hour
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
April, 2016 August, 2016 April, 2017 August, 2017 April, 2018
Infiltrationratecm/hr
NT NTCC Till TillCC
30. 0-35cm soil moisture over time
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
1/11/16 4/10/16 7/9/16 10/7/16 1/5/17 4/5/17 7/4/17 10/2/17 12/31/17 3/31/18 6/29/18 9/27/18
%volumetric
Till TillCC NT NTCC
Summer Summer
Fall Spring
Fall Spring
Fall Spring
Drought DroughtSummer
31. 2015 Baseline
Solvita Soil Health Index Haney Total Organic C Organic Matter Traditional Nitrate Haney Total Nitrogen
Treat. CO2 ppm SE SE C ppm SE % SE N ppm SE N ppm SE
TillCC 51.14 7.00 9.28 1.02 204 5.24 1.94 0.07 6.68 2.95 26.40 3.37
Till 70.36 7.27 10.98 0.48 218 10.28 1.90 0.18 4.36 0.99 25.30 1.19
NTCC 70.52 13.26 11.97 1.31 242 9.25 2.24 0.12 14.56 3.98 38.74 3.37
NT 47.00 6.77 9.42 0.83 204 6.80 2.16 0.10 12.60 2.83 35.66 3.69
August 2018 Post Cover Crop
Solvita Soil Health Index Haney Total Organic C Organic Matter Traditional Nitrate Haney Total Nitrogen
Treat. CO2 ppm SE SE C ppm SE % SE N ppm SE N ppm SE
TillCC 43.92 6.81 8.75 0..87 164 8.08 1.32 0.08 4.80 2.08 20.14 5.75
Till 49.62 13.46 9.06 1.02 165 3.58 1.24 0.05 21.00 3.52 29.12 3.90
NTCC 46.08 4.39 9.31 0.54 179 6.60 1.38 0.09 2.40 1.32 14.42 0.79
NT 39.82 3.50 8.38 0.32 162 5.26 1.36 0.07 14.60 2.42 24.58 1.39
N limiting?
32.
33. Summary
• Grazing summer cover crops as part of a wheat system is
difficult.
• Grazing days are limited.
• Holding over multiple crop seasons will aid profitability.
• Hay summer covers feed back onto winter pasture?
• Add additional N to winter pasture and/or cover crops?
• Currently established small plot study to answer
• A good no-till system with good residue works.
• We have soil losses with tillage and we lose time.
• Understanding water in the systems is a challenge.
• Seasonal variation in soil measurements are high.
• Beyond a species mix 4 only 25%-30% of the components
contribute.
• 2018-19 cover crop mix – Cow peas, pearl millet, okra
The main objective of our study is that we want to know how growing a summer cover crop will affect the following wheat pasture crop. We also want to monitor soil moisture and soil health parameters over time.
Our study area is 100 acres that for the last several years has been divided into 10, 10-acre paddocks that were randomly assigned to either tillage or no-till production practices. For the cover crop study we subdivided the paddocks in half and randomly assigned a cover crop treatment to one side or the other. The result is a 2 x 2 factorial design with tillage or no-tillage and summer cover crop or no cover crop treatments. Treatments are replicated five times.
This is our time line for field operations and grazing. Wheat pastures and cover crops are grazed with stocker cattle.
Variables that are being measured.
This is our cover crop mixture. It is half warm season annual grass and half broadleaves. We may change it this year to half millet and half cowpeas.
This is our cover crop mixture. It is half warm season annual grass and half broadleaves. We may change it this year to half millet and half cowpeas.
Following winter pasture graze out the cover crops were established. A problem with double cropping cover crops following wheat pasture is timing. In no-till we can terminate the wheat and immediately plant the cover crop. In tillage moisture has to be right for tillage operations and planting. In year one no-till covers were planted the end of May but tillage cover crops were not planted until mid-June.
These picture contrast no-till summer fallow and no-till cover crop. We had fairly dry conditions in the summer of 2016 and you can see in the picture that some of our no-till drill slots never closed which probably had an effect on stand emergence.
These picture contrast tillage summer fallow and tillage summer cover crop. We have a tremendous problem with pigweed in our study area. I feel like we could plow 24 hours a day and not keep ahead of pigweeds in our tillage summer fallow areas.
In our no-till summer cover crop areas we had a lot of pressure form summer annual volunteer grasses compared to tillage cover crop areas. You will note that the majority of forage in our no-till was volunteer or ‘other’. Very little of the actual planted cover crop contributed.
No difference in cover crop production was noted between tillage systems. We did not fertilize the cover crops relying on residual fertility from the previous wheat crop and legumes in the mix.
This is a picture of our cover crop study area after wheat was planted following a summer cover crop. If you look closely you can seed stand establishment differences between cover and no cover crop areas.
Contrasting pictures of tillage no cover crop and no-till no cover crops paddocks at wheat winter pasture planting.
Wheat pasture production was lower in paddocks that previously had a summer cover crop. The no-till system appears to be more affected than the tillage sytem.
This is our second year cover crop production. Again we were able to the no-till cover crops planted ahead of the tillage cover crops.
Here is the second year of wheat pasture production followed by summer cover crops. Overall production is way behind years past. Cattle were just turned out on Feb. 13 but at very low stocking rates ranging from 2 head on five acres to 4 head on five acres. Calves averaged 550 lbs at turn out. Tillage cover crop paddock production is extremely low. No-till does not seem to quite as affected by the cover crops. This is probablya moisture issue.
Here is the second year of wheat pasture production followed by summer cover crops. Overall production is way behind years past. Cattle were just turned out on Feb. 13 but at very low stocking rates ranging from 2 head on five acres to 4 head on five acres. Calves averaged 550 lbs at turn out. Tillage cover crop paddock production is extremely low. No-till does not seem to quite as affected by the cover crops. This is probablya moisture issue.
Infiltration rates were lower in the cover crop paddocks compared to the summer fallow paddocks. Remember however, that the cover crop paddocks were grazed and the lower infiltration is probably due to compaction from the cattle.
Entering this study we felt that any production difference could be attributed to moisture effects from the cover crops. This we don’t feel like this is the case. Take a look at soil nitrate content difference post cover crop in the cover crop paddocks. The cover crops used up residual soil nitrate. The no-till wheat paddocks ran out of nitrogen halfway through the production period. We feel like we should have added additional nitrogen to the cover crop systems but we really don’t know how much nitrogen to add or the timing of when to add it.
Picture of field activities. We are just now getting back some information on our soil microbial community. Tillage systems have higher numbers of bacteria but a narrow range of species. Of the species present, they are associated with higher levels of oxygen as a result of tillage. This type of bacteria is associated with the breaking down of organic material. In no-till there is a wider range of bacterial species but lower population numbers. We are still waiting on on information for fungi.
Field shot of our group collecting water infiltration measurements at the end of the winter pasture grazing period.