September 1 - 1053 - Matt Helmers

1. 4R Nutri-Net Coordinated Site Network … 4R Nutrient Management … Crop Production, Nutrient Loss, and Soil Health

2. Coordinated Site Network for Studying the Impacts of 4R Nutrient Management on Crop Production and Nutrient Loss Dr. Matt Helmers, Professor Iowa State University Dr. Sylvie Brouder, Professor Purdue University Dr. Laura Christianson, Assistant Professor University of Illinois Dr. Cameron Pittelkow, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois Dr. Kelly Nelson, Professor University of Missouri Dr. Dan Jaynes, Soil Scientist USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment Dr. John Kovar, Soil Scientist USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment Lowell Gentry, Research Scientist University of Illinois Dr. Craig Drury, Research Scientist Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Dr. Fabian Fernandez, Assistant Professor University of Minnesota Dr. Alison Eagle, Scientist, Sustainable Agriculture, Ecosystems Program, Environmental Defense Fund Dr. Jeffrey Volenec, Professor Purdue University Dr. Lori Abendroth, USDA-ARS Dr. Tai Maaz, University of Hawaii

3. Round One (2014): Meta-analyses to understand 4R outcomes • Some impact of rate, timing, source, and placement on… • Crop yield • NO3 leaching • N2O emissions • P losses • Missing yield or N rate data reduced data value (e.g., 30% for Zhao et al. 2016) • Key practices or conditions were not known or reported • Methods (units, sample timing) were highly variable – or unclear • Very few studies with more than one loss measured (e.g., only one with both NO3 and N2O, Eagle et al. 2017)

4. Round Two (2017)

5. Nutri-Net Research Sites • States/Provinces: 6 • Research Sites: 8 • Treatments: 80 • Plots: 252 • On-site weather stations: 8 Objective: Quantify the impact of 4R Nutrient Stewardship on crop yield, soil health, nutrient use efficiencies, nutrient losses with leaching, and gaseous nitrogen losses across a network of coordinated studies in the major corn producing area of North America.

6. Standardization • Yearly in-person meetings & monthly video calls • Data and synthesis team • Common measurement units, sampling protocols (crop, soil, gas emissions, drainage losses) • Data dictionary with variable names and specifications

7. Treatments • Tillage • Conv, Cons, NT • Crop Rotation • C-S, C-C • Cover/inter crop • N Application • Timing • Placement • Source (incl. EEFs) • Rate • Yield and nutrient uptake • Soil health • Leaching losses (N, P, K) • Gaseous losses (N2O, NH3) …and more!! Data Collected

8. Nutri-Net corn N management Site Name/PI Zero N Farmer Norm 4R 4R+ SUBSURF/Fernandez -- Spr[0/180/0]1,2 Spr+PC[0/180/0] Spr+GS[0/60/120] GS+PC[0/60/120] NWRF/Helmers Yes Fall+inhib[135/0/0] Spr[0/135/0] GS+inhib[0/40/95] KELLEY/Jaynes&Kovar Yes Spr[0/175/0] GS+↓rate[0/30/125] GS+↓rate+CC[0/30/125]3 GS+↓rate+Bio[0/30/125] MUDS2/Nelson Yes Fall+inhib[170/0/0] Spr[0/170/0] GS+inhib+PC+↓rate [0/38/112] DUDLEY/Christianson&Pittelkow Yes Fall+Spr [120/80/0] Spr+GS[0/80/120] Spr+GS+CC[0/80/120] DOUGLAS/Gentry -- Fall+inhib[160/0/0] Spr[0/160/0] Fall+Spr+GS[80/40/40] Spr+↓rate[0/120/0] Spr+GS[0/80/80] Spr+GS+CC[0/80/80] WQFS/Brouder&Volenec Yes Spr[0/140_or_160/0]3 Spr+CC[0/160/0]3 GS+↓rate+CC[0/20/100] GS+↓rate+intC[0/0/50] ONT_4R&TRO/Drury Yes GS(brd)[0/25/125] GS(inj)[0/25/125] GS(brd)+inhib[0/25/125] GS(inj)+inhib[0/25/125] 1 Abbreviations: Bio = bioreactor, brd = broadcast, CC = cover crop, inhib = urease and/or nitrification inhibitors, inj = inject, intC = inter-crop, PC = polymer coated, GS = growing season, Spr = spring 2 Fertilizer timing, with rate (lb N/ac) in square brackets [fall/spring/growing_season] 3 One CC trt at KELLEY had 135 lbs N/ac in the GS application; higher rate and intercrop trts at WQFS were cont. corn

9. Cover- and inter-crops Purdue WQFS, May 2018, corn interseeded in kura clover (clover planted in fall 2017) Purdue WQFS, April 2019, rye cover crop in corn stubble

10. Emissions: nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3) IA - KELLEY IL - DUDLEY IN - WQFS MN - SUBSURF MO – MUDS2 ON – ONT_4R

11. Drainage: nitrate (NO3), P, K IA - NWRF IL - DOUGLAS IL - DUDLEY IN - WQFS MN - SUBSURF IA - KELLEY MO – MUDS2 ON – TRO

12. Findings – 2018-2020 • Across the network of field research sites, the improved nutrient management practices increased nutrient use efficiency, decreased nitrogen balance, and reduced losses of nutrients to the air and water. • Overall, 4R (one “R” change) and 4R-Advanced (two “R” changes or one change plus cover crops) had no significant effect on either corn or soybean yield over all three years, across sites. • Average corn grain yield over the three years (2018–20) ranged from 174 bushels per acre (10.9 Mg/ha) at the SUBSURF site in Minnesota to 213 bushels per acre (13.4 Mg/ha) at the NWRF in Iowa. With the exception of extreme weather causing yield decline at MUDS2 (Missouri) in 2018 and at WQFS (Indiana) in 2019, there were no significant year-over-year yield differences. • Soybean grain yield ranged from 46 bushels per acre (3.1 Mg/ha) at the MUDS2 site to 69 bushels per acre (4.6 Mg/ha) at the DOUGLAS site in Illinois. The average soybean yield across all sites and years was 61 bushels per acre. • Did see some yield impacts when using kura clover system or camelina relay cropping

13. Findings – 2018-2020 • Nitrous oxide emissions from corn and soybean managed as farmer normal treatments ranged from 1.6 lbs N2O-N/acre at the MUDS2 site to 6.0 lbs N2O- N/acre at the DUDLEY (Illinois). Emissions increased with higher N fertilizer application rates and were higher in 2018 compared to the other two years of the study. Improved N management practices reduced average N2O emissions by about 25%. • Average nitrate losses also looked quite different between sites, with relatively low losses of 4.7 and 5.3 lbs NO3-N/acre at the MUDS2 and WQFS sites, respectively, and much higher average losses of 31 lbs NO3-N/acre at the SUBSURF site. Nitrate leaching losses were also highest in 2018, an average of 10 lbs NO3-N/acre more than in 2019 and 2020. • Advanced 4R practices reduced nitrate (NO3) losses to surface waters by an average of 5 lbs NO3-N/acre • Higher N balance in corn generated more nitrate losses across sites and the tested 4R practices improved nutrient use efficiency. Therefore, researchers hypothesize that better environmental outcomes could be achieved by reducing N rates along with the 4R and 4R-Advanced practices. Future research that prioritizes rate reductions would provide more insight.

14. Some Individual Site Conclusions • Canada • Ammonia volatilization losses were reduced by 72% when SuperU (urea with a combined urease and nitrification inhibitor) was used compared to broadcast urea. • Douglas – Illinois • Averaged across both phases of the rotation and over the past 5 years, fall N plots lost 24 lbs/A of NO3-N while a 50:50 split N application of spring and side-dress with cover crops lost only 14 lbs/A • Dudley – Illinois • Over the 3-y study period, pairing in-season split N application with a cereal rye cover crop reduced NO3-N losses by 37% compared to pre-season N application alone, but soil N2O emissions also increased by 27%. • NWRF – Iowa • Across crops and years, NO3-N concentration in subsurface drainage discharge was the same 11.7 mg L-1 for Fall and Spring applied anhydrous ammonia (AA). Concentration was statistically lower with Split Application urea (10 mg L-1) than Fall and Spring, and 0N was lower than SS at 8.3 mg L- 1.

15. Journal Articles with More Coming • Woodley, A.L., Drury, C.F., Reynolds, W.D., Tan, C.S., Yang, X.M. and T.O. Oloya. 2018. Long- term cropping effects on partitioning of water flow and nitrate loss between surface runoff and tile drainage. J. Environ. Qual. 47:820-829. • Preza-Fontes, G., C. Pittelkow, K. Greer, R. Bhattarai, and L. Christianson. 2021. Split-Nitrogen Application with Cover Cropping Reduces Subsurface Nitrate Losses while Maintaining Corn Yields. Journal of Environmental Quality 50(6):1408–1418. doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20283 • Drury, C.F., Reynolds, W.D., Yang, X., McLaughlin, N., Calder W. and Phillips, L.A. 2021. Diverse rotations impact microbial processes, seasonality and overall nitrous oxide emissions from soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. 85:1448-1464. • Preza-Fontes, G., L.E. Christianson, K. Greer, R. Bhattarai, and C.M. Pittelkow. 2022. In-season split nitrogen application and cover cropping effects on nitrous oxide emissions in rainfed maize. Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment 326:107813. doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2021.107813 • Waring, E.R., J. Sawyer, C. Pederson, and M.J. Helmers. 2022. Impact of fertilizer timing on nitrate loss and crop production in northwest Iowa. Journal of Environmental Quality. • Alves de Oliveira, L., A. Muñoz Ventura, G. Preza Fontes, K.D. Greer, C. Pittelkow, R. Bhattarai, R.D. Christianson, and L.E. Christianson. In review. Control points on subsurface drainage dissolved reactive phosphorus concentrations and losses in Illinois, USA. Journal of Environmental Quality. • O’Brien, P.L., Emmett, B.D., Malone, R.W., Nunes, M., Kovar, J.L., Kaspar, T.C., Moorman, T.B.,

16. Funders Supporting Institutions 4R Research Fund USDA-ARS Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada University of Minnesota University of Missouri Universit y of Illinois Purdue University

17. Corn yield and NO3 loss, 2018 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 SUBSURF NWRF KELLEY MUDS2 DUDLEY DOUGLAS WQFS ONT_4R Yield (bu/ac) FarmNorm 4R 4R-Adv 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 NO 3 Loss (lb N/ac)

18. Nutri-Net corn N management in 2018 Site Name/PI Zero N Farmer Norm 4R 4R+ SUBSURF/Fernandez -- Spr[0/180/0]1,2 Spr+PC[0/180/0] Spr+GS[0/60/120] GS+PC[0/60/120] NWRF/Helmers Yes Fall+inhib[135/0/0] Spr[0/135/0] GS+inhib[0/40/95] KELLEY/Jaynes&Kovar Yes Spr[0/175/0] GS+↓rate[0/30/125] GS+↓rate+CC[0/30/125]3 GS+↓rate+Bio[0/30/125] MUDS2/Nelson Yes Fall+inhib[170/0/0] Spr[0/170/0] GS+inhib+PC+↓rate [0/38/112] DUDLEY/Christianson&Pittelkow Yes Fall+Spr [120/80/0] Spr+GS[0/80/120] Spr+GS+CC[0/80/120] DOUGLAS/Gentry -- Fall+inhib[160/0/0] Spr[0/160/0] Fall+Spr+GS[80/40/40] Spr+↓rate[0/120/0] Spr+GS[0/80/80] Spr+GS+CC[0/80/80] WQFS/Brouder&Volenec Yes Spr[0/140_or_160/0]3 Spr+CC[0/160/0]3 GS+↓rate+CC[0/20/100] GS+↓rate+intC[0/0/50] ONT_4R&TRO/Drury Yes GS(brd)[0/25/125] GS(inj)[0/25/125] GS(brd)+inhib[0/25/125] GS(inj)+inhib[0/25/125] 1 Abbreviations: Bio = bioreactor, brd = broadcast, CC = cover crop, inhib = urease and/or nitrification inhibitors, inj = inject, intC = inter-crop, PC = polymer coated, GS = growing season, Spr = spring 2 Fertilizer timing, with rate (lb N/ac) in square brackets [fall/spring/growing_season] 3 One CC trt at KELLEY had 135 lbs N/ac in the GS application; higher rate and intercrop trts at WQFS were cont. corn

24. Nutri-Net corn yield, 2018 0 50 100 150 200 250 SUBSURF NWRF KELLEY MUDS2 DUDLEY DOUGLAS WQFS ONT_4R Yield (bu/ac) FarmNorm 4R 4R-Adv

25. Nutri-Net nitrate leaching, 2018 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 SUBSURF NWRF KELLEY MUDS2 DUDLEY DOUGLAS WQFS ONT_4R NO 3 Loss (lb N/ac) FarmNorm 4R 4R-Adv

26. Corn yield and NO3 loss, 2018 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 SUBSURF NWRF KELLEY MUDS2 DUDLEY DOUGLAS WQFS ONT_4R Yield (bu/ac) FarmNorm 4R 4R-Adv 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 NO 3 Loss (lb N/ac)

27. Key factors affecting corn yield, N Balance, and NO3 losses (hierarchical models, grouped by location) Corn yield (bu/ac) N balance (lb N/ac) NO3-N loss (lb N/ac) N Rate (10 lb N/ac) +6 to 9 - - - - N Balance (10 lb N/ac) - - - - 2 to 3 Coated or inhibitor +4 to 11 - - - - Injected N +22 to 27 -15 to -17 -17 to -30 Fall to Spr/GS (50%) +3 to 7 - - - - Corn-soy (vs CC) +12 to 15 -10 to -24 - - Cover crop +7 to 10 -4 to -6 - - Conventional tillage +6 to 17 -4 to -7 +9 to 13 Notes: 1. Effect sizes given assume all other factors held constant. For example, assuming the same N rate etc., corn-soy has yield about 12 to 15 bu/ac more than corn following corn. 2. Timing shift equal to moving from 100% fall to 50% fall, from 50% fall to 0% fall, or any similar change.

28. Key factors affecting corn yield, N Balance, and NO3 losses (hierarchical models, grouped by location) Corn yield (bu/ac) N balance (lb N/ac) NO3-N loss (lb N/ac) N Rate (10 lb N/ac) +6 to 9 - - - - N Balance (10 lb N/ac) - - - - 2 to 3 Coated or inhibitor +4 to 11 - - - - Injected N +22 to 27 -15 to -17 -17 to -30 Fall to Spr/GS (50%) +3 to 7 - - - - Corn-soy (vs CC) +12 to 15 -10 to -24 - - Cover crop +7 to 10 -4 to -6 - - Conventional tillage +6 to 17 -4 to -7 +9 to 13 Notes: 1. Effect sizes given assume all other factors held constant. For example, assuming the same N rate etc., corn-soy has yield about 12 to 15 bu/ac more than corn following corn. 2. Timing shift equal to moving from 100% fall to 50% fall, from 50% fall to 0% fall, or any similar change.

29. Funders Supporting Institutions 4R Research Fund USDA-ARS Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada University of Minnesota University of Missouri Universit y of Illinois Purdue University

September 1 - 1053 - Matt Helmers

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