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1. 1989 Agronomic Implications of the 1988 DroughtHistorical Perspective Grain marketing analysts have a rule of thumb that says, "A short crop has a long tail". From the agronomist's point of view, a similar statement could be made for the agronomic implications of the 1988 drought. And coming on the heals of several years of depressed prices, there are some psychological effects that must be considered in working out management plans for farmers for the 1989 growing season. Since the 1988 season broke all previous records for extent and durat... |
2. Agricultural Impact on Groundwater QurlityThere has been an increasing awareness within Iowa of the impact of agriculture on groundwater quality. The data of Iowa Geologic Survey scientists from studies in northeast Iowa have focused attention on the Big Spring Basin area. A project to intensively study groundwater in the Big Spring Basin is underway. The project includes the active cooperation and participation of the following agencies: ISU Agricultural Experiment Station, Clayton County Soil Conservancy District ISU Cooperative Exten... |
3. Agronomic Evaluations of MAP and DAPThe old issue of MAP vs DAP has resurfaced. Although the renewed interest in this issue stems from manufacturing considerations, it would seem appropriate at this point to review our current understanding of agronomic characteristics of these two materials. One of the last reviews done on this subject was part of a review of P sources written by Larry Murphy and presented at the 1979 North Central Extension Industry Soil Fertility Workshop entitled "MAP, DAP, Poly and Rock. The amount of new res... |
4. Alternative Approaches to Making Fertilizer RecommendationsThe objective of this research project was to evaluate, both agronomically and economically. some common altcrnative methods of making fertilizer recornmcndations for corn, soybeans, and soft-red winter wheat used in Indiana. Over a period of six years ( 1992- 1997) the effect of seven alternative fertilizer recommendation philosophies on soil test levels, crop yields, plant tissue analysis, and fertilizer additions were measured in an attempt to determine differences in performance between thes... |
5. An Evaluation of Nitrogen Application Methods for Ridge-Planted CornRidge planting is a conservation tillage method receiving some attention in the Midwest at the present time. In this system the crop is planted atop a ridge which was formed by cultivation of the previous year's crop. There is generally no tillage performed between ridge building and the next year's planting. The system is similar to no-till in that large quantities of residue are often present on the soil surface in the spring, most being concentrated in the ridge furrows. Research initiated in... |
6. Application of the Ceres-maize Model to Maximum Yield ResearchMaximum yields are obtained when as much assimilate as possible is partitioned into the grains of corn. The amount partitioned into the grains depends on several major factors. Grains per unit area is probably the most important of these factors. Other important considerations for grain filling in- clude the duration of the grain filling period, the amount that can be repartitioned from stem storage to the grains, the photo- synthesis rate, and the temperature. Several factors influence the numb... |
7. Bandded Phosphorus Applications to Winter Wheat - 1985-86While many producers recognize the importance of a sound P fertilization program for profitable wheat production? there are many potentially responsive wheat acres not receiving any fertilizer P - resulting in reduced grain yields and farmer profitability. over the years there have been many research studies conducted by land grant Universities throughout the Great Plains indicating the importance of fertilizer P applications for wheat production on low P testing soils. In the mid to late 1970's... |
8. Basic Concepts of Soil Acidity and LimingMost midwestern soils require periodic applications of aglitne or other liming materials for optimum crop production. Liming has several beneficial effects: I ) it reduces harmhl or potentially tosic conditions which can develop in acid soils; 2) it increases the availability of some of nutrients: 3) it replaces the supply of calcium and magnesium essential for plant growth which is depleted as soils become acid; 4) it ensures favorable conditions for the activity of certain herbicides; and 5) i... |
9. Chloride Fertilization on Wheat, Corn, and Grain SorghumResearch in the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Great Plains has documented positive cereal grain responses to chloride (CI) fertilization. Field research was conducted in Kansas evaluating CI fertilization on winter wheat, corn, and grain sorghum. Chloride fertilization consistently and significantly increased plant CI concentrations in all crops. Chloride fertilization increased grain yields or one or more winter wheat cultivars at 3 of 4 sites. The most dramatic yield increases were at th... |
10. Combining Nitrification Inhibitor TechnologiesTechniques exist for the partial control of nitrification, but few studies have determined the effectiveness of combining more than one technique. A series of experiments compared the nitrification rate of urea granules as influenced by granule size (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 g/pellet) and dicyandiamide (DCD) addition (0, 1, 2, 5, and 10% of N) . A second series of experiments measured the interactive effects of DCD and ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) on nitrification of liquid fertilizers. Both experiments... |
11. Credibility in Soil Testing- Analytical ResultsIn Illinois, soil testing to help farmers plan line and fertilizer programs are done by cumrnercial testing services. The Agronoiny Department, University of Illinois participates in the State Soil Testing Program in research and coordinating rules. Kecognizing that sources of error in the program may occur in FIELD SAMPLING, ANALYTICAL TESTING, INTERPRETATION OF TEST RESULTS, or FORUMLATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS this paper focuses on ANALYTICAL TESTING. Two quality assurarlce programs in ANALYTlC... |
12. Credibility of soil Testing- Results os the Iowa Task ForceSeveral factors led to the convening of the Iowa Soil Testing Task Force: (1) The Iowa legislature passed the 1987 Groundwater Protection Act; (2) The Big Spring study in northeast Iowa in a Karst topography region revealed presence of pesticides and nitrates in groundwater; (3) Public awareness of contaminants in public water supplies was enhanced by influential newspapers and other publications; (4) Influential publications did major stories on the results of soil test comparison studies of se... |
13. Cropping System Effects on Phosphorus Response of CornToday's corn producer performs less tillage than in the past and predictions indicate that even less will be done in the future. Changes in management practices involving different tillage and residue incorporation practices alter the dynamics of organic matter turnover in soil and may influence the supply of plant nutrients. To maximize efficiency, it is critical that information be available to guide fertilizer management adjustments for specific tillage and rotation systems. A tremendous amou... |
14. DAP vs MAP Manufacturing/Marketing ImplicationsOver the past several years, discussions on the suitability of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP) as P sources for crop production have been common. In addition to agronomic principles, these discussions have often focused on what the future holds on the availability of these two materials in the marketplace. This discussion will deal with manufacturing and marketing influences on future availability/use, while agronomic comparisons will be made elsewhere. To some, phosp... |
15. Deep Banding Phosphorus and Potassium for No-till Corn and SoybeanThe information presented is part of ongoing research to identify effective fertilizer placement methods and diagnostic tools lor phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in no-till corn and soybeans. There is uncertainty about soil test interpretations and cost-effective methods of fertilizer application for the no-till systcni. Moreover, producers are uncertain about the value of soil testing in conservation tillage because of large variability and lack of knowledge concerning techniques for collectio... |
16. Educational Applications of Digitized Soil SurveysThe North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station Soil Survey of McHenry County Organized Irrigation Districts is approaching publication and represents a first for soil survey in North Dakota. The decision was made to digitize the soil maps to facilitate acreage tabulations and improve methods of generating soil interpretations. While the digitization procedure is costly in terms of start-up labor (programming) and data entry, the benefits allow more flexibility than conventional soil surveys. T... |
17. Effect of Application N timing and Plant Growth Regulator use in WheatWinter wheat is an important cash crop grown in the Midwestern states. However, progress in yield advancement has been slow compared to advances in other major wheat producing regions, notably Euro~e. This has lead to a competitive disadvantage of USA-produced wheat on the world market. In an effort to enhance wheat productivity and profitability a series of experiments were established in the fall of 1985 to assess the impact of more intensified management practices including the use of multipl... |
18. Effect of Climatic Variability on Grain YieldsThere are three cycles in climate and weather that affect the north central part of the United States. They are (1) a long term cycle of global temperature changes; (2) an 18.5 year wet and dry cycle; and (3) the El Ni�o cycle. ... |
19. Effect of Date of Planting on Method of P Performance for Winter WheatSeed and knifed P (dual placement) have usually performed similarly on winter wheat (Triticum aestiviuum L.), but in some years seed applications have been found to be superior to knifed P. Three winter wheat experiments were established on low available P soils in southeast Nebraska to study the effect of date seeding on seed and knifed P (dual placement) performance. Three rates of P (11, 22, and 33 kg P ha-') were seed and knife applied on three seeding dates in 1987. Data indicated that the ... |
20. Effect of Nitrogen Rate and time of Application on Mefluidide Treated Smooth BromeLivestock producers who graze beef cattle or dairy animals usually have an abundance of pasture during spring when cool-season grasses grow rapidly. As hot, summer weather arrives, cool-season grasses cease vegetative growth and produce seed. Forage quality decreases as the grasses become dormant. Without alternative pastures or forages, cool season pastures become over-grazed and cattle performance is reduced. Using pastures composed of warm-season grasses that produce maximum dry matter during... |
21. Effect of Nutrient Combinations and Nitrapyrin in Starters on CornExperiments were conducted from 1994 to 1996 at the Belleville Research Center of Southern Illinois Univerity and the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center of the University of Illinois to evaluate the effect of starter fertilizers. nitrapyrin (N-Serve) amendment of the starters, and tillage on conn. The soil at the Belleville site was an Iva silt loam, a low organic matter soil with relatively high P and K soil test levels. At Dixon Springs a Bonnie silt loam (bottomland) soil was used and the soil... |
22. Effect of Time of N fertilizer Application on Corn Grain Yield in IowaThe current concern about the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilizer use on the environment has caused a shift in the thinking about N management. Crop producers are interested in techniques (application methods) that will maximize the amount of N fertilizer harvested in the crop, and conversely minimize the amount remaining in the soil after harvest. Split applications or sidedress applications are common approaches currently being studied as a way to increase the efficiency of N fertilizer manageme... |
23. Effects of Chloride Rates and Sources on Winter Wheat in KansasOn wheat, and some other cereal grains, chloride has been reported to have an effect on plant diseases, either suppressing the disease organism or causing the plant to be able to withstand infection. It is hypothesized that yield increases are due to these effects. Researchers from several states have been able to show yield increases from chloride containing fertilizers. The most common source is potassium chloride, KC1. In many cases, soil test potassium levels are high, and most soil test re... |
24. Environmental Sulfur Sources as Inputs for Predicting Sulfur NeedsCrop responses to sulfur fertilization have been damstrated in mt states in the midwest, but the frequency of these responses is relatively lm. Sulfur deficiencies are usually confined to areas where one or mre of the follcrwing conditions exist: (1) Sandy or shallow soils; (2) Low soil organic matter content; (3) No recent manure applications; (4) Low atmospheric sulfur deposition; (5) High crop sulfur requirement. Although diagnostic tests to predict crop response to applied sulfur are an cbvi... |
25. Fertilizer use in the Future- A University PerspectiveOver the last few years, several agrodc, economic, political, environmental and sociological trends have begun to eruerge which will significantly affect fertilizer use in the next decade and perhaps beyond. The wide-spread use of fertilizers is a relatively recent developmt. Over the past 40 years, farmers repeatedly saw the benefits of fertilizer applications and developed a faith in their need. Hwever, the 1990's are not the 1950's. As point& out by Dean L. M. Walsh in a recent paper in Deale... |
26. Fertilizer Use Vs. Crop ProfitsGrowing crops in farming is a complex that large investments in land and equipment, as well as considerable borrowing of money for capital. With these costs and low commodity most keenly of continuing difficulty in rnaintaining in operations. Usually farmers do not have much control over their fixed costs i n crop production. Variable costs. however-, can sometimes be adjusted. some of adjustments can reduce if the has not based his cost on wise judgement, backed with technical expertise. If one... |
27. Field Estimation of Ammonia Volatilization from Surface-applied UreaAccurate estimation of the potenial for NH3 volatilization from urea-based fertilizers is an important step in optimizing Nuse efficiency from these fertilizers. Published estimates of volatilization from surface-applied urea vary widely. Citations listing losses from 2% on up to 80% from various systems can be found. Consequently, many growers, to protect themselves, will apply urea at higher than recommended rates, assuming some arbitrary level of loss will occur. The objectives of the researc... |
28. High Yield Wheat Management StudiesInterest in high yield wheat management (i.e. intensive wheat management) has increased in Kentucky during the last few years. This interest has been created because of the improved yield potential of newer soft red winter wheat varieties, high yields obtained in inten- sive wheat management research in other states, and the high yields being obtained in Europe with their intensive management inputs. In several of the European countries, average winter wheat yields of 70 bu/acre or higher are co... |
29. How Fertilizer Dealers Use Research InformationThere i s not a great deal o f resource information t o draw from i n reference t o the t i t l e so most o f my comments are based on observations made and personal opinions formed during some 26 years of experience in the fertilizer industry, covering a majority of the principal agricultural states. Fertilizer dealers as a whole tend t o translate research information into dollars. They use it as a business tool. It provides support t o the sale of existing products and services and identifies... |
30. Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico- Causes and ConsequencesSeasonally severe and persistent hypoxia, or low dissolved oxygen concentrations, occur on the inner to mid-Louisiana continental shelf to the west of the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River deltas. The areal extent during mid-summer surveys of 1993- 1997 ranged from 15.800 to 18,200 km2. The shelfwide distribution in mid-summer for 1985 to 1992 averaged 8,000 to 9,000 km2. Hypoxia occurs below the pycnocline from as early as late February through early October, but is most widespread, persi... |
31. Influence of Nitrapyrin on Nitrate Concentrations in SoilsIn central Ohio most of the water used for d&g comes from the Scioto River Watershed. This water shed in primarily composed of farmland in which corn and soybeans are the dominant crops. Periodically the nitrogen in the Scioto River exceeds safe drinlung water standards of 10 ppm nitrate nitrogen. Several EPA studies have concluded the high nitrate nitrogen levels are the results of nitrate flushes through the underground tile in agricultural fields. These flushes of high nitrates usually from l... |
32. Influence of Tillage and Placement on the Location of Phosphorus in the Root ZoneIn recent years, the ridge-till planting operation and the use of the chisel plow have developed into the most widely accepted planting systems for conservation tillage in Minnesota. While there is opportunity to incorporate plant nutrients in the chisel plow system, previous studies have shown that this incorporation is shallow when compared to the moldboard plow system. The ridge-till system, on the other hand, offers only limited possibilities for fertilizer incorporation. Typical broadcast a... |
33. Influence of Tillage Systems on Corn Yields and Soil Test ValuesA long term tillage study was initiated at the Greenley Memorial Research Center (Novelty, MO) in 1976 to look at the effects of 4 tillage systemsoncornproduction. Thestudywasinitiatedandconductedby researchers in the Agricultural Engineering Department. Agronomy has become involved in the study beginning in 1985 to assess the effects of tillage systems on soil chemical and physical properties. The upland soils at this site are poorly drained and are generally refered to as "claypan" soils. The ... |
34. Integrated Farm Management Demonstration Program in IowaThe Integrated Farm Management (IFM) Demonstration Program was established by the landmark 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act. The five-year program, funded through 1992, is a cooperative effort involving various state agencies, Iowa State University and Iowa farmers. The program coordinators, many of whom are Iowa State Extension Service staff and scientists, work with farmers to help them implement best available technology that protects the environment and conserves energy. The goal of the ... |
35. Intensive Nitrogen Management of Soft Red Winter WheatThe current system of making nitrogen recommendations for wheat in the Eastern cornbelt assumes that nitrogen fertilizer required is a simple function of yield potential. The higher the yield potential, the more N fertilizer needed. The problem with this assumption is that factors such as soil type and ability of a site to release N through mineralization, climate, variety. disease pressure and managetnent practices all affect nitrogen use efficiency, and are not considered in making nitrogen re... |
36. Intensive Wheat Managent in the Corn BeltIntensive wheat management (ICX) is based on European cropping systems including narrow row spacing, precise seeding rates, multiple nitrogen (N) fertilizer application, fungicide application for disease control, and plant growth regulator (PGR) application for lodging control. Components of this cropping system were compared to current recommended management (CRM) practices with 12 varieties during 1986-87. The purpose for the experiment was to determine the responsiveness of soft winter wheat ... |
37. Interaction of Soil Applied Herbicides with Soil pHManagement of soil pH is important in enhancing the availability of certain plant nutrients and in minimizing toxic levels of other elements to crops. However, the reaction of herbicides with soils under varying soil pH levels can affect both crop growth and herbicide performance. Soil pH affects herbicide performance in several ways. When crops are under stress due to nutrient imbalance from unfavorable soil pH levels, application of certain herbicides may increase risk of crop injury. When soi... |
38. Limestone Sources and Factors Affecting Their QualityAddition of liming materials to correction soil acidity is an age old practice. According to Barber (1984). Cato and Varro used lime to correct soil acidity about 200 B.C. In America. benefits derived from liming acid soils were docuniei~ted in the early 1800's (Ruffin, 1821). In a sunfey conducted in 1980. all but two of the North Central States (North Dakota and South Dakota) reported that research had shown a need !'or limc (Whitney, 1980). The need has not changed over the last 17 years, i.e... |
39. Liming in No-till SystemsIn 1985 a study was initiated at Penn State to look at the effects of surface application of lime on a very acid, long-term no-till soil. Since 1977 this field had been in no-till corn production with no limestone applied. The initial pH of "plow layer" was 5.1 and the surface 2 inch pH was 4.5. The limestone recommendation, based on the SMP buffer pH and a target pH of 6.5, was 6000 Ib calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) per acre. The study included four limestone rates (0. 3000, 6000.9000 Ib CC... |
40. Managing Field Soil Fertility VariationsFertilizer and crop production inputs are most often applied as a single blanket application rate across an entire field. Yet variations in field conditions including soil characteristics and measured crop yield are known to exist and often in a systematic, fashion. Grid soil sampling for fertility variations, plant analyses, and color photography were found to be most useful tools for assessing manageable field variations. Increased profit and environmentally sound improvements in fertilizer us... |
41. Methods and Limitations of Zone Sampling Using Topography as a Logical BasisTwo forty-acre fields in North Dakota were sampled in a 110 foot grid. Each field was measured for elevation in the same 110 foot grid. Topographic sampling zones were identified in each field and a correlation of the sampling based on these zones was compared to the correlation values from a 220 foot grid. Nitrate-N and the 220 foot grid were both correlated to the 110 foot sampling values for nitrate-N and P. A map of field nitrate-N levels from topography sampling compared to the 220 foot gr... |
42. New Techniques and Methods of Disseminating Information in View of Budgetary Constraints by the University of IllinoisThe Cooperative Extension Service a t the University faces increased demands for educational services. This increaase is in an environment marked by increasing costs, and stable to decreased financial support--especially from the Federal partner. The situation we face in Illinois is similar to that faced by many other State Cooperative Extension Services. We are better o f f than some states--worse o f f than others. What of the future? Will we be able to deliver viable programs to farmers and a... |
43. Nitrate Soil Testing Correlation and Calibration Eastern Corn BeltCurrent economic and environmental concerns have increased the interest in developing methods to help manage nitrogen (N) fertilizers as efficiently as possible. There is a concern that fertilizer N that remains in the soil following harvest may be leaching below the root zone of crops and eventually ending up in groundwater. Agronomists throughout the corn belt are actively evaluating methods to manage N fertilizer as efficiently as possible.... |
44. Nitrate Testing ClinicsThirty-eight nitrate testing clinics were held in 36 Michigan counties in the spring of 1989. A mobile testing van was equipped for nitrate analysis of soil and water samples. Over 2,200 soil samples and 1500 water samples were analyzed for nitrate N using the nitrate ion-specific electrode. More than 50 percent of the soil samples . contained less than 30 lb of nitrate N in the surface two feet. Only 35 percent of the 1,100 fields were given a nitrogen credit based on the residual nitrate test.... |
45. Nitrogen Availability to Corn Following Small GrainsNitrogen rate recommendations for corn are generally reduced following legumes compared to following corn or small grains. A 4-yr field study was conducted on a Plano silt loam soil in southern Wisconsin to evaluate the capability of soil NO3 tests to predict N availability to corn follo~b-ing small grains. Previous crop small grains included \vinter wheat, winter qe. and oats harvested for grain and straw. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied to corn at rates of 0 to 180 Ib/a in 30 Ib increments. Gr... |
46. Nitrogen Fertilizer Requirements for No-till cornConservation tillage is associated with higher surface crop residue levels, larger more stable soil aggregates, and generally higher surface soil water contents compared to conventional tillage. The changes in residue management and overall soil water regime under conservation tillage may result in different spatial distributions (laterally and with depth) of nutrients. In general, nitrogen fertilizer applied as broadcast urea is not recommended for no-till systems because of the possibility of ... |
47. Nitrogen in the Mississippi River Basin- Sources and Factors Affecting Loss of Nitrate to the RiverNitrogen (N) is a naturally occurring element that is essential to plant growth and crop production. In a soil system, nitrate-N is continually supplied through mineralization of soil organic matter. Other sources of N include fertilizers, animal manures, municipal sewage wastes, agricultural and industrial wastes, atmospheric deposition. and dinitrogen fixation, all of which either occur as nitrate-N or can be converted to nitrate-N through mineralization and nitrification. ... |
48. Nitrogen Management for Cool Season Grass ProductionStudies were initiated in 1985 on established smooth bromegrass and tall fescue to evaluate urea granule size effects on forage production and quality. Other work, evaluating N source by previous source effects and UAN placement methods and the addition of ATS, was conducted on established smooth bromegrass. Nitroger1 rates were also evaluated in all these studies, and the addition of N significantly increased forage yields and N concentrations in each study. Use of large (1.0g) urea granules pr... |
49. Nitrogen Management for Winter Wheat in MissouriEight site years of data have been collected to evaluate nitrogen rate and timing for intensively managed winter wheat in Missouri. Variables have included rates up 160 lbs N per acre applied as all fall, all spring, or split in a fall and spring or fall plus two spring applications. Results have pointed to the split applications of rates at 80 to 120 lbs N per acre as providing greatest consistency and economic return to the grower. Maximum yield has generally been obtained with the 3 way split... |
50. Nitrogen Soil Test for Corn in OntarioIt is generally believed that for high yielding crops such as corn. the N requirements are much larger than variations in the N supplying capacity of soil. In Ontario, fertilizer N recommendations are based on the requirements of the crop and, for some crops, the expected yield goal. Nitrogen credits are given for past management such as manure application and legumes in rotation. The credits are deducted from the economic rate of N. In a recent analysis of all existing fertilizer N crop respon... |
51. Nitrogen Source Affects Manganese Nutrition of No Till CornA study evaluating response of no-till continuous corn to different rates of N as injected anhydrous ammonia and broadcasted urea-ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) was conducted on a Canfield silt loam near Wooster, Ohio. Repeated use of anhydrous ammonia on this naturally acid soil resulted in relatively large concentrations of Mn (often > 200 ug/g) in corn plant ear leaves at silking. Ear leaf Mn concentrations were less when UAN was used. For both N source treatments, ear leaf Mn concentrations... |
52. Nitrogen Test Development Soil N Levels in 1989The developnent of a N test that can be used for fertilizer recamrendations of corn in the eastern areas of Minnesota is needed for environmental and econcmic reasons. A multi-site project was initiated in 1989 to extensively examine soil sampling time and depth as well as N forms in the soil. This will then enable statistical models to be develaped using one or mre of the variables. A subset of the entire project is reported--concentrating on the sites allowing the calibration of the soil N tes... |
53. Performance of Early vs. Late Maturing Corn Hybrids in MichiganThe planting of fill-season, or late maturing hybrids in Michigan is encouraged by their tendency to produce higher yields. Full-season hybrids can take advantage of the entire growing season available at a particular location. Shorter season hybrids reach physiological maturity sooner and generally yield less. Recent experience with cool, wet springs resulting in delayed planting, and growing seasons that provided less growing degree days (GDD) than normal has caused corn producers to question ... |
54. Perspective on Sustainable Agriculture- Sustaining Agribusiness in a Changing Rural EnvironmentAgriculture is an evolving industry -- it responds to market forces, tc improvements in technology, to government programs. LlJe also see changes as 3 result of new technologies, improved information about how to efficiently raise crops and livestock, and more integration with other sectors of society. In agriculture, as in arty business, to stand still is to fall behind the rest of the industry. !!le nnoed to be ready to adapt to change, to face ned rl-zli- ties, and even to initiate cnange in ... |
55. Phosphorous Management for Wheat ProductionProfitable wheat production depends on many factors, including a sound phosphorus (P) management program. Except for sunlight and water, soil fertility generally represents the most limiting factor in crop yields. Even with perfect weather and climatic conditions, a farmer that does everything right except to meet the nutrient needs of the crop will never reach optimum yield potential. Water, N, and P are generally the dominant yield limiting factors for wheat in the United States. Potassium, S,... |
56. Potassuim Chloride Fertilization and Common Root Rot of BarleyCommon root rot (CRR, incited by Cochliobulus sativus) is one of the most widespread diseases of wheat and barley in the Great Plains and Prairie Provinces. Average yield losses, based on extensive surveys in the Prairie Provinces, average around 5% for wheat and 10% for barley, althoughinindividualfieldslossescanbemuchhigher. Potassium chloride fertilization has been effective in reducing CRR of barley in North Dakota, and I believe we are close to understanding why CRR is reduced by KC1 fertil... |
57. Precision Phosphorus Management for SoybeanSoybean responds to phosphorus fertilization in the Midwest. Most correlation and calibration data suggests that soybean is less responsive than corn. Because of this. normal management in the Upper Midwest is to fertilize before the corn crop in a corn-soybean rotation for both the corn crop and following soybean crops. This saves the cost of one application and the logistical problem of fertilization with P after a corn harvest. This management works well in soils tvith a pH less than 7.4 and... |
58. Predicting N Fertilizer Rates for CornSixteen N rate experiments were carried out in farmer fields in 1995 and 1996. The objective was to measure optimum N fertilizer rates and see whether they could be reliably predicted ahead of time. Yield response to N was measured in each experiment along with soil N measurements (planting and sidedress), and tissue N and chlorophyll meter reading at sidedress time. A very wide range of economically optimum N fertilizer rates was found, fairly evenly spread from 0 to 200 Ib N/acre, with an aver... |
59. Presenting Key Issues in a Rational Manner to the Non-Ag CommunityA quick scan of the program for your workshop might lead one to believe my subject is out of place here. In terms of agricultural credentials, I could certainly be consideredoutofplace: Iconsidermyselfajournalist gone straight; I was educated as a journalist and was a reporter for The Kansas City Star before entering public relations work and then joining Monsanto nearly 20 years ago. But I don't believe either the subject or the speaker is out of place for this gathering. And I think perhaps mo... |
60. Probability of Success for Practices to Minimize Water Quality ProblemsI would like to spend my time this morning reviewing with you some of the practices and appraoches research has suggested as being useful in controlling quality of both surface water and groundwater. Given the limited time available, I will highlight only a few of the study findings, and confine my remarks primarily to the problems of nitrogen pollution of groundwater and phosphorus contamination of surface waters. This limited review is prompted more by what I perceive to be the major interests... |
61. Quantitative Risk AssessmentThank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today about carcinogens in drinking water and water quality standards. In the United States today, many if not most public water supplies contain chemicals that cause cancer in animals when, in laboratory tests, the animals are exposed to high levels of the chemical. Elost of these chemicals are man-made, but there are exceptions, such as the chlorinated methanes and, probably, related compounds. These chemicals are the byproducts of chlori... |
62. Remote Sensing as a Tool for AgricultureThe tendency for nearlv everything in our society to be bigger, better, faster, easier, cheaper, and safer than in the past has resulted in many challenges. Agriculture is not immune from these trends, and in some cases agriculture even leads the way. Incorporation of remote sensing into site- specific management activities is one area where technologies are being merged to develop a new array of products that are intended to help producers and consultants make better and more timely management ... |
63. Residual Effects of P Fertiliration Lessons for the EightiesSeveral states in the North Central Region have established long-term phosphorus studies. These experiments were designed to evaluate the residual effects of P fertilizer and also generate P soil test calibration data in a situation where a range of soil test levels exist on one soil. These data are extremely useful for evaluating year-to-year fluctuations in crop response to soil test P and establishing response probabilities at a given soil test level. Valuable lessons can also be learned from... |
64. Residual Soil NO3 N Variability Sampling Interpretation and Effect on Corn YieldResidual nitrate-N (NO3-N) in the soil profile (crop root zone) is seldom uniformly distributed. There is lateral as well as vertical variability. Numerous factors influence variability. Some of them are: 1) any factor that influences water movement through the soil such as - soil texture, compacted zone, topography and water distribution under irrigation - 2) previous crop, 3) fertilizer history (organic and inorganic sources) and 4) sampling time - caused primarily by factors influencing miner... |
65. Response of Minimum-till Corn to Starter Fertilizer and ACAStarter fertilizer containing N and P often increases grain yield under no-till management. but yield responses to starter have riot been consistently observed under conventional tillage. Experiments were established in 1996 and 1997 at six sites varying in latitude, soil type. fertility, and crop rotation to evaluate the effect of starter fertilizers on corn grown under high-residue minimum-till systems. In one experiment, a factorial combination of 3 N. 2 P, and 2 K rates placed in a 2x2 band ... |
66. Response of No-till Corn to Urease Inhibitors and Placement of N SourcesN(n-buty1)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) and ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) were investigated as urease inhibitors when added to urea and urea-containing N sources and applied to no- ill corn. Significant - f yield increases, some in excess of 20 bu ac , were observed with NBPT treatment of the N fertilizers. Lack of a yield response from NBPT, when it occurred, was usually associated with a rain event of major proportions soon after fertilizer application. ATS showed considerably less promise as a ... |
67. Rye Cover Crops in No-till Corn ProductionField studies have been conducted for several years in Ohio to determine the effects of including a ry.e cover crop in no-till production situations. These studies were conducted at two locations, on a moderately well drained Canfield silt loam at Wooster, and a very poorly drained, but tiled, Hoytville silty clay at Hoytville. At Wooster, no-till corn was planted into corn or soybean residue, with or without a fall-seeded rye cover crop (2 bu/A seeding rate). Individual plots received 200 lb N/... |
68. Soil Nitrate Testing- A Guide for Adjusting Michigan Nitrogen Recommendations for CornPrevious attempts to use soil nitrate tests in Michigan for adjusting N fertilizer recommendations for corn have been less than satisfactory. Soil tests were typically performed on fall or spring samples taken weeks or months prior to planting. The use of residual nitrate to adjust N fertilizer recommendations in the semi humid regions of the U. S. has never been considered very re1 iable because of the large fluctuation in soil nitrate from the time of sampling to the time of maximum uptake. So... |
69. Soybean Response to Potassium Rates and PlacementSoils of northeast Missouri in heavy soybean producing counties have generally become depleted of available potassium. Reason for depletion can largely be pointed to soybean production and a general perception that soybeans do not respond to direct fertilizer application. With a significant portion of the soybean acres in east and northeast Missouri being tenant farmed, efficiency and utilization of direct fertilizer application by the current crop is even more important to the grower. Band appl... |
70. Spoke Injection of Fertilizer Phosphorus for GrassesFertilization of forge grasses with phosphorus has shown limited forage increases in South Dakota, even with low soil tests. Lack of response to added phosphorus may partially be due to fertilizer placement on established grass stands. Traditionally broadcasting fertilizer has been the only placement method available. Since P moves very iiiile in the soil, root feeding from tne added P must occur very ciose to the soil surface. A dry soil surface could limit P uptake by grasses, limiting any yie... |
71. Sustainable Agriculture- A PerspectiveThere is little evidence tos uggest that agriculture as practices in a variety of ways is not sustainable. We think of sustainable agriculture as a management system that uses inputs ... both those available as natural resources on the farm and those purchases externally ... in the most eficient manner possible to obain productivity and profitabilty from a farming operations, while minizing advers effects on the environment. Several groups have published materials suggesting techniques that shou... |
72. The Components of Sustainable AgricultureSustainable agriculture has become a rallying phrase for many concerned about agricultural profitability and environmental quality in the rural sector. Advocates of sustainable agriculture seem to be convinced that the policies and structure of the agricultural industry are responsible for increasing environmental problems, low farm profitability, declining farm numbers, and reduced quality of life in rural America. The agricultural popular press has published numerous stories about those concer... |
73. The Effect of Sulfur Fertilization of Yield and Quality of Corn and AlfalfaThe importance of sulfur (S) fertilizers for crop production in Minnesota has been recognized for several years. Inpast research, the use of S had increased crop production only on the sandy soils. Since the soil organic matter is a major reservoir of S for plant use, there is always some question about the need for S in a fertilizer program where soils are not sandy but, yet, have a low organic matter content. It is well known that S is an important component of some amino acids in wlants and t... |
74. The Effect of Tillage and Soil Test and Applied K on Corn and Soybean ProductionThe buildup-maintenance fertility concept for P and K has a strong theoretical basis, but much of the research from which it was derived was not designed to accurately determine the true maintenance requirement. Most of that research was confounded by an annual application at set rates irrespective of yield obtained. Experience in recent years has shown that on some soils the K soil test has not consistently accounted for past additions of fertilizer. In addition, applications equivalent to crop... |
75. The Effects of Rate and Timing of Nitrogen Applications on the Yield and Nitrogen Recovery of Irrigated CornHigh crop yields require that adequate amounts o f N be present and available to the root at the times it i s needed to support growth. However, for a production system to be efficient in the use of the nitrogen and to minimize any potential adverse environmental effects, care must be used to minimize loss during the growing season and minimize amounts of residual N remaining in the soil at the end of the cropping season. This requires that proper N rates be applied and that the N be applied in ... |
76. The Nitrate Soil Test in South DakotaThe nitrate nitrogen soil test has been used for more than 15 years for making nitrogen fertilizer recommendations in South Dakota. Minimal leaching and denitrification due to a relatively dry climate has helped make this test a good predictor of nitrogen fertilizer needs. The test and nitrogen recommendation system is based on a two foot deep soil sample and a calibrated nitrogen requirement for common crops grown in South Dakota (Table 1). Extensive field plot data shows that the two foot deep... |
77. Topsoil Thickness Influence on Phosphorus and Potassium Availability and Crop ResponseSoil testing to estimate nutrient availability and fertilizer needs is a widespread management practice for cropping systems in the United States. as well as in other countries. The purpose of soil testing is to simulate the ability of the plant roots lo uptake these various nutrients critical for normal growth. Crops generally uptake a s~nall amount of phosphorus (P) compared to potassium (K). The portion of soil P that is readily available for plant growth maybe limiting due to the small quant... |
78. Use of Near infrared-NIR- Reflecctance for Improving Nitrogen Management in Spring WheatAdvancements in agricultural technology are providing both producers and researchers with improved tools for farm management d ec is ion making . Reduced profit margins are requiring farm managers to use these advanced tools to optimize input management in order to improve prof it levels. Fertilizer nitrogen (N) is a major input foi spring wheat in the Great Plains. Each year, many farmers fertilize spring wheat with nitrogen to improve seedling vigor and plant developmenl. Nitrogen is a major n... |
79. Using Soil Properties to Predict Soluable Phosphorus Losses from Indiana SoilsEscessive phosphorus (P) levels in surface water can degrade water quality by causing algal blooms and accelerating the eutrophication process. Agriculture has bceri implicated as a major nonpoint source of P, so many states have considered restricting P applications from inorganic fertilizers, manures, and other Pcontaining materials once soil test P levels esceed "threshold values". Relationships between soil properties and soluble P loss potential have not been welldocumcnted. This laboratory... |
80. Using Sufficiency and Recommendation Information to Calculate Fertilizer Response Curve and Profitability Estimates.The importance of sound fertility programs in efficient, profitable farming operations is well known - especially in times of low crop prices. Likewise, the importance of a sound soil testing program - and recommendation guidelines that relate these soil test values to credible, long-term research results - is recognized as the best way of obtaining maximum economic returns from fertilizer dollars. Unfortunatly, there are few tools available for evaluating the profitabi1it.y of a specific fertil... |
81. Variable Fertilizer Nitrogen Application Based on the Delta Yield Index- A Field StudyA quick review of the both the scientific and popular literature indicates that many different approaches have been suggested for the prediction of variable fertilizer N applications in the field. In previous meetings of this conference we have presented the general outline and approach taken for our site-specific crop management project in Ontario. Briefly, historical data sets of grain corn response trials to fertilizer N (encompassing some 300 site-years worth of data) indicated that most yi... |
82. Yield and N Concentraions of Corn with Different N Sources Applied at Different timesA number of recent investigations have produced evidence that the ionic form of N taken up by roots affects the growth of plants. While soil- grown plants generally take up most of their N as nitrate, there is evidence that increasing the relative proportion of ammonium in the culture (or soil) solution can enhance growth and yield. Owing to difficulties in preventing the rapid microbial conversion of ammonium to nitrate in soil, this response has not been well demonstrated in a field situation... |