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1. Is Cover Crop Species Mixture and Diversity More Important at Building Soil Health than Shoot Biomass in a Semi-arid Region?Cover crop mixtures (CCMs) as partial fallow replacements have the potential to increase soil health, yet long-term studies on CCMs, especially in semi-arid environments are relatively rare. An eight-year study at two locations in semi-arid Montana sought to evaluate the effect of functional group (N fixer, tap roots, fibrous roots, brassicacae) and species richness (2, 6, and 8 species in a mix) on a range of biological, physical and chemical soil parameters. Although several soil health... P. Miller, C. Jones, C. Zabinski, K. D'agati, M. Housman, S. Tallman |
2. Comparative Analysis of Soil Tests for Soil Health and Nutrient ManagementOptions for soil tests to address soil health and nutrient management objectives have diversified. We compare different soil test methods to evaluate their similarities for providing recommendations. Traditional soil tests, ion exchange membranes and analyses using the Haney Soil Health Nutrient Tool and Soil Health Index were compared for soil sampled from long-term cropping system trials near Ritzville Washington and from the R.J. Cook Agronomy Farm near Pullman WA. Despite strong... D. Huggins, C. Rieser, J. Reganold |
3. Phosphorus Efficiencies of Liquid P Fertilizers as Evidenced by P Adsorption Isotherms of Western Calcareous SoilsThe high levels of free lime or calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in arid Western U.S.A. soils reacts with phosphorus (P) fertilizers to form Ca-P minerals that are not available to plants through P fixation. Enhanced efficiency P fertilizers may potential decrease P fixation. The objective of this study was to identify P fixations levels associated with several enhanced efficiency P fertilizers on a basic soil (pH 8.03) over a 1-, 3-, and 7-day time period, and to use that data to adjust P fertilizer... J. Williams, S. Davis, K. Dabbs |
4. Polymer Coated Urea and Urea Blends on PotatoPotato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a globally important crop with significant economic and environmental impacts. Nitrogen (N) has a large impact in both instances. Polymer coated urea (PCU) is a N source with the ability of improving production and the environment. Environmentally Smart Nitrogen (ESN) is a PCU that may reduce the need for continual N application throughout the season. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impacts on potato tuber yield and quality with uncoated... E. Carlock, A. Weigel, T. Searle, T. Hopkins, J. Williams, B. Hopkins |
5. Boron Fertilization with Aspire® in Alfalfa and PotatoPotassium (K) and boron (B) are essential nutrients. The spatially even distribution of applying K fertilizer is typically not a problem, but for B fertilizer application, it is a problem. This is especially difficult for crops such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) due to low B rate and limited soil exploration by roots. Fertilizer with K and B fused into a single granule could result in even distribution. Trials were performed to evaluate the performance... E. Woolley, T. Searle, T. Hopkins, J. Williams, B. Hopkins |
6. Developing Practical Phosphorus and Potassium Tissue Test Recommendations and Utilizing Struvite in Modern Alfalfa SystemsTissue testing whole alfalfa plants at harvest provides opportunities to direct nutrient decision making more accurately. Critical levels developed allow in- season recommendations and applications and would save producers time and effort since growers are already taking samples for hay quality. Three experiments were designed including: P Study with differing rates of P2O5 using monoammonium phosphate (MAP); including: 0, 30, 60, 120, 240 lbs./acre on an 8.1 ppm P soil (Olson P method);... S. Norberg, E. Mackey, S. Fransen, J. Harrison, D. Llewellyn, L. Whitefield |
7. Evolution and Utilization of the Smaf for Soil Health AssessmentsSoil degradation remains a global problem caused by many diverse factors. In response to this global need, farmers, ranchers, soil scientists, ecologists and many other groups interested in protecting, restoring, and/or enhancing our soil resources have recently begun to embrace the concept of soil health to achieve those goals. This presentation will focus on three critical points: (1) the modern concept of soil health did not spring up overnight, (2) critical milestones regarding soil quality/health... D. Karlen |
8. Accumulation and Partitioning of Nutrients by Irrigated Sugar Beets During the Growing Season in Southern IdahoAmounts and rates of dry matter and nutrients for irrigated sugar beets (Beta vulgaris L.) during growing season have received limited attention. A study was conducted during the 2014, to evaluate amounts, rates, and partitioning dynamics of dry matter, macro- (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, and NA), and micro- (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and B) nutrients accumulated by sugar beet in different growth stages under minimum-stress field environment on an irrigated Portneug silt loam soils of southern idaho. Urea, mono-ammonium... M. De, A. Moore, R. Mikkelsen |
9. Cover Cropping in the Semi-arid West: Effects of Termination Timing, Species, and Mixtures on Nitrogen Uptake, Yield, Soil Quality, and Economic ReturnSummer fallow still dominates some areas of the northern Great Plains (NGP), providing an opportunity to grow a partial season cover crop for increased soil health or nutrient availability. Over 12 years of research on single species cover crops in semi-arid Montana have revealed the benefits of early termination and multiple cover crop cycles on N availability, subsequent crop yield, soil health, and economic return. Due to high N fixation, pea cover crops have fairly consistently increased subsequent... C. Jones, P. Miller, S. Tallman, M. Housman, C. Zabinski, M. Burgess, J. O'dea, A. Bekkerman |
10. Organic Management Improves Soil Health and Strawberry Nutritive ValueSoils and strawberries from 13 matched pairs of organically and conventionally managed fields were assessed over two years. Available plant nutrients were generally similar under organic and conventional management except that organically managed soils contained more available Zn and B. Soil C, N, and biological parameters were much greater under organic management. Organically produced strawberries matched by variety were smaller and had greater dry matter content than conventionally produced... L. Carpenter-boggs, J. Reganold, J. Reeve, P. Andrews |
11. Biochar Usage: Pros and ConsSoil fertility benefits of charcoal application have been reported as early as 1847 indicating that plant nutrients are sorbed within charcoal pores. The use of biomass-derived black carbon or biochar, the solid byproduct from the pyrolysis processing of any organic feedstock, has garnered recent attention as a potential vehicle for carbon sequestration and a beneficial soil conditioner. However, most of the past biochar research has focused on improving the physico-chemical properties of tropical... R. Lentz, J. Ippolito, K. Spokas, J. Novak, H. Collins, J. Sterubel |
12. Nitrogen Cycling and Partitioning Under Alternative Organic Orchard Floor Management StrategiesOrganic orchard systems are a significant and growing component of Washington State agriculture, yet sustainable methods of nitrogen (N) fertility and weed management remain a challenge. Nutrient supply is dependent on decomposition and mineralization of organic matter, yet intensive cultivation commonly used to control weeds can disrupt biological processes and cause loss of organic matter. To address the often-competing goals of organic fertility and weed control, a number of alternative orchard... L. Carpenter-boggs, D. Granatstein, J. Reganold, L. Hoagland, M. Mazzola, F. Peryea, J. Smith |
13. Managing Potassium for Organic Crop ProductionAn adequate potassium (K) supply is essential for both organic and conventional crop production. Various organic certification agencies have different regulations governing allowable sources of K. The release of K from soil minerals is discussed along with the behavior of various allowed K sources for organic crop production. ... R. Mikkelsen |
14. Improved Small Grain Nitrogen Use Efficiency with California Site-specific Decision SupportSmall grains are grown throughout the state of California (CA) on approximately 500,000 acres annually. They are generally fall-sown and grown during the winter months when most precipitation occurs. Because precipitation and irrigation patterns vary across CA and there is a strong interaction between total water and plant available nitrogen (N), determining fertilizer N application recommendations is particularly challenging in this cropping system. With recent fertilizer price volatility,... N. Clark, M. Lundy, T. Nelsen, M. Leinfelder-miles, S. Light, G. Galdi, T. Getts, K. Mathesius |
15. Using Calcium Hydroxide for Lime Incubation Studies and Moisture Effects on LimingPlant health and productivity are negatively affected by soil acidity. Soil physical properties such as soil texture, soil organic matter, and nutrient content help soils resist changes in their acidity (buffering capacity). Soils have different buffering capacities; agricultural producers need to know how responsive a soil is to lime and how much lime is required to modify a soil to a certain pH (lime requirement). One method to evaluate soil liming requirements and buffering capacity is to add... C. Collins, E. Loera, R. Reid, J. Spackman |
16. Lime Incubation for Southern Idaho SoilsSoil acidity is a growing concern for agricultural productivity in Idaho, particularly in the eastern and northern regions where soils are trending acidic. Soil acidity below a pH 5.5 adversely affects the root development and nutrient uptake of crops like alfalfa, barley, and wheat. This study aims to determine the lime requirements for acidic soils in Idaho to optimize crop growth, specifically targeting pH levels of 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0. Soil samples were collected from various grower fields... K. Young, J. Spackman, T. Jacobsen, J. Sagers, J. Hatch, R. Ritchie, J. Williams, K. Schroeder, A. Adjesiwor |
17. Effect of 4R Nitrogen Management on Residual Soil Nitrate and Soil HealthNitrogen is one of the most important and expensive inputs for forage, grain, vegetable, and fruit crops. Excessive fertilizer reduces profit for farmers and can cause environmental harm. Nitrate leaching is the main factor contributing to rising nitrate levels in groundwater, leading to water quality degradation. The 4R nutrient stewardship framework aims to optimize fertilizer management. The Right rate matches the amount of fertilizer to the crop needs, the Right source matches fertilizer type... K. Deep, M. Yost, J. Williams, B. Hopkins, G. Cardon, B. Black |