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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. Repurposing Zinc from Mining Tire Waste to a Fertilizer ResourceZinc (Zn) deficiency is common on high pH soils when growing field crops like Corn, Barley and Wheat. Not only are crop yields and quality limited by low Zn, but more importantly the dilution of Zn in food stuffs and, thereby, Zn deficiency in the human diet has become a major concern as recognized by the World Health Organization. At the same time, there is a Global problem in proper repurposing/disposal of used tires that contain between 1-3% ZnO. In fact, in Chile, the... K. Greer, J. Wiebe, E. Bremer |
3. Is Mitigation of Drought Stress By Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Driven By a Nano-Specific Mechanism or Alleviation of Micronutrient Deficiency?It has been reported that zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) can promote drought tolerance in crops when used as soil amendments. However, many of these experiments were conducted in Zn-deficient growth media with no comparison to currently available Zn fertilization methods, making it unclear if the benefits from adding ZnO NPs were caused by a nano-specifc mechanism or simply by the mitigation of a micronutrient deficiency. A review of the literature shows that of 12 published experiments... J.W. Deakin, M. Potter, A. Cartwright, J. Hortin, D. Sparks, J.E. Mclean, D.W. Britt, A.J. Anderson, A.R. Jacobson, L. Yen |
4. Evaluating Nutrient Uptake and Partitioning for Hybrid Carrot Seed Production in Central OregonHybrid carrot seed production is prominent in Central Oregon, however plant nutrient uptake dynamics in this crop are not well understood. The aim of this research was to evaluate nutrient uptake and partitioning during the production cycle of a modern Nantes-type hybrid carrot. Trials were conducted in two commercial carrot seed production fields planted to ‘Nantes 969’. Below- and above-ground plant biomass was destructively sampled and separated into roots, tops, and umbels throughout... E. Jeliazkova, A. Moore, J. Spring, T. Wilson |
5. Phosphorus and Potassium How Low Can You Go In Alfalfa?Tissues testing whole alfalfa plants at harvest can more accurately direct nutrient decisions. Developing critical nutrient levels in-season improves recommendations and applications, saving producers time, expense and effort since many growers take samples for hay quality. These three experiments were designed as follows: 1) Phosphorus (P) Rate study with differing rates of P2O5 using monoammonium phosphate (MAP); including: 0, 30, 60, 120, 240 lb P2O5... S. Norberg, S. Fransen, J. Harrison, D. Llewellyn, L. Whitefield |
6. Residue Decomposition of Surface and Incorporated Barley, Corn, and Wheat at Varying Fertilizer-N RatesCereal crops are commonly grown in southern Idaho and most parts of the western United States. These cereal crops are routinely harvested for their grain with the remaining plant material (chaff, stems, leaves, etc.) left in the field to decompose prior to planting of following spring crops. Understanding the effects of post-harvest residue management on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), corn (Zea mays L.), and wheat (Tritcum aestivum L.) residue is important for optimizing... C. Rogers, G. Thurgood, B. Dari, J. Marshall, O.S. Walsh, K. Schroeder, G. Loomis |
7. 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 |
8. Application of Ion Exchange Resin Membranes to Nitrate Testing in the WestResin membranes have been used since the 1960s to measure P supply from the soil. In the 1990’s the Plant Root Simulator (PRS®) probe was invented to further refine a method to measure N mineralization from soil organic matter. The functional measurement of soil N supply during incubation has been applied to both in situ measures and in lab research studies. Extending the PRS® measurements of N ‘intensity’ or flux to a meaningful number that a plant can utilize was accomplished... K. Greer, E. Bremer, T. Sievers |
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. Alfalfa Contributes More Nitrogen to Following Crop Than Previously ThoughtAlfalfa in high-yielding environments fixes significant amounts of atmospheric N2, a portion of which benefits succeeding non-legume crops and reduces fertilizer N requirement by an amount sometimes called the “legume N credit”. Field research-based estimates of the legume N credit in California and other irrigated, semi-arid or arid environments are sparse in the literature. We conducted replicated plot experiments at three field station sites in California using wheat as an indicator... S. Pettygrove, E. Lin, D. Putnam, M. Lundy, S. Orloff, S. Wright |
11. The Effect of Cyanobacteria Biofertilizer on Western Colorado Organic Peach Quality and Yield CharacteristicsNitrogen (N) is the nutrient needed by crops in the highest amounts and the production of synthetic N fertilizers contributes the highest proportion of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, when compared to other sectors of agriculture. Cyanobacteria are naturally occurring in most ecosystems and fix nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into forms which are useable by plants. Cyanobacteria was applied along with irrigation water to organically farmed peach trees (Prunus persica cv. Suncrest) as a... D. Sterle, G. Litus, F. Stonaker, S. Ela, J. Davis |
12. Nitrogen Management in BlueberriesThree field trials were conducted in Corvallis, OR from 2006 to 2011 to evaluate nitrogen (N) fertilizer practices for establishment of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). In the first trial, planted in April 2006, we compared the effects of N fertigation (injection of fertilizer through a drip system) to conventional granular fertilizer application in ‘Bluecrop’ blueberry and found that fertigation produced more growth and less salt injury in young plants than granular... D. Bryla, O. Vargas |
13. Forecasting Crop Nutrition Needs Using the Plant Root Simulator (PRStm) TechnologyConventional soil testing is based on the premise that a chemical extraction will reflect the soil nutrient supply to plants. The shortfalls of this approach have been evidenced by the numerous studies conducted over the past 50 years aimed at improving soil test methods. Radiotracer studies in the 1960’s where pivotal in shifting thinking away from nutrient concentration and toward mechanisms of nutrient supply. Barber (1995) first coined the term soil nutrient bioavailability to... K. Greer |
14. Delivery of Soil Science to Farmers Using Advanced Simulation Tools: a 10 Year Case StudyTechnologies that aid in farm management and input application can increase profitability only if they readily show an advantage that the farmer can measure (Walton 2010). Western Ag Labs Ltd. (WAL) is a soil science laboratory which provides an educational soil service to producers of Western Canada using the PRSTM Technology. The service provides their customers access to advanced simulation tools that serves as a decision support system for Crop Nutrition Planning (CNP). The PRSTM technology... K. Greer, D. Wildfong, D. Hicks, E. Hammermeister |
15. Micro-nutrients in Alfalfa Production: is There Need/opportunity for Cost Effective Management?The management of soil fertility for optimum alfalfa productivity requires that all nutrient-related limitations be manipulated where warranted and cost-effective. It has been the policy of the Utah State University Analytical Laboratory to not promote soil testing for micronutrient sufficiency based on a lack of general need, historically, for nutrients such as sulfur, boron, zinc and others. This study undertook to accomplish two things, 1) to provide an initial inventory of micronutrient... G. Cardon, J. Barnhill, M. Pace, C. Israelsen, D. Miner, L. Greenhalgh, S. Banks, M. Shao, D. Rothlisberger, S. Olsen, P. Hole |
16. Soil Testing to Improve Phosphorus Management on Intensive Vegetable Farms in HawaiiAccording to a recent survey of soil samples sent to the Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC) at the University of Hawaii between October 2002 and September 2003, a majority of the samples showed soil test P (STP) levels in the high or excessive categories. Despite high soil test P, many farmers in Hawaii continue to apply P fertilizers. We began a project to evaluate soil P status on a range of vegetable farms throughout the state, to determine crop response to P fertilizers on soils... J. Deenik, S. Fukuda, R. Hamasaki, R. Shimabuku, R. Uchida |
17. Reducing Dairy Effluent Phosphorus Content Through Struvite ProductionForced precipitation of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate, MgNH4PO46H2O) in wastewater treatment has recently received increased attention as a method of phosphorus (P) recycling. Dairy lagoon P concentrations can be lowered, and the recovered struvite has the potential to be marketed and used as a fertilizer. Struvite may even be useful in organic production on calcareous soils, where rock P (PR) is not an option. A new organic treatment method, based on an existing... J. G. davis, J. Ippolito, M. Massey, R. Sheffield |
18. Economics of Alfalfa Fertilization Under Inflated Hay and Fertilizer PricesKnowing critical alfalfa nutrient levels in-season improves recommendations and applications, while at the same time saves producers time, expense and effort since many growers take samples for hay quality. Inflation has doubled hay and fertilizer prices which brings into question how current fertility decisions are made. From 2019-2020 detail information on phosphorus and potassium response was conducted. Two experiments were designed as follows: 1) Phosphorus (P) rate study with differing... S. Norberg, D. Llewellyn, J.P. Driver, S. Fransen, J. Harrison |
19. Determining Lime Requirements for Idaho SoilsFor the past 25 years, northern Idaho soils have significantly shown a decline in soil pH, from pH 6.0 to around a pH of 5.6. Southern Idaho soils are mostly neutral to alkaline, with a pH of around 7.0 to 8.5, however, most agricultural soils pH is declining to pH < 4.5. Soil acidification is becoming a rising issue in soil sustainability, in which approximately 30% of the world surface is covered by acidic soils. Low soil solution pH can be induced by continued irrigation that increases... K.L. Mookodi, J. Spackman, J. Sagers, K. Schroeder |
20. Development of a Constrained Resource Model to Support Intercropping DecisionsCrop producers are interested in intercropping due to its’ potential to increase profitability, yield stability and sustainability. Our objective was to extend a simulation model to forecast crop yields (PRS® CropCaster®) to pulse-oilseed intercrops. This tool would provide crop producers with forecasts of yields of each crop component under different management and environmental conditions. Based on competition for fertilizer 15N... E. Bremer, I. Madsen, K. Greer |
21. 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 |
22. Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Annual Cereal Forage ProductionNitrogen fertilizer provides one of the greatest returns on investment but also one of the highest operating expenses for annual cereal forage production. It is important to know the total nitrogen required by a crop to optimize yield and quality and to minimize nitrogen losses to the environment. It is also possible that annual cereal forage species and cultivars will have varying responses to nitrogen availability. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal nitrogen fertilizer... J. Spackman, R. Findlay, J. Sagers, J. Pandey |
23. Response of Soil N Cycling, Nitrifying Organisms, and Winter Wheat Yield and Quality to Nitrification Inhibitors in High Rainfall Zones of Northern IdahoLeaching of fertilizer nitrogen contributes to environmental pollution and is an economic loss for agricultural producers. Leaching of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers is intensified when applied to areas of high rainfall zones in excess of crop requirements. Reduction of this nitrogen loss may be achieved through the application of nitrification inhibitors at the time of planting to prevent the transformation of ammonia to more leachable nitrate by nitrifying organisms. Much research on nitrification... S. Philpott, H. Tao, K. Schroeder |
24. 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 |
25. Quality of Alfalfa Hay As Influenced by Phosphorus and Potassium FertilizationIn two field experiments, research was conducted to determine impacts of nutrient applications on alfalfa hay quality and nutrient value at Irrigated Research and Extension Center near Prosser, WA. The phosphorus (P) study P soil tests levels were 6.7 and 5.7 ppm at the beginning of 2019 and 2020, respectively (Olsen P test) in 2019 and 2020. The potassium (K) study was conducted on a soil test level of 85 and 78 ppm K in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Applying phosphorus increased protein, NDFD... S. Norberg, D. Llewellyn, J.P. Driver, S. Fransen |
26. Micronutrient Management to Optimize Yellow, Brown and Oriental Mustard Production in Southern IdahoOilseed crops hold a significant position in global agriculture, serving as vital sources of essential oils and as raw materials for numerous industries. Among these, yellow, brown, and oriental mustard are prominent for their multifaceted uses, particularly in the culinary and industrial sectors. However, these mustard varieties face challenges in achieving their maximum yield potential, largely due to suboptimal nutrient management practices. Fertilizer programs, though essential for productivity,... H. Ali, J. Spackman, J. Pandey |
27. Liming for Improved Nutrient Utilization and Weed Management in WheatSoil acidification is an increasing concern for agricultural productivity in Eastern Idaho, where low soil pH threatens the yield and quality of key crops such as barley and spring wheat. Acidification occurs from the long-term application of ammonium-based fertilizers and other management practices, leading to aluminum toxicity and nutrient imbalances that inhibit root development and reduce yields. Farmers in the region are exploring strategies to address this challenge, including the use of... T. Jacobsen, J. Spackman, A. Adjesiwor, J. Sagers, K. Schroeder, J. Bevan, K. Mookodi, J. Gibbons |