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1. The Elasticity of Biochar Across the Farm: Nutrient Capture, Compost Feedstock, and Soil AmendmentWhen biomass is thermochemically altered through pyrolysis, what results is biochar, a solid, porous material that is high in carbon (C) (e.g. 80%). Owing to its unique physicochemical properties, biochar has been evaluated as a soil amendment, a compost feedstock, a means to mitigate nutrient loss and a way to sequester carbon. Biochar is an appealing material as a farm management tool because its potential use is varied. As part of a Western SARE grant, soil scientists at ... N. Stacey, D. Collins |
2. New Hydroponic System for Testing Mineral Nutrient Deficiencies: QuinoaCorrelating plant tissue nutrient concentrations with visual symptoms is valuable in combating mineral nutrient deficiencies and toxicities. Major crops tend to have adequate information regarding nutrient concentrations and visual symptoms of deficiencies, but this is often lacking for minor crops, including quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa L.) Because nutrient concentrations can be easily controlled, hydroponics effectively demonstrate isolated specific nutrient related symptoms. Ho... D.L. Cole, D.T. Heidenreich, S.H. Stapley, A.M. Lambert, R.L. Buck, B.G. Hopkins |
3. Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics Under Dryland Sorghum in New MexicoSorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] serves as a low-cost alternative to corn (Zea mays L.) in semi-arid regions of the world because of its high N and water use efficiencies. However, there has been a concern regarding N loss to the atmosphere as nitrous oxide (N2O) from semi-arid drylands. This study investigated various soil C and N components, including CO2 and N2O emissions, and crop yield with a dairy compost (13.5 Mg ha-1) ... R. Ghimire, S. Salehin |
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 thr... E. Jeliazkova, A. Moore, J. Spring, T. Wilson |
5. Denitrifying Woodchip Bioreactor Performance in the Pacific NorthwestRunoff and tile drainage from agricultural activity is known to be a significant contributor of nitrogen pollution to surface waters. Denitrifying woodchip bioreactors, also known as Permeable Reactive Barriers (PBR) have been studied as a possible edge-of-field technology for reducing nitrogen concentrations in agricultural runoff. These units have been studied mostly in the US Midwest and mostly for irrigated crop systems. Little work has been done in alternative climate r... E.M. Weisshaar |
6. Stacking and Intersecting Nutrient 4Rs and Using In-Season Canopy Health and Petiole Nitrate Analysis on Russet Burbank PotatoesThe 4Rs of nutrient management is a global outreach with an aim to improve the sustainability of major cropping systems and the environment. The objective for this project is to evaluate individual and stacked 4R management practices and how they intersect in Russet Burbank potato at a field near Grace, Idaho in 2020. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer treatments included all combinations of two sources [urea vs polymer coated urea (PCU)], two rates (207 vs. 247 kg ha-1), and two timing/place... S. Stapley, B. Hopkins |
7. Compost Application in California Tomato Cropping SystemsWith the implementation of California Assembly Bill (AB) 341 the availability of composts such as green waste (GW) and co-composted green waste and food waste (FW) as a soil amendment is increasing. The use of those organic amendments in agricultural production systems has been recommended as an effective strategy to make full use of organic waste and improve soil health. However, little information is available to tomato growers to reassess N inputs from using GW and FW. This study was condu... Q. Yi, W. Horwath, S. Haas, X. Zhu-barker |
8. Sensor-Based Nitrogen for Spring WheatManagement of nitrogen (N) fertilizer during wheat production needs to vary depending on the variety as they have different N requirements. Though many growers prefer planting older varieties that they are already familiar with, increasing the knowledge on N requirements of newly released varieties will help to improve the adoption of these varieties by growers. Therefore, the main goals of this study were to assess grain yield, grain N uptake and N use efficiency (NUE) of new and traditional... D.M. Jaywardena, O.S. Walsh |
9. Dryland Organic Winter Wheat Improvement by the Inclusion of Composted Cattle Manure and Cover CropsOrganic agriculture in semi-arid environments can face several challenges in order to produce a successful crop. These include nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies, moisture limitations, and high weed competition. Organic winter wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.)-fallow systems can be amended with composted cattle manure and with green manure from cover crops grown in the fallow phase to help increase wheat yields and quality. Cattle manure can improve soil health with t... C. Helseth, U. Norton |
10. 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 incre... K.L. Mookodi, J. Spackman, J. Sagers, K. Schroeder |
11. Evaluating Zinc Requirements of Corn, Small Grains, and AlfalfaMany growers and crop advisors in the Intermountain west have recently reported Zn deficiencies in major cereal and forage crops. Further, many common fertilizer blends now include Zn. Most Zn fertilizer guidelines indicate that 5-10 lbs of Zn per acre should be applied when critical soil test Zn levels are less than about 0.8 ppm Zn. These guidelines in Utah and many other states in the region were developed decades ago and need to be reassessed. Therefore, we established Zn response and rat... M. Yost, M. Baker, J. Gale, G. Cardon, E. Creech |
12. 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 ... C. Collins, E. Loera, R. Reid, J. Spackman |
13. The Effects of Calcium Source and Placement on Soil Factors and Wheat Performace FactorsWheat production is a critical component of U.S. Pacific Northwest agriculture, with approximately 80% of the global soft white wheat grain supply originating from this region. Ammonium-based nitrogen fertilizers are widely used on typically alkaline soils in Eastern Oregon dryland production areas by wheat growers. However the nitrification process that biologically converts ammonium to nitrate increases the soil concentration of H+. This process ultimately creates acidic soil conditions, wh... S. Ellickson, A. Moore, R. Zemetra, C. Hagerty |
14. The Ammonia RainbowAgriculture has been identified as a major contributor to atmospheric carbon dioxide with nitrogen fertilizer production as a key component. Recent scrutiny of nitrogen production processes has identified ammonia production processes to reduce carbon output from traditional Haber-Bosch processes. These different ammonia production processes are often described with color descriptions to designate the processes used and qualitatively identify their carbon footprint, such as “green ... A. Blaylock |
15. Optimizing Fertigation for High Value CropsIn irrigated farming systems, soluble and mobile fertilizers, such as sources of nitrogen, are often applied to crops through fertigation. Fertigation presents both opportunities and challenges. Potential opportunities include better synchronization of nutrient availability with crop demand through the growing season and potential energy savings. Challenges include the need for additional investment on infrastructure for nutrient injection into the irrigation conveyance and distribution syste... C.A. Sanchez, D. Zerihun |
16. Relationship Between Nitrogen Mineralization and Soil TextureSoil texture can affect soil temperature, soil moisture, the protection of organic material against microbial degradation, and other soil properties. All these factors potentially influence net nitrogen (N) mineralization. I will discuss results from a 10-week laboratory incubation of undisturbed soil cores from 47 sites in California, and a meta-regression analysis of 461 datasets from 20 studies. ... D. Geisseler |
17. What You Need to Know About the National Fertilizer Recommendation Team Called FRSTThe Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool (FRST) team is a national effort to improve coordination of soil test recommendations in the United States. There are over 125 partners involved in FRST with representation of all four regional soil testing committees including WERA-103. The team has developed a national tool for P and K soil test calibrations (identifying critical soil test values for response to fertilizer), and are working on developing P and K calibration, tools for S calibration... M. Yost, N. Slaton, J. Spargo, D. Kaiser, G. Buol, L. Gatiboni |
18. Evaluation of Soil Sulfur Tests for MontanaThere are no sulfur (S) fertilizer rate guidelines in Montana due to inconsistent yield responses, high S soil levels in many regions, a minimal number of S fertility trials in the state, and the lack of Montana and regional data that identify the best soil S tests to use. A study was initiated in 2023 to fill this research void. Three crops (spring canola, pea, and wheat) were grown at three sites, and fertilized with 0, 7.5, 15, and 30 lb S/ac using two S sources (potassium sulfate, gypsum)... C. Jones, P. Miller, P. Carr, S. Koeshall, S. Fordyce, J. Souza, J. Vetch |
19. Soil Sulfur Forms, Cycling, Management in Prairie SoilsSulfur exists in surface soils of the prairies mainly in the organic form, while subsoils may contain appreciable quantities of sulfate salts. Mineralization is a major input to the the plant available sulfate pool, with about 1 to 3% of organic sulfur mineralized over a growing season. About one half of the sulfur taken up by annual crops is present and removed in the seed. Declining inputs of S from the atmosphere and greater crop removal have increased the incidence ... J. Schoenau |
20. Management Techniques to Optimize Soil pH in Organic Highbush BlueberryA 3-year study was established in eastern Oregon, USA, in a new organic planting of ‘Duke’ northern highbush blueberry (NHB) to evaluate soil acidification methods. Six techniques of applying elemental sulfur (S) prills, with or without additional acidification of irrigation water were tested. Treatments consisted of: 1) a grower standard of soil incorporated S prills at 1700 kg·ha-1 applied 8 months pre-plant; 2) 8-weeks of fertigation totaling 150 kg&middo... S. Lukas, S. Singh |
21. Non-dormant Alfalfa and Small Grain Rotations- Tillage and Fertility EffectsTo study the use of non-dormant and high nitrogen fixing alfalfa cultivars as a possible source of nitrogen for spring and fall-seeded wheat and barley grown under tilled and no-tilled conditions. Hi-Nitro, a non-dormant, high-nitrogen fixing alfalfa variety, and RoundUp Ready Stratica, a traditional dormant alfalfa cultivars were clear seeded in Aberdeen in 2023 and 2024. Forage was harvested 4 times. Fall or spring tillage was done approximately 3-14 days before planting fall or s... R. Findlay, J. Spackman, J. Hatch, T. Jacobsen, J. Gibbons, J. Sagers, D. Callister |
22. Malt Barley Yield and Quality Response to Nitrogen and Sulfur FertilityNitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) and are critical nutrients for producing high-quality malt barley but can be difficult to manage in semi-arid production systems where rainfall and, periodically, irrigation is variable. High spring precipitation or excessive irrigation events can favor N and S leaching reducing yield and grain quality. However, N fertilizer additives such as urease inhibitors, nitrification inhibitors, and controlled-release products may improve N availability. Irrigated... J. Spackman, J. Spackman, J. Hatch, J. Bevan |
23. Dairy Manure Applications to Potatoes: Soil Property, Plant Nutrient, and Tuber Quality ResponseDairy manure applications have become a common practice in Idaho potato production, however the impacts on soil and plant agronomic properties are not well understood. Our objectives were to determine (1) how repeated dairy manure applications impact soil properties and plant nutrient uptake, and (2) how these changes influence plant nutrient interactions, tuber yield, and quality. Stockpiled dairy manure was fall-applied over a 6-year period to two adjacent potato product... A. Moore, A.B. Leytem |
24. Soil Test Method Precision, Correlations, and Trends: SSSA-NAPT Historical DataThe Soil Science Society of America’s (SSSA) North American Proficiency Testing (NAPT) operates as a not-for-profit service laboratory resource since 1998 to assist/evaluate agricultural and environmental testing laboratories with quality assurance and quality control. Soil (n5 samples each quarter), plant (n3), and/or water (n3) samples collected nationwide are submitted quarterly to ~150 participating laboratories who choose which method(s) to use for which analytes they are inte... B. Hopkins, S.V. Nelson, G. Cardon, J. Lawley, T.J. Hopkins |
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, NDF... S. Norberg, D. Llewellyn, J.P. Driver, S. Fransen |
26. Predicting Nitrogen Mineralization from Dairy Manure in Semiarid Cropping SystemsTools are needed to estimate N mineralization from application of dairy manures in semiarid irrigated soils. We found that N mineralization was affected by manure application rate, timing and broadleaft residue N. Average N mineralization was 27 and 18% of the N applied the 1st and 2nd year following application, respectively. The best predictors of N mineralization were soil organic matter, soil EC, manure N and broadleaf N residue. ... A.B. Leytem |
27. 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 produc... H. Ali, J. Spackman, J. Pandey |
28. Managing Soil AcidificationThe presentation will explore the relationship between nitrogen fertilizers, soil acidity, and nutrient stratification in agricultural systems. We will discuss how N fertilizers contribute to soil acidification over time. The role of soil pH in nutrient availability and plant health will be highlighted. The discussion will focus on alternatives to mitigate soil acidification, such as lime application, balanced fertilization, and improved management practices, ensuring long... J. Souza |
29. N Fertilizer, Does It Burn Up Organic Matter?Does synthetic N fertilizer deplete soil organic carbon, thereby exacerbating agricultural contributions to climate change? Or does synthetic N fertilizer instead increase soil organic carbon by boosting primary productivity and soil carbon inputs? The bulk of the evidence suggests that soil organic carbon increases with synthetic N fertilizer due to increased carbon inputs and decreased microbial mineralization of older soil organic carbon. ... G. Lahue |
30. Fava Bean Diversity and its Potential in the Western United StatesFava bean (Vicia faba), known for its biological nitrogen fixation, and grain and fresh pod production, is cultivated worldwide. In the western United States, fava bean, Bell bean, is mainly grown in cover crop mixtures to enhance soil nitrogen. While land size and lack of planting and harvesting equipment limit fava bean as grain crop, it is grown in small areas of western US for fresh pod as a vegetable crop. This presentation summarizes the findings of multi-year research on genetic divers... K. Brasier, H. Zakeri |
31. 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 o... T. Jacobsen, J. Spackman, A. Adjesiwor, J. Sagers, K. Schroeder, J. Bevan, K. Mookodi, J. Gibbons |
32. Converting Between Mehlich-3P and Olsen-P Soil Tests: What Can Go Wrong?Varying methodologies for extracting plant-available phosphorus (P) have been proposed since the initiation of soil test development in the early 1900s. Two tests that were developed and are still used widely in both the United States and Europe are the Olsen and Mehlich-3 test. Olsen P is predominately used in high-pH soils and Mehlich-3 is more common in neutral to acidic soils due to the nature of the extracting solutions. Many Western US soils are high pH and, thus, have used Olsen ... C. Rogers, Z. Simpson, J. Mott, P. Kleinman |
33. Patterns and Implications of Increasing Sulfur Fertilizer Use at National-to-Global ScalesSulfur (S) is a key component of life and an element that has been dramatically changed by industrial activities, including mining and fossil fuel combustion. Today, as atmospheric S deposition declines in response to air quality regulation in the U.S. and Europe, there has been an increase in S fertilizer applications reported in many large, regional crop systems. In addition, intensification of agriculture has driven increased S inputs for other uses: as a pesticide, regulator of soil pH, a... E. Hinckley |
34. Hydrothermal Carbonization of Dairy Manure for Phosphorus Recovery and Runoff Risk Mitigation: Effect of Temperature and CaO AdditionDairy manure contains a significant amount of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), which are essential for soil fertility and crop productivity, but are currently underutilized due to ammonia emissions, P runoff and leaching, and manure N to P ratios do not match crop nutrient needs. Meanwhile, there is a growing concern about P depletion as a non-renewable resource. To address both the excessive use of synthetic P fertilizers and inefficiently direct use of dairy manure, a logical strategy is to... M. Islam, B. He, L. Chen |
35. Efficacy of FUSN as an N Source for Irrigated Vegetable CropsThe Department of Homeland Security Ammonium Nitrate Security Program regulates the distribution and sale of granular ammonium nitrate fertilizer (AN). Due to the bureaucracy of these regulations, the sale of dry AN has been discontinued in many areas. While liquid AN20 remains available, there is a preference for granular fertilizer for many agricultural applications. FUSN (20-0-0-14S) is a Honeywell and JR Simplot proprietary technology whereby ammonium nitrate is fused wi... C. Sanchez |
36. Response of Desert Vegetable Crops to “40 Rock”- a P and Zn Fertilizer SourceCrops produced on calcareous soils in low desert region of the southwestern United States show a large response to P fertilizer. The most commonly used P source has been mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP or 11-52-0). These same soils are also reported to be marginal with respect to Zn availability but responses to Zn fertilization had been infrequent in the past. More recently, we have observed crop responses to Zn fertilization with increasing frequency and we have revised Zn fe... C. Sanchez |
37. Updated Fertilizer Guidelines for Vegetable Crops in ArizonaThe vegetable production industry in the lower Colorado River region of Arizona is valued at over 19 billion dollars. Comprehensive fertilizer guidelines for vegetable crops historically produced in Arizona had not been updated in decades. Furthermore, we had no data to support guidelines for newer vegetable crops introduced into the region during the past two decades. The updated guidelines consolidate decades of research, incorporating historical databases, augmented with releva... C. Sanchez |
38. Sugar Beet Lime Characteristics and Effects on High pH Soils and Crops in the Western U.S.Each year in Idaho and Oregon, 351,000 Mg of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) (a byproduct of sucrose extraction from sugarbeet) is produced and stockpiled at sugarbeet processing factories. Currently there are limited disposal strategies for the PCC and these stockpiles continue to grow over time. The simplest solution would be to apply the PCC directly to agricultural fields each year, however the effects of PCC on high pH soils and crop rotations in the growing area are not well unders... D. Olsen, D. Bjorneberg, D. Tarkalson |
39. Insights from Soil Health Assessments Across a Diverse Soils and Land Uses in the TropicsLand stewards can utilize soil health metrics to evaluate changes in their management practices. However, while indicators of soil health reflect specific ecosystem functions, the relationship of soil health measurements to anthropogenic disturbances, productivity, and other soil properties is poorly understood. The Hawaiʻi Soil Health database serves as a comprehensive collection of soil data from over 1,700 samples representing 11 of the 12 recognized soil orders across various land uses i... T. Maaz |
40. Plant Test Method Precision, Correlations, and Trends: SSSA-NAPT Historical DataThe Soil Science Society of America’s (SSSA) North American Proficiency Testing (NAPT) operates as a not-for-profit service laboratory resource since 1998 to assist/evaluate agricultural and environmental testing laboratories with quality assurance and quality control. Soil (n = 5 samples each quarter), plant (n = 3), and/or water (n = 3) samples collected nationwide are submitted quarterly to ~150 participating laboratories who choose which method(s) to use for which analytes they... S.V. Nelson, J. Lawley, T.J. Hopkins, G. Cardon, B. Hopkins |
41. On-Farm Variable-Rate Nitrogen Management in PotatoApplying variable nitrogen (N) has often improved yields, quality, and/or N use efficiency (NUE) of several crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate how pre-emergence variable rate N (VRN) zones vs. uniform N management impacts potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yield, quality, and NUE. Low, average, and high N zones were created and evaluated for 10 site-years at fields near Grace, Idaho, USA over two years with rates based upon yield goals, soil, water, and previous crop ... E. Flint, M. Yost, B. Hopkins |
42. What is a Plant Nutrient? Changing Definitions to Advance Science and Innovation in Plant NutritionWe propose a new, more comprehensive definition of mineral plant nutrients that extends beyond the current narrow criteria. This expanded definition encompasses not only essential elements but also those that are beneficial for plant growth, development, or quality attributes across various species and environments. The proposed definition recognizes elements with clear metabolic functions and those that enhance plant productivity, crop quality, resource use efficiency, stress tolerance, or p... P.H. Brown |
43. Spectral Response of Pulse Crops to Soil Acidity for Soil pH MappingIn this work, we explore the observable differences in the spectral reflectance of pulse crops in acidified and non-acidified soil regions of multiple Montana fields. Satellite observations are collected throughout the growing season using Landsat 8 & 9 and Sentinel 2 A & B. The variations of crop reflectance in acidified (pH < 5) and non-acidified (pH 6.0 to 7.0) are analyzed and used to support why both multi-temporal regression and machine learning models are... P. Nugent, S. Feleghari |
44. Speculation on an Equation for Stratification: How Reliably Can We Estimate Soil Test Values at Different Depths?The depth to which soil is sampled in a field impacts measured soil test values. However, across the West, depth of soil sampling can vary by state, region and cropping system. What if we're interested in comparing crop responses to fertilizer application across a large scale? How do we reconcile trials that are sampled at different soil depths? This study was part of the Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool (FRST) project, with the goal to develop equations that allowed comparison... S. Culman |
45. A Classification System for Assessing Applied N Performance in Dryland Wheat Crops of the Inland PNWWheat crops in the inland Pacific Northwest demand nitrogen (N) fertilizers at high levels to achieve yield and grain protein objectives. Inefficiencies in N use can accelerate soil acidification, contribute to N2O emissions and result in unnecessary input costs. More precise applications, using wheat performance maps at the field-scale, could lead to increased N use efficiency but requires a multidimensional assessment of performance including grain protein, yield, and N effic... D. Huggins, J. Casanova, C. Phillips |
46. Collaborative Water Quality Monitoring in AgricultureThis presentation will focus on the importance of protecting water quality, the active role our ag partners play. Additionally, water quality monitoring technologies and methodologies including our use of not only industry tech, but also instruments developed by the Agricultural Water Quality Program at CSU. The importance of outreach and getting knowledge back into the hands of producers will be highlighted. ... E. Wardle |