Can adjustments to nitrogen rates reduce corn yield drag and disease implications following a cereal rye cover crop? Jan 2024

Project Update

In the fall of 2023, one research location was established with the drill seeding of cereal rye cover crop following soybean harvest. One fall cereal rye biomass sample was collected from all plots to determine the cover crop establishment. The Ames location is at the Kelley farm and has three landscape positions (summit, slope, and toeslope). Read more about Can adjustments to nitrogen rates reduce corn yield drag and disease implications following a cereal rye cover crop? Jan 2024

Decoding and leveraging the farmer messenger effect to accelerate the adoption of critical edge-of-field conservation practices Dec 2023

Project Update

This project started in September. We have established timeline for survey and also discussed elements of the videos we need for the on-line survey. We are also developing the survey.

Water Quality Proposals related to INRC funded work submitted for funding  - USDA NIFA, research/extension project. We are expanding on the idea of message and messenger. The project will include two institutions in Alabama and is led by Cornell in New York. Read more about Decoding and leveraging the farmer messenger effect to accelerate the adoption of critical edge-of-field conservation practices Dec 2023

An integrated assessment framework to evaluate conservation practices and environmental and economic benefits: A case for central Iowa Dec 2023

Project Update

We have performed an initial analysis of our proposed INRC research using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for the Des Moines River Basin (DMRB), as reported in the CARD APR article that is listed in the “Publications created” box below. Read more about An integrated assessment framework to evaluate conservation practices and environmental and economic benefits: A case for central Iowa Dec 2023

Evaluating the relation of phosphorus to turbidity during high flow events in western Iowa rivers to improve phosphorus load estimates Dec 2023

Project Update

Project activities consisted of continued efforts to collect water samples during high-flow events in seven western Iowa rivers. We maintained four automated sampling devices deployed along our waterbodies of interest. We collaborated with local volunteers (Iowa Lakeside Laboratory and Golden Hills RC&D) whose staff assisted with grab sample collection.

Unfortunately, drought conditions persisted across Iowa, and very few wet-weather events occurred. While we have at least one event at all seven sites, we would like to obtain samples at two more events in five of the rivers. Read more about Evaluating the relation of phosphorus to turbidity during high flow events in western Iowa rivers to improve phosphorus load estimates Dec 2023

Effect of winter cereal rye cultivar selection and herbicide choice on seedling disease, pathogen populations, nitrogen dynamics and growth and yield of corn Dec 2023

Project Update

Cereal rye varieties were purchased and drilled at 1 million seeds per acre on 5 October 2023. Establishment of the cereal rye in each plot was detected with Canapeo on 3 November 2023. A grad student was recruited for the project. He will start 1 January 2024. Read more about Effect of winter cereal rye cultivar selection and herbicide choice on seedling disease, pathogen populations, nitrogen dynamics and growth and yield of corn Dec 2023

The effectiveness of carbon credit programs at reducing nutrient losses: An assessment of public and private conservation programs and their interactions. Mar 2024

Project Update

For this project period from July to December 2023, following up with our work as reported in the last two semiannual reports to further examine the drivers of farmers’ decision making and so their minimum willingness accept in order to enroll in carbon contracts. In conjunction with the objectives of another INRC project (project number 2022-08), we have finalized and implemented a protocol for economics experiments. We are still wrapping up our data collection from farmers. As of now, we have just over 190 observations from farmers and over 54 observations from students. Read more about The effectiveness of carbon credit programs at reducing nutrient losses: An assessment of public and private conservation programs and their interactions. Mar 2024

Quantifying soil nitrogen dynamics in manured fields Dec 2023

Project Update

Researchers continued collecting soil samples from the field research site throughout the growing season. The soils were extracted for nitrogen content allowing a time-series representation of mineralization patterns over the growing season. This was partnered with data collected from commercial growers and a similar time-series was created using nitrogen content readings to present mineralization patterns.

The team carried out a laboratory incubation testing manure nitrogen mineralization.

Related activities and accomplishments Read more about Quantifying soil nitrogen dynamics in manured fields Dec 2023

Identifying the barriers and strategies to accelerate adoption of critical edge-of-field conservation practices: A farmer-centric integrated research & extension approach Jan 2024

Project Update

The second survey, accompanied by three different fact sheets, was mailed the first week of July 2023. A letter was sent as follow up on 9/7/2023. We have 358 surveys returned and the survey was closed on 10/9/2023. We got all the data processed and are now working on an analysis for both rounds of the survey. The first draft of a report is completed. The team met to discuss this draft and a second report is currently being drafted. It is our plan to have the report completed and to graphic designers for publication by the middle of February. Read more about Identifying the barriers and strategies to accelerate adoption of critical edge-of-field conservation practices: A farmer-centric integrated research & extension approach Jan 2024

Continued assessment of corncobs as an alternative carbon source to enhance bioreactor performance for improved water quality Jan 2024

Project Update

On September 14, 2023, we met with the corncob supplier (Green Products Company) who donated the corncobs for this project. We discussed the supply chain of corncobs and the potential to expand and streamline the corncob markets in Iowa, which would benefit the expansion of corncob bioreactors. On October 19, 2023, we winterized the field equipment of pilot-scale bioreactors to prevent freeze damage from the overnight freezing conditions.

Other Activities Read more about Continued assessment of corncobs as an alternative carbon source to enhance bioreactor performance for improved water quality Jan 2024

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