Linking agricultural practices to water quality improvement: The importance of spatial scale in accurately characterizing nonpoint source nutrient loads in Iowa stream systems Jul 2024

Project Update

Six monitoring stations have been installed along Walnut Creek, and continue to monitor flow, and nutrient and suspended sediment loads. Erosion surveys have been completed throughout most of the watershed save for a few locations father upstream. We anticipate completing surveys in these areas in the next reporting period. Data from prior years is still being analyzed.

Related Accomplishments and Activities 

1 presentation.  Read more about Linking agricultural practices to water quality improvement: The importance of spatial scale in accurately characterizing nonpoint source nutrient loads in Iowa stream systems Jul 2024

Effect of winter cereal rye cultivar selection and herbicide choice on seedling disease, pathogen populations, nitrogen dynamics and growth and yield of corn Jul 2024

Project Update

Man and woman in field looking at cover cropsShoots of cereal rye of each variety were sampled to measure biomass produced. Cereal rye shoots will be analyzed to determine C/N. Regrowth of cereal rye after glyphosate and paraquat was evaluated. Soil samples were taken from the corn row 6 DAP for BX (allelochemicals) analysis and quantification. 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 Jul 2024

Assessing the effectiveness of spatial and temporal separation of a cereal rye cover crop from corn on nutrient reduction and corn yield. Aug 2024

Project Update

Rye biomass accumulation was especially high in spring 2024 due to weather conditions that promoted rye growth and inhibited field operations. Completed all rainfall simulations on time for appropriate comparisons with previous year. Collected all necessary ancillary soil and plant data collection in spring 2024. Collected, processed, and assessed corn seedlings for mesocotyl rot severity, and radicle and seminal root rot severity, in addition to measurements of shoot length, and root and shoot dry weights.

Related Accomplishments and Activities  Read more about Assessing the effectiveness of spatial and temporal separation of a cereal rye cover crop from corn on nutrient reduction and corn yield. Aug 2024

Unlocking the bioreactor microbiome for nutrient management and water quality Aug 2024

Project Update

The goal of this study is to determine key differences in microbial communities between corncob and woodchip bioreactor environments that impact performance. Specifically, we aim to identify key components of microbial communities and optimize design, while analyzing interactions of microbes to allow for system improvement. Read more about Unlocking the bioreactor microbiome for nutrient management and water quality Aug 2024

Sociological water quality research: quantifying factors at multiple scales that influence farmers to shift from being potential to actual adopters of conservation practices Jun 2024

Project Update

During this project period, researchers:

- analyzed Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS) farmer survey data on farmers' use of cover crops and no-till over time, and drafted a complete manuscript that will be submitted to a journal this summer. The results show how net adoption rates of cover crops and no-till are far lower than gross adoption rates due to relatively high levels of disadoption. Read more about Sociological water quality research: quantifying factors at multiple scales that influence farmers to shift from being potential to actual adopters of conservation practices Jun 2024

Iowa Nutrient Research Center Fall 2024 seminar series highlights water quality trends across the country

August 28, 2024
News

Stream with bridge and trees on streambanksAMES, Iowa – The Iowa Nutrient Research Center seminar series for Fall 2024 will focus on “Recent trends in surface and groundwater nutrients across the US,” highlighting the status of nutrients and water quality around the country, including in the Mississippi River, Lake Erie and the Chesapeake Bay. Read more about Iowa Nutrient Research Center Fall 2024 seminar series highlights water quality trends across the country

INRC Fall 2024 Water Research Seminar Series: Trends

Event
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - 3:10pm
Location: 
1306 Elings Hall

The Iowa Nutrient Research Center's Fall 2024 Seminar Series will focus on recent trends in surface and groundwater nutrients across the US, highlighting the status of nutrients and water quality around the country, including in Nebraska, the Mississippi River, the Chesapeake Bay and Lake Erie. 

Agricultural Phosphorus and Lake Erie

Presenter: Nathan Manning, Research Scientist, National Center for Water Quality Research, Heidelberg, University

Register at https://go.iastate.edu/WYDMXJ to participate online.  Read more about INRC Fall 2024 Water Research Seminar Series: Trends

INRC Fall 2024 Water Research Seminar Series: Trends

Event
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 - 3:10pm
Location: 
1306 Elings Hall

The Iowa Nutrient Research Center's Fall 2024 Seminar Series will focus on recent trends in surface and groundwater nutrients across the US, highlighting the status of nutrients and water quality around the country, including in Nebraska, the Mississippi River, the Chesapeake Bay and Lake Erie. 

Nutrient and Sediment Loads Measured from the Chesapeake Bay River Input Monitoring Network
Presenter: Jimmy Webber, hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey

Nutrient and sediment loads are changing over time in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This presentation will describe how the USGS uses a river monitoring network to assess these water-quality trends. Recent load and trend results from this monitoring network will be presented and discussed in context with Chesapeake Bay water-quality goals.

View the recording, at:https://go.iastate.edu/PIWMGT.  Read more about INRC Fall 2024 Water Research Seminar Series: Trends

INRC Fall 2024 Water Research Seminar Series: Trends

Event
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 - 3:10pm
Location: 
1306 Elings Hall

The Iowa Nutrient Research Center's Fall 2024 Seminar Series will focus on recent trends in surface and groundwater nutrients across the US, highlighting the status of nutrients and water quality around the country, including in Nebraska, the Mississippi River, the Chesapeake Bay and Lake Erie. 

Long-Term Nutrient Trends from the Mississippi River Basin into the Gulf 

Presenter: Lori Sprague, national program manager, Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs) Program, U.S. Geological Survey

The USGS has monitored nutrients in the Mississippi River since the 1970’s. This long-term observational record is updated with new monitoring data annually, which is used to both forecast and understand the size of the hypoxic zone in the Gulf each year as well as to track progress toward nutrient reduction goals set by the interagency Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force. This presentation will delve into long-term trend assessment methods, results and possible causes.

Register at https://go.iastate.edu/WYDMXJ to participate online. 

Download the Fall 2024 seminar series flyer to post or share. Read more about INRC Fall 2024 Water Research Seminar Series: Trends

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