Subsurface drainage reduces the amount and interannual variability of optimum nitrogen fertilizer input to maize cropping systems in southeast Iowa, USA

Maas, Ellen D.v.L.; Archontoulis, Sotirios; Helmers, Matthew J.; Iqbal, Javed; Pederson, Carl H.; Poffenbarger, Hanna J.; Tebockhorst, Kristina J.; Castellano, Michael J.

doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2022.108663

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Farmers may also increase artificial drainage in poorly drained and/or increasingly wet environments (Morton et al., 2015; Roesch‐McNally et al., 2017). In excessively wet soils, drainage enables or improves crop yield (Castellano et al., 2019), enhances root growth and depth (Ordóñez et al., 2018), and reduces N fertilizer requirements (Maas et al., 2022), but it substantially decreases soil organic C stocks (Castellano et al., 2019; Fernández et al., 2016). Breeding for cultivars that are more tolerant of waterlogging and shallow water tables (Langan et al., 2022) may allow for less intensive drainage systems, thereby minimizing these trade‐offs (Castellano et al., 2019).…”

Section: A Systems Approach To Advancing Cropland C Sequestration Thr...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Contributions of plant breeding to soil carbon storage: Retrospect and prospects

et al. 2023

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There is interest in harnessing cropland C storage potential at a large scale to mitigate climate change and improve land productivity. While the effects of soil management practices on C storage have been studied extensively, opportunities to select for C sequestration traits in crop plants remain largely unexplored. This review describes how genetic improvement of major US crops may have altered soil C stocks historically and identifies potential opportunities for plant breeding to increase cropland C stocks. Through quantitative literature review, we find that breeding has led to an increase in aboveground residue C inputs to the soil for corn (Zea mays L.) and soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr) and a decrease in aboveground residue C inputs for wheat (Triticum aestivum L. and Triticum turgidum L.). Breeding has largely not altered the root:shoot ratio of these crops. Given that there is limited potential for further major improvements in harvest index, breeding for high grain yields may necessitate increasing aboveground biomass and residue production in the future.Crop root traits and residue quality may influence the stabilization of crop-derived C in soil, but there is uncertainty regarding historical changes in these traits due to breeding, the magnitude of their effect on soil organic C stocks, and tradeoffs or synergies with breeding for high yield. Nevertheless, root traits such as suberin content, rhizodeposition, mycorrhizal association, and depth emerge as potential targets for more efficient C stabilization. There is also a large opportunity for plant breeding to enhance the performance of cover crops, double crops, perennial grains, and perennial groundcovers, which can increase annual C inputs to the soil by occupying fallow periods. Our review reveals that there are many opportunities for plant genetic improvement to fix more C in cropping systems and enhance its stabilization in the soil to meet the goals of sustainable intensification and cropland C capture.

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Section: A Systems Approach To Advancing Cropland C Sequestration Thr...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Contributions of plant breeding to soil carbon storage: Retrospect and prospects

et al. 2023

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“…Several field studies have provided insights into the effect of individual factors such as tillage (Canisares et al, 2021), subsurface drainage (Maas et al, 2022), seeding rate (McNunn et al, 2019), soil properties (Alotaibi et al, 2018;Bean et al, 2021;Mesbah et al, 2018), interannual yield stability (Niemeyer et al, 2021), and cover crops (Bielenberg et al, 2023;Quinn et al, 2023) on the grain yield response to N fertilizer and the associated EONR. King et al (2024a) performed a factorial experiment with different hybrids and plant densities and found that newer hybrids had 20% higher EONR than older ones and that increases in plant density from 4 to 10 plants m −2 increased the EONR.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several field studies have provided insights into the effect of individual factors such as tillage (Canisares et al., 2021), subsurface drainage (Maas et al., 2022), seeding rate (McNunn et al., 2019), soil properties (Alotaibi et al., 2018; Bean et al., 2021; Mesbah et al., 2018), interannual yield stability (Niemeyer et al., 2021), and cover crops (Bielenberg et al., 2023; Quinn et al., 2023) on the grain yield response to N fertilizer and the associated EONR. King et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ranking genotype, environment, management effects on the optimum nitrogen rate for maize: A cropping system modeling analysis

Baum,

Sawyer,

Castellano

et al. 2024

Agronomy Journal

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Ranking the contribution of genotype, environment, and management (G × E × M) on maize's economic optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate (EONR) variability could improve understanding and predictability of EONR. We performed a simulation experiment using the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator model with the objectives to (1) rank the effects of 24 individual G × E × M factors on the magnitude and interannual variability of the EONR across the US Midwest and (2) investigate the impact of G × M factors on the EONR variability under present and future climate scenarios. Results indicate that genetics (27%), management (31%), and environmental conditions (41%) each influence the EONR variability. Within these broad categories, the top three individual factors impacting the EONR were interannual weather variability, crop radiation use efficiency, and the soil inorganic N carryover from the previous year. The G × E × M factors influenced the yield response to N fertilizer in different ways. Soil‐related factors (e.g., organic matter and residual nitrate) influenced grain yields at the low N rates, while management factors (e.g., planting date and density) influenced yield at all N rates. Combining increases in plant density and changes in genetics synergistically increased the EONR by 15% from baseline. Future climate scenarios without adaptation decreased the EONR and yield loss, but crop adaptation was buffered against the negative climate change impacts. We concluded that 59% of the annual EONR variability is manageable (due to genetics and management) and that G × M factors could buffer climate change's negative effects on crop production. Present results can inform experimental research on N fertilizer and N rate decisions.

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“…While drainage can solve the issues of saturated and salinized soils in the region to improve crop production, it also increases the pollutants being expelled to the environment from arable lands (Baker et al, 1975;Bottcher et al, 1981;Gilliam et al, 1999;Skaggs et al, 2006;Ghane et al, 2016). Nitrogen and phosphorous are of special interest (Castellano et al, 2019;Almen et al, 2021;Maas et al, 2022;Dialameh and Ghane, 2023) due to their impact on harmful eutrophication in downstream waters (Water Resources Mission Area, 2019).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Flow Rate and Volume Estimates from Variable Frequency Drive Operated Drainage Sump Pumps

Nelson,

Scherer,

Jia

2024

Applied Engineering in Agriculture

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Highlights This article provides an overview of operations and benefits of using a variable frequency drive to operate agricultural subsurface drainage system sump pumps. A methodology is proposed to monitor flow rates leaving agricultural subsurface drainage pump stations via a MATLAB algorithm. The results of this research were mixed because the algorithm estimates did not always match with the corresponding flowmeter measurements. Abstract. Subsurface drainage plays a crucial role in excess water removal through perforated pipes buried in the soil. The Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota and west central Minnesota often requires pumped drainage outlets due to its flat topography, with many modern systems incorporating variable frequency drives (VFD) for improved efficiency. VFDs adjust pump speeds to match drainage needs, but this dynamic operation complicates accurate flow rate estimation for edge-of-field monitoring. This project aimed to devise an automated method for calculating flow rate estimates from VFD pumping systems involving tank geometry, operational water levels, and pump duty cycling. Linear regressions with calibration data from a transit-time ultrasonic flowmeter produced mixed outcomes. Some linear regressions revealed errors in calculated versus measured flow rate of =14%, while other regressions showed errors nearing 40%. To address this, future efforts should explore methods incorporating the pump’s electrical characteristics. This approach would provide a more accurate representation of the unstable and intricate pumping operations during transient conditions. Keywords: Edge-of-field monitoring, Flow rate, Pump, Red River Basin, Subsurface drainage, Variable frequency drive

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Subsurface drainage reduces the amount and interannual variability of optimum nitrogen fertilizer input to maize cropping systems in southeast Iowa, USA

Cited by 4 publications

References 53 publications

Contributions of plant breeding to soil carbon storage: Retrospect and prospects

Contributions of plant breeding to soil carbon storage: Retrospect and prospects

Ranking genotype, environment, management effects on the optimum nitrogen rate for maize: A cropping system modeling analysis

Flow Rate and Volume Estimates from Variable Frequency Drive Operated Drainage Sump Pumps

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