Project Number: 5354-21660-002-16
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Nov 30, 2011
End Date: Mar 31, 2016

Objective:
Investigate balanced agricultural production practices to enhance soil carbon storage and minimize greenhouse gas emissions under corn production in humid and dry temperate climate regions.

Approach:
Incorporation of cover crops, sewage sludge, and animal manures are generally recommended to improve soil quality, reduce erosion, and provide additional sources of plant nutrients to improve crop yield and/or quality. In this study the influence of the above practices along with water and reclaimed wastewater application will be evaluated on soil carbon sequestration and emission of greenhouse gases, i.e. carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane under humid southeastern and arid Northwest agro climatic regions. Long-term impact of high rate application of manure (particularly poultry manure) on accumulation and fate of heavy metals and the bioavailability will be evaluated.