Location: National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory
2024 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1: Enhance and develop best management practices that optimize crop nutrition and ecosystem services related to soil health, water quality, and crop production efficiency for Central U.S. cropping systems.
Subobjective 1.A: Develop relationships that describe how soil properties partly control soil P dynamics and kinetics in the context of crop uptake.
Subobjective 1.B: Assess the impact of combined conservation practices on soil health indicators, including soil organic C dynamics (SOC) and physical properties.
Subobjective 1.C: Quantify phosphorus uptake efficiency and timing in corn towards formulating more efficient nutrient application strategies.
Subobjective 1.D: Evaluate the effect of soil phosphorus drawdown on crop yield and water quality in tile-drained fields among three different regions of Indiana (Northeast, Central, and Eastern).
Objective 2: Enhance, develop, integrate, and support soil erosion prediction tools to enable and inform policy-maker decisions on soil conservation practices and improve communication on the impact of erosion on sediment, nutrient, and carbon budgets.
Subobjective 2.A: Improve USDA-ARS soil erosion model functionality and performance.
Sub-objective 2.B: Enhance prediction of Soil erosion and redistribution in agricultural landscapes under climate and land use change.
Objective 3: Improve functionality and resilience of agricultural systems in the Central U.S. to drought and extreme weather through the expansion, development, integration, and deployment of hydrological modeling across coordinated Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network sites.
Subobjective 3.A: Evaluate the impact of management on resilience of soil health to extreme weather of depression watersheds.
Subobjective 3.B: Assess the propagation of drought through the hydrological system in the Western Lake Erie Basin.
Subobjective 3.C: Systems/community resilience and natural resource sustainability at the agriculture-environment-society nexus.
Approach
Approach Objective 1: Laboratory and field crop growth experiments will be used to study nutrient uptake at several scales for improving fertility recommendations as well as assessing how various management practices impact soil organic matter stability and water quality.
Approach Objective 2: This research will expand and improve sediment transport knowledge, equations, and logic used within process-based soil erosion prediction technologies. Paired no-till vs. tilled soils will be subjected to simulated rainfall in the laboratory, as well as inflow water to measure interrill and rill detachment rates and determine baseline erodibility parameters. Existing public web services from NRCS (https://data.nal.usda.gov/dataset/soil-data-access-web-service), U.S. Geological Service (USGS) (https://www.mrlc.gov/data-services-page), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA (https://daymet.ornl.gov/) and National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS) (https://www.nass.usda.gov/Research_and_Science/Cropland/sarsfaqs2.php) will be used with data transformation algorithms developed to integrate these datasets of different scales in dynamic mapping applications related to soil erosion at a specific scale (e.g. pixel size, field size and shapes).
Approach Objective 3: Historic and additional soil samples within depression watersheds will be analyzed to better understand long- and short-term soil redistribution dynamics of spatial and temporal pattern within depression watersheds. Long-term datasets of precipitation, soil moisture, and discharge across spatial scales ranging from individual fields to large watersheds will be leveraged to quantify how anomalous meteorological conditions transition into hydrological drought.
Progress Report
This is the first report for this new project which just began in October 2023 and continues research from the previous project, 5020-21000-0008-00D , “Genetic Enhancement of Seed Quality and Plant Health Traits, and Designing Soybeans with Improved Functionality”. From Sub-objective 1.A.1, a series of various water extractions were conducted on a group of about 30 benchmark soils. This included a centrifuge technique that we developed for extracting porewater, a classic column- displacement method for porewater that was previously used as an input in the Barber-Cushman model, the standard saturation paste method, and various batch-tube equilibration methods. A subset of soil samples were incubated for about three months, after receiving application of different phosphorus (P) rates. The equilibrated soils will be fully characterized for various P forms.
Regarding Sub-objective 1.B, soils were collected from two Purdue farm experiments (DPAC and TPAC) under different management, including tillage (chisel, strip tillage, and no-till) and winter cover crops (and control). These soil samples are being prepared for analysis, including carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content, pH, and Electric Conductivity (EC ). Soils from the other locations (Oregon and Colorado) were not collected due to time limitations; however, it is expected that they will be collected in 2025. Similarly, for Sub-objective 1D, a six-year dataset on corn/soybean yield was compiled for studying P fertilizer cessation at the same two Purdue farm locations, which previously possessed optimal or excess available P. Soil Mehlich-3 P analysis has been conducted and yield data gathered. Plant analysis needs to be performed. The data will allow us to evaluate the cessation of P fertilization on corn and soybean yields under no-till and winter cover crops.
Two corn growth experiments were conducted for Sub-objectives 1.C.1 and 1.C.2. The first experiment was designed to explore the net rate in which P is taken up by corn at different growth stages. Corn was grown in our previously established grow-room that utilizes a sand-culture hydroponics technique for isolating nutrient uptake parameters. Two different P solution concentrations were used, and destructive sampling took place at several growth stages. The second experiment involved the use of four era hybrids going back to 1932, and two modern hybrids, grown in the same room. Corn was grown at four different solution P concentrations to permit for calculation of P utilization efficiency after harvest and plant nutrient analysis.
High frequency discharge (10-min) and water quality (nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, total nitrogen, dissolved reactive phosphorus, and total phosphorus; daily sample) data are being collected from the Eastern Corn Belt Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) paired field sites (9-22 ha) in northeastern Indiana (Sub-objective 1.D). Water samples are being collected from both surface runoff and subsurface tile drainage using automated water quality samplers at both fields, while climate (e.g., precipitation, wind speed) and soil moisture data are being collected near the field edge. After one- crop rotation, the management on one of the fields will be altered such that no phosphorus fertilizer will be applied to test the effect of phosphorus drawdown on edge-of-field nutrient losses.
Related to Sub-objective 2.A, Goal 2.A.1, contacts were made with USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) personnel at regional and local levels, as well as with Purdue Agricultural Centers (PACs) to locate soils for the laboratory experiment on sediment transport under different subsurface hydrologic conditions. The seven targeted soil types were located at the different Purdue PACs in spring 2024. However, given the substantial amount of soil that needs to be collected, as well as heavy soil collection activities on other National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory (NSERL) projects during the summer of 2024, the decision was made in consultation with the Research Leader to delay soil collection to 2025.
On Sub-objective 2.A, Goal 2.A.2, contacts have been made with NRCS staff, other university cooperators, and Purdue farm staff to evaluate possible sites for soil collection in 2025. Scientists and technicians are actively looking for and identifying sites with long-term no-till management with cover crops that can be used. It appears that there may not be sufficient sites in Indiana, so additional locations in Illinois, Iowa, and perhaps elsewhere may be needed. Efforts on this are continuing, with plans to begin collecting soils from some locations in 2025. Similarly, the rainfall simulator boxes for the large box experiment have been calibrated with an ARS researcher from Ames, IA. The six photogrammetric (six cameras) and lidar data collection have been installed (Sub-objective 2.A.3). The collected data is currently evaluated with Pix4D photogrammetric software. The validation procedure is on target to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2024.
From Sub-objective 2.B.1 Assessing and documenting erosion model web services. The current set of soil erosion model services for supporting hillslope and watershed water erosion (WEPP and RUSLE2) and wind erosion (WEPS) are currently being hosted by Colorado State University. The WEPP watershed web service has been updated over the last year and has recently been deployed for testing. Currently there are applications written in JavaScript by ARS and cooperators that make use of the erosion services (WEPP and WEPS) and the supporting services. Although the programming interface to the services can be reliably determined more work is needed in documenting the underlying databases required by the services. In addition, on February 21, 2024, the 1st Annual Conservation Effects Analysis Project (CEAP) Soil Conservation Modeling Workshop was newly introduced to complement the 2nd Annual CEAP Field and Watershed Cooperator Meeting. The afternoon workshop enabled several stakeholders to take part in an interactive modeling workshop to explore a variety of crop rotations and management options using the web-based soil erosion model WEPP.
On Sub-objective 3.A, Goal 3.A.1, patterns of depressions in LTAR watersheds KC1+2 have been evaluated, collection data sites have been decided, and digital data collection has been completed. However, given the unusual wet conditions and drastically shortened soil sampling collection opportunity as well as heavy soil collection activities on other NSERL projects during the spring of 2024, the decision was made to delay soil collection for post-harvest soil collection in the 2024 growing season. It is expected that the delay in data collection to the fall of 2024 (or even spring 2025) does not change achieving the overall goal of the Sub-objective. Regional National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) daily precipitation datasets and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) tributary discharge data from throughout the Western Lake Erie Basin were downloaded from their respective websites (Sub-objective 3.B). Datasets vary in length depending on site, with some locations having time-series >100 years. Over the next year, regional daily datasets of precipitation and tributary discharge will be coupled with high-resolution (10-min) long-term (20 years) datasets of precipitation, soil moisture (0-60 cm depth), and discharge from 14 field and small watersheds (5-49,000 ha) within the St. Joseph River watershed. Both regional and local datasets will then be used to evaluate the attenuation, lag, and lengthening of meteorological drought throughout the hydrologic system.
Active participation in monthly LTAR Indicator Workgroup meetings resulted in expanding the original three domains of the LTAR Indicator Framework – Environment, Economics, and Society – with the fourth domain “Production.” The inclusion of this factor adds a critical domain in engaging LTAR scientists to better engage with stakeholders. A framework hierarchy of domains was developed; attributes of a sustainable farm/ranch, indicators of the status of an attribute, and metrics to calculate the indicators. The newly introduced Production domain creates a tetrahedron – as suggested by our project – enabling the possibility to engage in research collaboration and outreach activities between several domains that result in a complex degree of multi-domain engagement. The revised four domain Indicator Framework and tetrahedron were presented at the Annual LTAR meeting in Tucson, May 20-23, 2024.
NSERL researchers are actively engaged in various CEAP and LTAR research coordination efforts at the national scale including the watershed monitoring efforts through CEAP and LTAR (Sub-objectives 2.B, 3.B, and 3.C).
Current network collaborations for Sub-objective 2.B. includes the LTAR Agroecosystems Working Group with focus on water and wind erosion across various agroecosystems and the newly created LTAR Soil Erosion Subgroup (co-led by an NSERL Scientist). For Sub-objective 3.B, collaborations include the National Legacy Phosphorus Project, LTAR Drainage Group Microplastics Project, LTAR Drainage Group Edge-of-Field Practices Project (led by an NSERL Scientist), LTAR Algal Eutrophication Project, and the LTAR Remote Sensing Working Group. For Sub-objective 3.C, NSERL researchers coordinate their work with the efforts of the LTAR Indicator Working Group, the LTAR Resilience Working Group, and the LTAR Stakeholder Working Group.
Accomplishments
1. More is not better: too much phosphorus uptake by corn leads to a nutrient imbalance and reduced yield. Phosphorus (P) is necessary for corn production, but more is not always better. ARS researchers in West Lafayette, Indiana, used an indoor grow-room to study nutrient uptake. After growing corn at different phosphorus fertilizer levels, mature plants were separated into various plant parts. Then plant parts such as roots and leaves were measured to find out where all the nutrients went. When excess P was supplied, the corn grain yield suffered. The researchers discovered that this was because too much P was taken up by the plant. This unnecessary P tied up other necessary plant nutrients in the roots, namely copper and zinc. This prevented copper and zinc from moving upward into the grain and reduced protein production. Excessive P application not only reduced corn grain yield but produced grain with less copper, zinc, sulfur, and protein. This research showed the negative impact of too much p fertilizer on agronomic yield. It also proved the need to develop more precise fertilizer recommendations to maximize yield and quality.
Review Publications
Mumbi, R., Williams, M.R., Penn, C.J., Camberto, J.J. 2024. Accumulation of soil phosphorus within closed depressions of a drained agricultural watershed. Soil Science Society of America Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20671.
Williams, M.R., Ford, W.I., Mumbi, R. 2023. Preferential flow in the shallow vadose zone: Effect of rainfall intensity, soil moisture, connectivity, and agricultural management. Hydrological Processes. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.15057.
Gonzalez, J.M., Dick, W., Islam, K., Watts, D.B., Fausey, N.R., Flanagan, D.C., Batte, M., Vantoai, T.T., Reeder, R., Shedekar, V. 2024. Cover crops, crop rotation, and gypsum, as conservation practices, impact Mehlich-3 extractable plant nutrients and trace metals. International Soil and Water Conservation Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2023.11.001.
Scott, I., Scott, F., McCarty, T., Penn, C.J. 2023. Techno-economic analysis of phosphorus removal structures. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c02696.
da Silva Sandim, A., Rodrigues da Silva, L.J., Fernandes Deus, A.C., Penn, C.J., Bull, L.T. 2023. Phosphorous fractions in weathered tropical soils after application of conventional and alternative P fertilizers. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01426-w.
Ai, H., Zhang, K., Penn, C.J., Zhang, H. 2023. Phosphate removal by low-cost industrial byproduct iron shavings: Efficacy and longevity. Water Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.120745.
Ding, F., Li, S., Lu, J., Wang, Q., Lin, G., Sardans, J., Penuelas, J., Wang, J., Rillig, M., Penn, C.J. 2023. Consequences of 33 years of plastic film mulching and nitrogen fertilization on maize growth and soil quality. Environmental Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c08878.
Zhang, H., Renschler, C.S. 2024. QGeoWEPP: An open-source geospatial interface to enable high-resolution watershed-based soil erosion assessment. Environmental Modelling & Software. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.106118.