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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #423219
Research Project: Innovative Cropping System Solutions for Sustainable Production on Spatially Variable Landscapes

Location: Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research

Title: Crop metrics for nutrient management research in corn-based cropping systems

Author
item Abendroth, Lori
item MCCLELLAN MAAZ, TAI - University Of Hawaii
item BROUDER, SYLVIE - Purdue University
item CAMBARDELLA, CYNTHIA - Former ARS Employee
item CHIGHLADZE, GIORGI - Iowa State University
item CHRISTIANSON, LAURA - University Of Illinois
item DRURY, CRAIG - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada
item FERNANDEZ, FABIAN - University Of Minnesota
item GENTRY, LOWELL - University Of Illinois
item HELMERS, MATTHEW - Iowa State University
item Jaynes, Dan
item Kovar, John
item Moorman, Thomas
item NELSON, KELLY - University Of Missouri
item PITTELKOW, CAMERON - University Of California, Davis
item SAWYER, JOHN - Iowa State University
item VOLENEC, JEFFREY - Purdue University
item EAGLE, ALISON - Environmental Defense Fund

Submitted to: Protocols.io
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/6/2025
Publication Date: 5/6/2025
Citation: Abendroth, L.J., Mcclellan Maaz, T., Brouder, S.M., Cambardella, C.A., Chighladze, G., Christianson, L.E., Drury, C.F., Fernandez, F.G., Gentry, L.E., Helmers, M.J., Jaynes, D.B., Kovar, J.L., Moorman, T.B., Nelson, K.A., Pittelkow, C.M., Sawyer, J.E., Volenec, J.J., Eagle, A.J. 2025. Metrics for nutrient management research in corn-based cropping systems. Protocols.io. https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.5jyl8d8jrg2w/v1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.5jyl8d8jrg2w/v1

Interpretive Summary: This protocol was developed for a multi-state nutrient management project aimed at measuring nitrogen loss through different environmental pathways. The research was conducted across several Midwest states from 2018 to 2020 with results continuing to be published. This protocol advances standardized methodologies being used in agriculture. It provides the team's approach to achieving consistent agronomic data collection, instrument maintenance, data processing, and quality control across sites.

Technical Abstract: This protocol was used by a collaborative research team referred to as the “NutriNet Project” in corn-based cropping systems of the U.S. Midwest and Canada. Plant measurements were collected from field-based experiments to determine aboveground biomass and nutrient concentration at different crop development stages. Corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) are the cash crops and cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) is the cover crop described in this protocol. The total amount of nutrient uptake is calculated based on the plant biomass and nutrient concentration measurements. Nutrient analysis was conducted using dried, ground plant samples, separated into grain and non-grain components when applicable. Ancillary measurements, such as chlorophyll meter readings and corn stalk nitrate concentrations, are also described as these provide important context for informing nutrient management decisions. Corn was the dominant crop and focus of the project team when collecting measurements; this is evident by the detail describing corn in this protocol.