Soil Fertility

Is fixed ammonium an important part of nitrogen cycling?

This project will assess how corn responds to nitrogen at various levels of potassium fertilization.

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Nutrient management dynamics in Northwest Minnesota corn production

This project will address the combined effects of fertilizer source and rate on nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon dynamics from multiple perspectives: corn grain production, soil nutrient availability, and water quality.

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Dialing in the Most Corn-Profitable and Environmentally Responsible Nitrogen Rate

The study will use the common approach to calculate EONRs by establishing several nitrogen rates from zero to well above where a corn response is expected.

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What is it about manure?

Manure not only supplies nutrients in a corn production system, it can help improve soil health as well. In particular, manure has been shown to have outsized effects on soil carbon pools relative to its total carbon content. As interest in understanding soil health has grown, we have access to an increasing number of carbon pool assays, including permanganate oxidizable carbon, particulate organic matter carbon, and lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose.

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Irrigation management impacts on corn yield and nitrate leaching

The environmental impact of irrigated agriculture on ground and surface water resources in Minnesota is of major concern. Better irrigation scheduling has the potential in addressing these complex agricultural environmental challenges we face in Minnesota.

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Reducing reactive nitrogen loses from corn systems

Over the last several years our regional atmospheric measurements and mesocosm experiments have revealed that reactive nitrogen losses associated with corn production are likely to increase as our climate continues to get warmer and wetter.

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Assessment of Minnesota’s soil mineralogy and impacts on fertilizer guidelines

In the last decade, scientists have made rapid gains in understanding how the mineral make-up of soil affects the ability of plants to get the potassium they need, according to Kaiser.

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Best management practices to integrate cover crops and manure

Wilson’s research focuses on pairing up cover crops and manure application to see if the tandem can work together to hold onto nutrients longer and improve soil health.

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Advanced Nitrogen Smart

This proposal is to fund “Advanced Nitrogen Smart – A Deep Dive Into the 4Rs.” This will be the second Advanced Nitrogen Smart program topic, and joins “Manure Management” as options for those that have already attended the base session.

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