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Full-Text Articles in Plant Sciences
Statistical And Machine Learning Methods Evaluated For Incorporating Soil And Weather Into Corn Nitrogen Recommendations, Curtis J. Ransom, Newell R. Kitchen, James J. Camberato, Paul R. Carter, Richard B. Ferguson, Fabián G. Fernández, David W. Franzen, Carrie A. M. Laboski, D. Brenton Myers, Emerson D. Nafziger, John E. Sawyer, John F. Shanahan
Statistical And Machine Learning Methods Evaluated For Incorporating Soil And Weather Into Corn Nitrogen Recommendations, Curtis J. Ransom, Newell R. Kitchen, James J. Camberato, Paul R. Carter, Richard B. Ferguson, Fabián G. Fernández, David W. Franzen, Carrie A. M. Laboski, D. Brenton Myers, Emerson D. Nafziger, John E. Sawyer, John F. Shanahan
John E. Sawyer
Nitrogen (N) fertilizer recommendation tools could be improved for estimating corn (Zea mays L.) N needs by incorporating site-specific soil and weather information. However, an evaluation of analytical methods is needed to determine the success of incorporating this information. The objectives of this research were to evaluate statistical and machine learning (ML) algorithms for utilizing soil and weather information for improving corn N recommendation tools. Eight algorithms [stepwise, ridge regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso), elastic net regression, principal component regression (PCR), partial least squares regression (PLSR), decision tree, and random forest] were evaluated using a dataset …
Nitrogen Fertilizer Suppresses Mineralization Of Soil Organic Matter In Maize Agroecosystems, Navreet K. Mahal, William R. Osterholz, Fernando E. Miguez, Hanna J. Poffenbarger, John E. Sawyer, Daniel C. Olk, Sotirios V. Archontoulis, Michael J. Castellano
Nitrogen Fertilizer Suppresses Mineralization Of Soil Organic Matter In Maize Agroecosystems, Navreet K. Mahal, William R. Osterholz, Fernando E. Miguez, Hanna J. Poffenbarger, John E. Sawyer, Daniel C. Olk, Sotirios V. Archontoulis, Michael J. Castellano
John E. Sawyer
The possibility that N fertilizer increases soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization and, as a result, reduces SOM stocks has led to a great debate about the long-term sustainability of maize-based agroecosystems as well as the best method to estimate fertilizer N use efficiency (FNUE). Much of this debate is because synthetic N fertilizer can positively or negatively affect SOM mineralization via several direct and indirect pathways. Here, we test a series of hypotheses to determine the direction, magnitude, and mechanism of N fertilizer effect on SOM mineralization and discuss the implications for methods to estimate FNUE.Wemeasured the effect of synthetic …
Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate Effects On Soil Organic Carbon In Iowa Continuous Corn And Corn-Soybean Systems, Hanna J. Poffenbarger, Daniel W. Barker, Matthew J. Helmers, Fernando E. Miguez, John E. Sawyer, Johan Six, Michael J. Castellano
Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate Effects On Soil Organic Carbon In Iowa Continuous Corn And Corn-Soybean Systems, Hanna J. Poffenbarger, Daniel W. Barker, Matthew J. Helmers, Fernando E. Miguez, John E. Sawyer, Johan Six, Michael J. Castellano
John E. Sawyer
Nitrogen fertilizer rate is a key factor affecting soil organic C (SOC) in corn-based cropping systems. The objective of this study was to determine the change in SOC in response to long-term N rates for continuous corn and corn-soybean cropping systems at two sites in Iowa. Soil samples were collected to a depth of 15 cm in 1999 and again in 2014 after 15 years of corn N rate treatments ranging from 0 to 269 kg ha-1. The soil samples were analyzed for total C and N concentrations. For continuous corn at both sites, the average annual change …
Wait Until Soil Temps Drop Before Applying Anhydrous Ammonia, John E. Sawyer, Barbara Stewart, William Ehm
Wait Until Soil Temps Drop Before Applying Anhydrous Ammonia, John E. Sawyer, Barbara Stewart, William Ehm
John E. Sawyer
With the early harvest, Iowa’s conservation leaders are encouraging farmers to wait until soil temperatures lower before applying anhydrous ammonia (NH3) this fall. Anhydrous ammonia applied before daily soil temperatures remain below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and continue trending lower can result in the nitrogen loss that can impact crop development and have negative environmental impacts, such as enhanced leaching into groundwater and streams once converted to nitrate.
Wet Conditions And Change In Soil Profile Nitrate, John E. Sawyer
Wet Conditions And Change In Soil Profile Nitrate, John E. Sawyer
John E. Sawyer
I wrote an ICM News article February 21, 2013, that provided a summary of fall soil profile nitrate sampling results following the 2012 corn harvest. As I cautioned in that and other articles, the amount of nitrate-N that might remain for a 2013 corn crop depends on springtime rainfall. Unfortunately, much of Iowa has received considerable precipitation since soils thawed, especially the eastern two-thirds of Iowa. The two maps of the Midwest region show the total precipitation and deviation from normal since March 7, 2013. Tile lines are flowing again, and nitrate in the profile will move with percolating water. …
Sulfur Emerges As A Nutritional Issue In Iowa Alfalfa Production, John E. Sawyer, Brian J. Lang, Daniel W. Barker
Sulfur Emerges As A Nutritional Issue In Iowa Alfalfa Production, John E. Sawyer, Brian J. Lang, Daniel W. Barker
John E. Sawyer
Sulfur is often classified as a “secondary” essential element, mainly due to a smaller plant requirement, but also because it is less frequently applied as a fertilizer compared to N, P, and K. This has certainly been the case in Iowa, where research had not documented S deficiency or fertilization need for optimal crop production. However, if deficient, S can have a dramatic effect on plant growth and crop productivity – more than the classification “secondary” would imply.
The Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test: Should It Be Used In Iowa?, John E. Sawyer, Mohammod Ali Tabatabai
The Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test: Should It Be Used In Iowa?, John E. Sawyer, Mohammod Ali Tabatabai
John E. Sawyer
The test was developed several years ago at the University of Illinois by researchers in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. It is a laboratory procedure designed to measure N liberated from soil heated for 5 hours with dilute alkali solution (sodium hydroxide). The test does not measure nitrate, but does measure exchangeable ammonium and a fraction of soil organic N.
Interpreting P And K Soil Test Results, John E. Sawyer, Antonio P. Mallarino
Interpreting P And K Soil Test Results, John E. Sawyer, Antonio P. Mallarino
John E. Sawyer
Soil testing is a key component for determining the need for phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilization. Also, if fertilization is required, test results guide the rate of application recommended to optimize production. Through extensive field research, specific soil tests are calibrated against the expectation of response to applied P and K; that is, they provide both a relative index of the availability of P and K to the crop being grown and an indication of the magnitude of yield increase one might expect when nutrients are applied, thus providing the interpretation of text results.
Evaluation Of Fertilizer Additives For Enhanced Nitrogen Efficiency In Corn, Daniel W. Barker, John E. Sawyer, Michael J. Castellano
Evaluation Of Fertilizer Additives For Enhanced Nitrogen Efficiency In Corn, Daniel W. Barker, John E. Sawyer, Michael J. Castellano
John E. Sawyer
The use of N additives and slow release materials with ammoniacal fertilizer varies throughout the U.S. Corn Belt due to differing N loss potentials across climate, soils, and production systems. In Iowa, recent years of high rainfall events and prolonged wet soil conditions has renewed interest to protect fertilizer N loss from denitrification, leaching, and greenhouse gas emission with use of nitrification inhibitors. These loss processes can be significant in Iowa soils that are poorly drained and have high organic matter, high pH, and high populations of denitrifying bacteria. Subsurface tile drainage is also prevalent in farmer fields throughout the …
Drought Impacts On Soil Fertility Management, John E. Sawyer
Drought Impacts On Soil Fertility Management, John E. Sawyer
John E. Sawyer
If crop production was severely reduced because of dry conditions this year, there are a few items you can consider when planning for next year's crop. One, with severely damaged crops and low yields you might credit some of the phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) applied for this year's crop to next year, as much less removal will occur in grain harvest of the lower than expected yield.
Anhydrous Ammonia Application And Dry Soils, John E. Sawyer
Anhydrous Ammonia Application And Dry Soils, John E. Sawyer
John E. Sawyer
It is almost time that anhydrous ammonia (NH3) applications could begin (remember 50 F and cooling 4-inch soil temperature). However, many soils in Iowa are quite dry this fall. So, can anhydrous ammonia be applied to dry soil? Will it be held in dry soil?
45th Annual North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conference, John E. Sawyer
45th Annual North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conference, John E. Sawyer
John E. Sawyer
If you would like to learn more about current soil fertility issues and research being conducted at universities across the North Central region, then consider attending the 45th Annual North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conference on November 4-5, 2015, from 1 p.m. to noon, at the Holiday Inn Airport in Des Moines, Iowa. The conference will include invited presentations from university and industry leaders, research reports from university soil fertility researchers, and posters outlining research by graduate students at universities across the North Central region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, …
Sulfur Management For Iowa Crop Production, John E. Sawyer, Brian J. Lang, Daniel W. Barker
Sulfur Management For Iowa Crop Production, John E. Sawyer, Brian J. Lang, Daniel W. Barker
John E. Sawyer
Summary of statewide evaluation in Iowa of alfalfa and corn yield response to applied sulfur fertilizers. On-farm, small-plot and field-length strip trial yield response data presented from 2005-2013.
Interpretation Of Soil Test Results, Antonio P. Mallarino, John E. Sawyer
Interpretation Of Soil Test Results, Antonio P. Mallarino, John E. Sawyer
John E. Sawyer
A detailed explanation on how to interpret soil test results to assist with soil nutrient recommendations.
A General Guide For Crop Nutrient And Limestone Recommendations In Iowa, Antonio P. Mallarino, John E. Sawyer, Stephen K. Barnhart
A General Guide For Crop Nutrient And Limestone Recommendations In Iowa, Antonio P. Mallarino, John E. Sawyer, Stephen K. Barnhart
John E. Sawyer
Find phosphorus and potassium recommendations, micronutrient recommendations, and limestone recommendations for soils.
Also find soil test procedures and categories.
Nutrient Considerations With Corn Stover Harvest, John E. Sawyer, Antonio P. Mallarino
Nutrient Considerations With Corn Stover Harvest, John E. Sawyer, Antonio P. Mallarino
John E. Sawyer
Weigh the relationships between corn stover harvest (as compared to grain only harvest) with the research presented in this publication.Make informed decisions about using stover harvest for bioenergy and using corn residue for soil sustainability. Find corn N, P, and K fertilization recommendations needed to maintain desirable soil-test values.