TY - JOUR
T1 - Tillage and nutrient source effects on water quality and corn grain yield from a flat landscape
AU - Thoma, David P.
AU - Gupta, Satish C
AU - Strock, Jeffrey S
AU - Moncrief, John F.
PY - 2005/5
Y1 - 2005/5
N2 - Beneficial effects of leaving residue at the soil surface are well documented for steep lands, but not for flat lands that are drained with surface inlets and tile lines. This study quantified the effects of tillage and nutrient source on tile line and surface inlet water quality under continuous corn (Zea mays L.) from relatively flat lands (<3%). Tillage treatments were either fall chisel or moldboard plow. Nutrient sources were either fall injected liquid hog manure or spring incorporated urea. The experiment was on a Webster-Canisteo day loam (Typic Endoaquolls) at Lamberton, MN. Surface inlet runoff was analyzed for flow, total solids, NO3-N, NH4-N, dissolved P, and total P. Tile line effluent was analyzed for flow, NO 3-N, and NH4-N. In four years of rainstorm and snowmelt events there were few significant differences (p < 0.10) in water quality of surface inlet or tile drainage between treatments. Residue cover minimally reduced soil erosion during both snowmelt and rainfall runoff events. There was a slight reduction in mineral N losses via surface inlets from manure treatments. There was also a slight decrease (p = 0.025) in corn grain yield from chisel-plow plots (9.7 Mg ha-1) compared with moldboard-plow plots (10.1 Mg ha-1). Chisel plowing (approximately 30% residue cover) alone is not sufficient to reduce nonpoint source sediment pollution from these poorly drained flat lands to the extent (40% reduction) desired by regulatory agencies.
AB - Beneficial effects of leaving residue at the soil surface are well documented for steep lands, but not for flat lands that are drained with surface inlets and tile lines. This study quantified the effects of tillage and nutrient source on tile line and surface inlet water quality under continuous corn (Zea mays L.) from relatively flat lands (<3%). Tillage treatments were either fall chisel or moldboard plow. Nutrient sources were either fall injected liquid hog manure or spring incorporated urea. The experiment was on a Webster-Canisteo day loam (Typic Endoaquolls) at Lamberton, MN. Surface inlet runoff was analyzed for flow, total solids, NO3-N, NH4-N, dissolved P, and total P. Tile line effluent was analyzed for flow, NO 3-N, and NH4-N. In four years of rainstorm and snowmelt events there were few significant differences (p < 0.10) in water quality of surface inlet or tile drainage between treatments. Residue cover minimally reduced soil erosion during both snowmelt and rainfall runoff events. There was a slight reduction in mineral N losses via surface inlets from manure treatments. There was also a slight decrease (p = 0.025) in corn grain yield from chisel-plow plots (9.7 Mg ha-1) compared with moldboard-plow plots (10.1 Mg ha-1). Chisel plowing (approximately 30% residue cover) alone is not sufficient to reduce nonpoint source sediment pollution from these poorly drained flat lands to the extent (40% reduction) desired by regulatory agencies.
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U2 - 10.2134/jeq2004.0200
DO - 10.2134/jeq2004.0200
M3 - Article
C2 - 15888896
AN - SCOPUS:18844411613
SN - 0047-2425
VL - 34
SP - 1102
EP - 1111
JO - Journal of Environmental Quality
JF - Journal of Environmental Quality
IS - 3
ER -