Project Number: 5445-21660-001-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Aug 03, 2007
End Date: Sep 30, 2008

Objective:
The research objectives listed below for the new NGPRL project are consistent with input from the local customer base, and with the research components for the new NP-216 Action Plan that was developed with input from local customer groups and regional and national agricultural organizations across the country. Linkages to the NP-216 National Action Plan: NGPRL Objective to Action Plan Objective 1A1; NGPRL Objective 2 to Objective 1B1; NGPRL Objective 3 to Objective 3A1; and NGPRL Objective 4 to Objective 4A3. Objective 1: Develop economic risk averting management strategies that use cover crops to enhance soil quality indicators, increase soil carbon, and improve precipitation use efficiency of cropping systems. ¿ Sub-objective 1.1: Quantify the impacts of combining perennial and annual crop components in an optimal configuration. ¿ Sub-objective 1.2: Determine the best tillage method to convert from a perennial grass to an annual cropping sequence. ¿ Sub-objective 1.3: Quantify the impact of crop rotation and cover crops on crop and residue production and precipitation use efficiency. Objective 2: Evaluate the economic and environmental ramifications of incorporating bio-based energy production into dynamic cropping systems. ¿ Sub-objective 2.1: Quantify the influences of previous crop sequences on productivity of alternative crops, including energy crops. ¿ Sub-objective 2.2: Determine the economic impact of integrating biofuel production components into Northern Great Plains agricultural systems and develop a user index for making optimal science-base decisions. Objective 3: Develop multiple enterprise systems that integrate crops and livestock to economically optimize forage quality and quantity while maintaining or enhancing soil quality indicators. ¿ Sub-objective 3.1: Determine the impact of integrating annual crops and livestock on soil water and soil quality factors. ¿ Sub-objective 3.2: Compare weight gain of beef cows grazing annual crops used for forage to those grazing perennial grass during the late-fall. Objective 4: Develop a set of management principles that are common to agricultural systems across production regions that reduce risks, improve competitiveness, and promote environmental stewardship.

Approach:
A Roundtable will be continued to bring national and international leaders together to share ideas, concepts, and philosophies of integrated systems. Research will be conducted using a Bowen ratio/energy balance instrumentation to measure CO2 fluxes over grazed and nongrazed grasslands. Dormant period soil CO2 losses to the atmosphere from root and soil microbial respiration will be quantified and included with growing period canopy fluxes to calculate annual CO2 flux rates for agriculture ecosystems. Methane and nitrous oxide produced by cows and calves will be measured under different grazing management regimes. Work on the healthy-beef initiative by incorporating high-omega three supplements will be continued. Grazing land productivity will be enhanced by improved management strategies using improved varieties of alfalfa and western wheatgrass. New food production systems that reduce input costs to increase profitability, provide more healthful, tasty products for the consumer, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emission will be developed.