Project Number: 5436-13210-004-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Mar 04, 2005
End Date: Aug 04, 2008

Objective:
Evaluate diversified alternative crop rotations under conservation tillage conditions that reduce inputs, including purchased agrochemicals, and enhance integrated biologically and culturally based weed and disease management. ¿ Objective to be redirected: Develop biocontrol technologies and early detection methods for fusarium head blight of barley (FHB). ¿ New Modified Objectives: (1) Develop methods for the biocontrol of net blotch and its early detection to increase the yield and quality of malting barley, and (2) Develop diversified, profitable alternative crop rotations that include bioenergy and specialty crops under conservation tillage conditions that reduce inputs, including purchased agrochemicals and enhance integrated biologically and culturally based weed and disease management. Evaluate and test biologically and culturally based crop management strategies that optimize soil quality, carbon sequestration, soil aggregation and soil biological diversity, and efficiently recycle nutrients while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and improving water quality. ¿ Objective to be redirected: Develop fungal biochemical markers that are indicators of the effects of management practices on soil quality. ¿ New Modified Objectives: (1) Develop methods for detecting soil aggregating and rhizosphere bacteria to be used as indicators of soil health, and (2) Quantify benefits from advanced cropping systems and management practices under irrigated and dryland conditions.

Approach:
Research teams focus on the ecology, soil, water and crop management, and water quality issues related to specific long term dryland and irrigated crop rotations covering a range of common soil types and agronomic objectives tested under both replicated plot and field conditions. The effect of crop diversity and intensity, cultural practices, crop rotations and soil water management on diseases and weed populations as well as soil and water quality are evaluated to determine sustainable crop production strategies for the region. Dryland rotational treatments compare diverse small grain production using conventional tillage and cropping practices with no-till and ecologically-based cropping practices. Crop rotations and sequences, conservation (strip) tillage, and irrigation frequency studies examine the interactions between yields, pest problems and soil water movement within accepted sugarbeet-barley rotations under precision application linear move irrigation systems. Spatially varying plant nutrient levels, yields, disease and weed populations and soil quality data are analyzed and compared with remotely sensed information over time. Soil fauna are investigated to determine abundance and the combined species interrelationships with respect to enzymatic activities, uronic acid concentrations and effects on nutrient cycling and soil aggregation under various dryland and irrigated cropping systems. Natural antagonists and plant protection mechanisms are identified and used to develop fungal disease and weed biocontrol strategies. Measurements are taken to assess and quantify the environmental impacts of different management practices and strategies on improving soil and water quality, reducing runoff and leachate, and quantifying the resulting influences on weed/disease ecology. Nutrient and soil water management alternatives, selected precision agriculture technologies, specific tillage and other farming practices that minimize soil disturbance and compaction essential for maintaining soil structure and decreasing runoff (water quality) under irrigated crop rotations are evaluated for potential water quality benefits of various cropping systems using a combination of existing models and laboratory and field measurements. Technologies are demonstrated and transferred to growers using replicated field scale trials and existing farm management computer models comparing diverse cropping, reduced tillage and ecological crop management with conventional systems. User-friendly systems for the management and interpretation of spatial data using new measurement technologies that replace current time-consuming and laborious methods are developed to help diffuse site-specific management of field crop production over broad geographical areas.