2006 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? Soil erosion has off-site impacts on water quality and air quality. On-site, soil erosion affects soil properties increasingly over time, usually resulting in decreased soil quality and reduced resistance of agricultural systems to stresses. A primary means of improving the ability of a soil to resist erosive forces is to increase soil organic matter content, which is dominated by carbon. Conservation tillage systems, especially no-till systems, tend to sequester carbon. Knowledge as to how these management systems impact trace gas emissions, and trade-offs that might occur between sequestering carbon in soil, emitting trace gases into the atmosphere, and losses in runoff, eroding sediments, and leaching is lacking. The quantitative impacts of conservation systems on natural resources are unknown, including impacts on soil quality and carbon sequestration. The removal of crop biomass for biofuel production may negatively impact soil carbon content, quality, productivity, and erodibility. The amount of oxygen in soil greatly affects both the type and intensity of microbial transformation of nutrients and thus has a large potential impact on nutrient cycling and soil structural parameters. The impact of tillage management on runoff herbicide losses is poorly understood and is thought to be dominated by surface residue interactions as a function of many variables. We are conducting basic and applied research that will increase our knowledge of soil C-cycling, effects of soil oxygen levels on nutrients, and impact of best management practices on pesticide fate. All of these objectives work together to improve our management of soil resources for the reduction of erosion rates on agricultural lands in order to prevent degradation of our nation’s soil and water resources. Methods of investigation include field and laboratory experimentation and the use of state-or-the-art erosion simulation models as appropriate. The products of the proposed research include better technologies and strategies to assess and reduce soil erosion by water, reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and improve soil quality and sustainability through the use of appropriate soil management systems, and improve the information available for forming current and future national policy on soil conservation and management. The expected benefit of the program, working in conjunction with other scientific, political and action agencies is the long-term sustainability of our soils to produce food, fiber, and bioenergy for future generations of Americans. The research undertaken in this project is aligned with the 202 National Program – Soil Resource Management. This project is also closely related to the National Program in Water Quality and Management (201) and in Global Change (204). In the 202 National Program, this research contributes to 6 of the 9 Problem Areas (PA): Soil Carbon Measurement, Dynamics, and Management (PA #3), Nutrient Management for Crop Production and Environmental Protection (PA #4), Adoption and Implementation of Soil and Water Conservation Practices and Systems (PA #5), Impact on Soil of Residue Removal for Biofuel Production (PA #6), Managing Pesticides in Soils (PA #7), and Control of Soil Erosion (PA #8). 2.List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) Objective 1. Enhance carbon (C) sequestration for improved soil quality, erosion control, and reduced trace gas emissions. Objective 1a. Determine losses of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from nine Indiana sub-watersheds as impacted by best management practices (BMPs) and determine the scaling relationship for DOC losses from plots to small watersheds to large watersheds. FY 2007 - Samples gathered from subwatersheds in a timely manner and analyzed for DOC. - Analyze 2003-2006 data regarding DOC losses from sub-watersheds and publish. FY 2008 - Samples gathered from subwatersheds in a timely manner and analyzed for DOC. FY 2009 - Samples gathered from subwatersheds in a timely manner and analyzed for DOC. FY 2010 - Samples gathered from subwatersheds in a timely manner and analyzed for DOC. - Analyze 2007-2009 data regarding BMP impacts and publish. FY 2011 - Samples gathered from subwatersheds in a timely manner and analyzed for DOC. - Complete DOC database for CEAP. Objective 1b. Determine changes in C sequestration and soil quality due to implementation of BMPs on ARS Research Watersheds. Relate these changes to changes in soil biochemistry and microbial community structure. FY 2006 - Agreement on standard sampling and analytical methods to be used. (06/06) FY 2007 - Collect samples from four ARS watersheds and analyze for soil quality characteristics - Develop SMAF Scoring Curves for Beta Glucosidase - Survey existing literature for additional soil biochemical parameters that might serve as early indicators of C content change. - Take initial samples in local GRACEnet plots for initial tests for hypothesis. Carry out on ARS watershed samples if sensitive to management changes. FY 2008 - Sample next set of watershed (sites to be determined). - Complete next set of soil analyzes for soil quality properties FY 2009 - Sample third set of watershed (sites to be determined). - Complete next set of soil analyzes for soil quality FY 2010 - Complete sampling of watersheds. - Complete soil analyzes for soil quality properties. - Prepare Publications. FY 2011 - Publications Completed. Objective 1c. Determine the impact of typical and conservation systems for corn-soybean rotations as well as grass management systems on trace-gas emissions and soil quality. FY 2007 - Continue scheduled measurements of trace gas emissions and soil C from established plots. - Submit data to GRACEnet database annually. FY 2008 - Continue scheduled measurements of trace gas emissions from established plots. - Submit data to GRACEnet database annually. - Re-evaluate treatments after 2007 field season and change as necessary. - Prepare manuscripts from first three years of data (2004-06/07). FY 2009 - Continue scheduled measurements of trace gas emissions from established plots. - Submit data to GRACEnet database annually. FY 2010 - Continue scheduled measurements of trace gas emissions from established plots. - Submit data to GRACEnet database annually. Re-evaluate treatments and change as necessary. FY 2011 - Continue scheduled measurements of trace gas emissions from established plots. - Complete local submission of 2003-2010 data to GRACEnet database. - Prepare manuscripts from 2007-09 data. Objective 1d. Determine the impact of corn residue removal for biofuel production on potential erosion rate, carbon sequestration, and soil quality. FY 2007 - Establish field studies - Collect baseline soil property data - Develop erosion model simulation scenarios. - Contribute to REAP group assessment white paper. FY 2008 - Assess crop yield, complete lab analysis of baseline or periodic soil samples - Run simulation scenarios. - Prepare manuscript on results of simulation runs. FY 2009 - Assess crop yield, summarize, and analyze data collected to date - Contribute to common database established for SMAF assessment. - Contribute to common database established for SMAF assessment. FY 2010 - Contribute to the 2-year SMAF assessment. - 4-year soil property assessment. FY 2011 - Begin manuscript preparations. - Contribute to the 3-year SMAF assessment. - Contribute to manuscript reporting results. Objective 2. Quantify the extent of redox changes that occur in saturated soil and its effect on the form and concentration of major nutrients. Objective 2a. Determine the optimum range of redox potential to maximize nutrient form and release as well as promote a favorable soil structure. FY 2007 - Initiation of bench top controlled environment study for soils from IN. FY 2008 - Continue the redox study for IN soils. FY 2009 - Completion of the redox lab study and report results in scientific journals. Objective 2b. Determine the interaction of soil redox potential, gypsum amendments, and pH on the solubility and release of nutrients to plants and removal from soil. FY 2007 - Identify plot and field sites for studies and complete GPS topographic surveys in Indiana. FY 2008 - Complete measurement of field redox. Measure crop yield on plots and fields. FY 2009 - Measure crop yield on plots and fields. FY 2010 - Evaluate data, collect additional soil samples. FY 2011 - Complete reports. - Study results published in a peer-reviewed journal. Objective 3. Determine the impacts of conservation tillage on fate of pesticide in soil. Objective 3a. Determine crop residue and soil moisture effects on fate of pesticides in soil. FY 2007 - Using existing data, develop a database to identify major factors contributing to tillage impacts to herbicide losses from agricultural. - Publish results in peer-reviewed journal. FY 2008 - Experimental apparatus & soil boxes made. Soil collected and characterized. - Experimental procedures tested and refined. FY 2009 - Laboratory studies completed FY 2010 - Study results published in a peer-reviewed journal. Objective 3b. Determine crop residue and soil moisture effects on fate of pesticides in soil. FY 2009 - Initiation of the competitive adsorption isotherm study. FY 2010 - Competitive isotherm experiments completed. FY 2011 - Findings published in a peer-reviewed journal. 4a.List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. None. 4b.List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any. None. 4c.List significant activities that support special target populations. None. 4d.Progress report. None. 5.Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. The project outline was planned, written, submitted, evaluated, and approved. This project was initiated on 03/29/2006 with final project approval received on 08/03/2006. Field experiments are beginning to be implemented. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? None. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Stott, D.E., Huang, C., Livingston, S.J. 2006. Dissolve organic carbon loss from watersheds in Northeastern Indiana, USA. Proceedings of the 18th World Congress of Soil Science. July 9-14, 2006 Philadelphia, PA. CD-ROM. International Union of Soil Science and Soil Science Society of America. (Attendance to meeting ~2000, representing 32 countries; Attendance to talk, ~75) Review Publications Stott, D.E., Liebig, M.A., Tanaka, D.L., Krupinsky, J.M. 2005. Dynamic cropping systems influence on soil biochemistry [abstract] [CDROM]. Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts. Asa-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting. Nov. 6-10, 2005, Salt Lake City, UT. Kamal, R., Stott, D.E., Smith, D.R., Bucholtz, D.L. 2006. Simulated rainfall impact on carbon dioxide emissions from corn and soybean cropping systems on a mollisol. World Congress of Soil Science. 2006 CDROM. Stott, D.E., Huang, C., Livingston, S.J., Bucholtz, D.L. 2006. Loss of dissolved organic carbon from watersheds in Northeastern Indiana, USA. In: International Soil Conservation Organization Conference Abstracts. May 14-19, 2006, Marrakech, Morocco. 2006 CDROM. Stott, D.E., Warnemuende, E.A., Huang, C., Livingston, S.J. 2006. Dissolved organic carbon loss from field plots and watersheds in Northeastern Indiana, USA [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th World Congress of Soil Science, July 9-14, 2006, Philadelphia, PA. 2006 CDROM.