2011 Shannon Zezula NRCS Indiana State Resource Conservationist Improving Water Quality in the Corn Belt (and Beyond...)

Cropping Systems = Healthy Soil Soil Biology. HABITAT!

Conservation Cropping SYSTEMS No (Never)-till + cover crops + precision Nutrient Mgmt + Buffers Restores soil carbon Conserves moisture; improves infiltration Saves fuel, time, labor, machinery Reduces erosion Resilience Improved soil fertility and nutrient cycling - biota Controls weeds Perfects Planting/Stand Improves Air, Water, Wildlife…

Why Now? We are building a better Cropping System, as well as a Smarter Drainage System! Corn futures surged 90 percent in the past year, while wheat jumped 80 percent and soybeans advanced 49 percent Along with...input costs, extreme weather patterns, public awareness... Crops will be grown...yield matters...tile drainage will increase Where do we fit?...

Why Now? Conservation Cropping Systems = Economic EfficiencyEconomic Efficiency Water EfficiencyWater Efficiency Nutrient EfficiencyNutrient Efficiency Energy reductionEnergy reduction Reduce RiskReduce Risk –Catastrophic weather –Environmental Regulation We are building a better Cropping System, as well as a Smarter Drainage System! Corn futures surged 90 percent in the past year, while wheat jumped 80 percent and soybeans advanced 49 percent Along with...input costs, extreme weather patterns, public awareness...

AVOID CONTROL TRAP Nitrogen & Phosphorus Losses

We can Avoid, Control and Trap Nutrient Losses with a system of Production practices! Controlled Traffic and Precision Technology No-Till/Strip-Till Crop Rotation Stripcropping Buffers Nutrient Management Cover Crops

Drainage is Key......to Successful Yields &......Conservation Cropping Systems main laterals Water level control structure

Nitrogen Loss NO 3 Where Water Goes …so too does Nitrate!  At best about 60% of the fertilizer added to the field is accumulated by the corn crop  We can do better…  4 Rs...Source, Time, Place, Rate

Soil P and Subsurface Drainage Drainage from 50-cm undisturbed soil lysimeters Mehlich-3 soil P, ppm Dissolved P, mg/L

Iowa- ARS Dr. Tom Kasper Cover Crops Reduced Nitrate leaching by 60 lbs. /ac. With a cover crop of Cereal Rye

Cover Crops Managing the Fate of Nitrogen! Nutrient management, no-till, crop rotation and cover crops were implemented. SYSTEM! Nitrate concentrations in tile water dropped from over 30 mg/l to under 10 mg/l Purdue University Dr. Eileen Kladivko

A winter cover crop takes up (or “traps”) some of the nitrate that otherwise leaches out during fallow season Corn-soybean system normally fallow from Oct – April.

The outlet is raised after harvest to reduce nitrate delivery during winter. Drainage Water Management (DWM)

Capacity Control Structure Woodchips Diversion Structure

Structural Practices 2-Stage Ditch

Deep wetland Dam Wetland Buffer Tile drained field

 Target in low- producing areas (zones of NO APPLICATION!)  Filtering  Habitat

Water Quality Benefits will be Limited Unless Soil Health is Maximized Mastering the Details through Planning is Key to an Optimum System Now’s the time to Capture the potential! We can take production and water quality further with Conservation Cropping Systems and Smart Drainage Systems – Where will we be?

Questions Shannon Zezula – NRCS Indiana ext 388