Nitrogen Management and Cover Crop Inclusion Impact on Water Quality and Agronomics

The science assessments of nutrient loss reduction strategies of multiple Midwestern states have concluded that cover crop inclusion is the most efficient adaptive soil management practice that can be employed to reduce the contribution of nitrogen (N) to the Gulf of Mexico. However, the adoption of cover crops on agriculture land in the Corn-Belt region remains minimal primarily due to questions that link to how cover crops affect crop yield, N availability and fate and economics. Thus, Dr. Armstrong’s presentation will expound upon experiments, where he is (i) determining the impact of cover crop inclusion on the soil distribution and availability of inorganic N within different N management systems; (ii) quantifying the cash crop yield responses to the addition of cover crops and N application timing; and (iii) evaluating the efficacy of both N application timing and cover crop inclusion on nitrate losses via tile drainage.