Cover crop and phosphorus fertilizer management impacts on surface water quality from a no-till corn-soybean rotation

Carver, RE; Nelson, NO; Roozeboom, KL; Kluitenberg, GJ; Tomlinson, PJ; Kang, Q; Abel, DS

HERO ID

11438109

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2022

Language

English

PMID

34597948

HERO ID 11438109
In Press No
Year 2022
Title Cover crop and phosphorus fertilizer management impacts on surface water quality from a no-till corn-soybean rotation
Authors Carver, RE; Nelson, NO; Roozeboom, KL; Kluitenberg, GJ; Tomlinson, PJ; Kang, Q; Abel, DS
Journal Journal of Environmental Management
Volume 301
Page Numbers 113818
Abstract Best management practices that reduce potential phosphorus (P) loss and provide flexibility in P fertilizer management are needed to help producers protect water quality while maintaining crop yield. This study examined the impacts of P fertilizer management (no P, fall broadcast P, and spring injected P) and cover crop use on annual concentrations and loads of sediment, total P, and dissolved reactive P (DRP) in edge-of-field runoff from a no-till corn (Zea mays)-soybean (Glycine max) rotation in the Central Great Plains, USA, from September 2015 through September 2019. The spring injected P fertilizer treatment generally had 19% less total P and 33% less DRP loss compared to the fall broadcast treatment, confirming the importance of P fertilizer management as a practice for reducing P loss. The addition of a cover crop had an inconsistent effect on total P loss, with no effect in 2016 and 2017, increasing loss in 2018 by 56%, and decreasing it in 2019 by 40%. The inconsistent impact of cover crops on total P loss was related to cover crop effects on sediment loss. Although cover crop impacts on total P losses were inconsistent, the addition of a cover crop increased DRP loss in three of four years. Cover crop use consistently reduced sediment loss, with greater sediment reduction when P fertilizer was applied. Results from this study highlight the benefit of cover crops for reducing sediment loss and the continued need for proper fertilizer management to reduce P loss from agricultural fields.
Doi 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113818
Pmid 34597948
Wosid WOS:000704970000005
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Phosphorus fertilizer; Cover crops; Water quality; Phosphorus loss; Edge-of-field runoff; Erosion