Hines Farm Blog: Midwest Rainfall & Flooding 2013 - Assessing Nitrogen Losses after Heavy Rains - Topsoil Erosion

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Midwest Rainfall - 4/5/2013-4/19/2013

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Topsoil and Erosion Due to Conventional Agricultural Practices

Assessing Nitrogen Losses after Heavy Rains
Mike Rankin
Crops and Soils Agent
University of Wisconsin - Extension

Anytime heavy rains occur early in the growing season, a legitimate concern arises regarding nitrogen (N) loss from fertilizers that were applied prior to the rain. The major N loss processes of concern are leaching of available N below the crop root zone and gaseous loss of available N through denitrification in saturated or flooded soils. The exact extent of N losses through leaching and/or denitrification following the heavy rains is unknown. Both of these loss processes occur through the nitrate form of N, so the potential for significant loss is determined by the amount of the crop N supply that was in the nitrate form when the excess rainfall occurred. Losses depend on many factors such as when the N was applied, the forms of N applied or expected to provide N for the crop, soil characteristics, and how wet the soil is/was. In general, leaching losses are more likely on sandy soils where water can move through the profile quickly. Denitrification is more likely on medium and fine textured soils that are not well drained. These soils tend to become saturated with water and/or retain flooded areas for several days following excess rain.

Where fertilizer N was applied before planting, the timing of the application and the form of N used are important in determining the risk of loss. Keeping in mind that losses occur through the nitrate form of N, the timing of nitrate formation is an important consideration in evaluating potential losses. For spring preplant applications, ammonium forms of N such as anhydrous ammonia or urea are converted to nitrate-N in about 4 to 6 weeks. Urea usually is converted to nitrate more rapidly than anhydrous ammonia. Nitrogen solutions (28% UAN) contain half of the N as urea and the remainder as ammonium nitrate. Essentially, this fertilizer contains 75% of the N as ammonium and 25% as nitrate when it is applied. Urea-containing fertilizers are converted to ammonium-N in 3 to 5 days after application, and this conversion occurs even in saturated or flooded soils.

Table 1. Estimated denitrification losses as influenced by soil temperature and days of saturation

Table 1. Estimated denitrification losses as influenced by soil temperature and days of saturation
Soil temperature	Days saturated	N loss (% of applied)
55-60	5	10
	10	25
75-80	3	60
	5	75
	7	85
	9	95

Denitrification losses can occur within a few days if the soil remains saturated or flooded and nitrate-N is present. Warm temperatures and extended periods of saturated conditions favor high losses. Work in Illinois suggests that 4 to 5% of the nitrate-N present can be lost each day the soil remains saturated. Table 1 from the University of Nebraska provides some estimates of denitrification losses at various temperatures and times of saturated soil conditions.

If part or all of the crop N requirement is expected to be provided from organic sources such as manure and/or previous legume crops, losses through leaching and denitrification are expected to be relatively small at this point in the growing season. This is because most of the N from organic sources has not yet been converted to nitrate. Rapid nitrate production from manures and previous legumes usually begins in mid-June and continues for several weeks during the growing season. The availability of N from organic sources can be checked using the preplant soil nitrate test (PSNT) described below.

Determining the need for additional N

A key decision for corn producers is whether additional N should be applied to compensate for N losses that may have occurred. The best method to assess N loss is to perform a presidedress nitrogen test (PSNT). The PSNT offers a diagnostic method for evaluating the N supply for the crop. The test is particularly useful for those cases where previous legumes or manure applications are providing part or all of the crop’s N need. It can also be used to confirm the extent of fertilizer N loss in the soil depth sampled. Since soil samples for the PSNT are taken to a 1-ft depth, nitrogen that has leached below this depth will not be reflected in the test. To use the PSNT, soil samples should be collected to a 1-ft depth when corn plants are between 6 and 12 inches tall. The details of performing the PSNT can be seen at the following web site. http://ipcm.wisc.edu/pubs/cards/a3630.htm

Other considerations

Options for applying supplemental N when it is needed include traditional sidedressing with anhydrous ammonia or N solutions. Where the entire crop N requirement has not yet been applied, sidedress or other postemergence applications should contain the balance of the crop N requirement plus 25-50% of the N that was already applied. Urea-ammonium nitrate solutions (28%) can also be applied as a surface band or as a broadcast spray over the growing crop. Dry N fertilizers such as urea can be broadcast. Leaf burning from solution or dry broadcast applications should be expected. Applying the dry materials when foliage is dry will help to minimize burning. Several precautions should be followed in making broadcast fertilizer applications over growing corn. Basically, broadcast N rates should be limited to 90 lb N/acre for corn with 4 to 5 leaves and to 60 lb N/ acre for corn at the 8-leaf stage. Under N deficient conditions, corn will respond to supplemental N applications through the tassel stage of development if the N can be applied.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Surface runoff, also called nonpoint source pollution, from a farm field in Iowa during a rain storm.
Topsoil as well as farm fertilizers and other potentialpollutants run off unprotected farm fields when heavy rains occur.

Topsoil is the upper, outermost layer of soil, usually the top 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 8 inches (20 cm). It has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms and is where most of the Earth's biological soil activity occurs.

[hide]

[edit]Importance

Plants generally concentrate their roots in and obtain most of their nutrients from this layer. The actual depth of the topsoil layer can be measured as the depth from the surface to the first densely packed soil layer known as subsoil.

[edit]Classification

In soil classification systems, topsoil is known as the "A Horizon," therefore, it is the very top layer.^[1]

[edit]Evaluation

The two common types of Topsoil are Bulk and Bagged Topsoil. The following table illustrates major differences between the two. ^[2]

Topsoil Type	HM%	BS%	pH	P-I	K-I	Ca%	Mg%
Bulk	0.3	69	5.2	009	026	45	10
Bagged	0.7	78	5.8	166+	178	56	12.3

When starting a gardening project, it is very crucial to check whether or not the Soil is satisfactory. Following are the desired levels of Topsoil nutrients. ^[3]

Category	Desired Results
pH Level	5.8 to 6.2
Phosphorus (P-I)	Index of 50
Potassium (K-I)	Index of 50
Calcium (Ca%)	40-60% of Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)
Magnesium (Mg%)	8-10% of CEC
Base saturation (BS%)	60-80% of CEC
Manganese (Mn-I)	Index > 25
Zinc (Zn-I)	Index > 25
Copper (Cu-I)	Index > 25

[edit]Commercial application

A variety of soil mixtures are sold commercially as topsoil, usually for use in improving gardens and lawns, e.g. container gardens, potting soil and peat. Another important yet not commonly known use for topsoil is for proper surface grading near residential buildings such as homes. "The ground around the home should slope down six inches for the first ten feet away from the home. This can often be done by adding topsoil (not sand or gravel)."

[edit]Erosion

A major environmental concern known as topsoil erosion occurs when the topsoil layer is blown or washed away. Without topsoil, little plant life is possible. The estimated annual costs of public and environmental health losses related to soil erosion exceed $45 billion.^[4] Conventional agriculture encourages the depletion of topsoil because the soil must be plowed and replanted each year. Sustainable techniques attempt to slow erosion through the use of cover crops in order to build organic matter in the soil. The United States alone loses almost 3 tons of topsoil per acre per year.^[5] This is of great ecological concern as one inch of topsoil can take 500 years to form naturally.^[6] On current trends, the world has about 60 years of topsoil left.^[7] However, farmer and engineer P. A. Yeomans developed a technique known as Keyline design, which has been proven to convert subsoil into topsoil much faster; Yeomans published a book called Water For Every Farm, in 1954 about the technique^{[citation needed]}.

[edit]See also

Ecology portal

[edit]References

^ U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Soil Survey Division Staff (1993). "Soil Survey Manual."

USDA Handbook 18. Chapter 3.
^ Topsoil . North Carolina Department of Agriculture(July, 1995).[1]
^ Topsoil . North Carolina Department of Agriculture(July, 1995).[2]
^ http://www.ce.cmu.edu/~gdrg/readings/2007/02/20/Pimental_EnvironmentalEnergeticAndEconomicComparisonsOfOrganicAndConventionalFarmingSystems.pdf
^ http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/nri

, "Summary Report, 2007 Natural Resources Inventory," Natural Resources Conservation Services, U. S. Department of Agriculture, December 2009, p. 97
^ http://discovermagazine.com/2001/may/feateatlocal
^ http://world.time.com/2012/12/14/what-if-the-worlds-soil-runs-out/

The lowdown on topsoil: It's disappearing
Mann, C (2008). "Our Good Earth"

. National Geographic Magazine 214 (3): 80–107.

[edit]External links

USDA Electronic Field Office Technical Guide

- Detailed soil conservation guides tailored to individual states/counties
UK British Topsoil Suppliers Association

- Detailed soil information guides

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COPPER'S CREEK FLOODING - April 18, 2013 - about 10 am. Out of bank flow...

Eileen and Monte Hines took video.

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Apr 19, 2013

Midwest Rainfall & Flooding 2013 - Assessing Nitrogen Losses after Heavy Rains - Topsoil Erosion - COPPER'S CREEK FLOODING 2013

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