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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #332448
Title: Application of polyacrylamide (PAM) through lay-flat polyethylene 1 tubing: effects on infiltration, erosion, N and P transport, and corn yield

Author
item MCNEAL, JACOB - Mississippi State University
item KRUTZ, L - Mississippi State Extension Service
item Locke, Martin
item KENTY, MICHAEL - Helena Chemical Company
item ATWILL II, RICHARD - Mississippi State Extension Service
item PICKELMANN, DUSTIN - Mississippi State Extension Service
item BRYANT, COREY - Mississippi State Extension Service
item WOOD, C - Mississippi State Extension Service
item GOLDEN, BOBBY - Mississippi State Extension Service
item COX, MICHAEL - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/18/2017
Publication Date: 4/28/2017
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5865663
Citation: McNeal, J., Krutz, L., Locke, M.A., Kenty, M., Atwill II, R., Pickelmann, D., Bryant, C., Wood, C., Golden, B., Cox, M. 2017. Application of polyacrylamide (PAM) through lay-flat polyethylene 1 tubing: effects on infiltration, erosion, N and P transport, and corn yield. Journal of Environmental Quality. 46:855-861. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2016.08.0299.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2016.08.0299

Interpretive Summary: Polyacrylamides (PAMs) are applied as soil amendments to improve soil infiltration, decrease erosion, and reduce off-site agrochemical transport. This technology has not been fully assessed for use in production systems on soils typical of the Lower Mississippi Delta Alluvial Plain in the Mid-South USA. ARS scientists collaborated with Mississippi State Delta Research and Extension Center, Stoneville, MS, in a field study evaluating effects of irrigation with and without PAM on infiltration, erosion and chemical loss, and corn grain yield. PAM increased infiltration and corn grain yield by 6%, but effects on the loss of sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus were inconsistent. Results indicate that PAM improves infiltration and corn grain yield; however, further research is required before PAM can be recommended as a best management practice for mitigating erosion and off site agrochemical transport in Mid-South production systems. These results are of interest to farmers and farming stakeholders by providing additional information on the potential for improving crop production and mitigating negative environmental impacts.

Technical Abstract: Polyacrylamides (PAMs), when applied as a soil amendment, purportedly improve soil infiltration, decrease erosion, and reduce off-site agrochemical transport. The effect of PAM on infiltration, erosion, agrochemical transport, and crop yield when applied in-furrow to Mid-South production systems has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to assess PAM effects on infiltration, erosion, corn grain yield, and N and P transport when applied at 10 mg L-1 through lay-flat polyethylene tubing. A two-year field study was conducted at the Mississippi State Delta Research and Extension Center, in Stoneville, Mississippi, USA on a Dundee silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic Typic Endoaqualfs) and a Forestdale silty clay loam (fine, smectitic, thermic Typic Endoqualfs). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications of each treatment: irrigated plus no PAM (control), and irrigated plus PAM at 10 mg L-1. Each irrigation event delivered 41.5 ha mm at 18.9 L m-1 37 per furrow, and runoff was captured in a holding tank on the lower end of each plot. Pooled over year and soil texture, PAM increased infiltration and corn grain yield by 6% (P = 0.0398). Polyacrylamide effects on the off-site transport of sediment and N and P were inconsistent, varying across year and soil texture. Results indicate that PAM improves infiltration and corn grain yield on silt loam and silty clay loam textured soils; however, further research is required before PAM can be recommended as a best management practice for mitigating erosion and off site agrochemical transport in Mid-South production systems.