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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #371952
Research Project: Assessing and Managing Antibiotic Resistance, Nutrients, and Pathogens In Animal-Impacted Agroecosystems

Location: Agroecosystem Management Research

Title: Accumulation and release of nutrients by immersed stalks collected on selected dates following harvest

Author
item Gilley, John
item MARX, DAVID - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/13/2020
Publication Date: 7/20/2020
Citation: Gilley, J.E., Marx, D.B. 2020. Accumulation and release of nutrients by immersed stalks collected on selected dates following harvest. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution. 231:384. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04765-x.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04765-x

Interpretive Summary: The concentrations of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in runoff from cropland areas may be influenced by adsorption and desorption of P and N by stalk residues. A laboratory study was conducted to measure the effects of time since harvest and immersion period on adsorption and desorption P and N by corn, soybean, and wheat stalks. Experimental variables included type of stalk material (corn, soybean, and wheat), time since harvest (six residue collection dates over an approximate one-year period), and stalk immersion period (25, 250, 2500, 25000, and 86400 sec). The initial concentration of each of the P and N constituents in a test solution was the same throughout the study. The soybean, wheat, and corn residue desorbed P and the amount desorbed consistently increased as immersion period became greater. Corn and wheat residue either adsorbed or desorbed N depending on residue collection date. Soybean and wheat residue adsorbed N and corn residue desorbed N. The type of crop residue material, the amount of time the residue has remained in the field following harvest, and residue immersion period were found to influence nutrient concentrations of solution.

Technical Abstract: The concentrations of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in runoff from cropland areas may be influenced by adsorption and desorption of P and N by stalk residues. A laboratory study was conducted to measure the effects of time since harvest and immersion period on adsorption and desorption P and N by corn, soybean, and wheat stalks. Experimental variables included type of stalk material (corn, soybean, and wheat), time since harvest (six residue collection dates over an approximate one-year period), and stalk immersion period (25, 250, 2500, 25000, and 86400 sec). The initial concentration of each of the P and N constituents in a test solution was 6 µg mL-1. The soybean, wheat, and corn residue desorbed PO4-P at mean rates of 40, 69, and 141 'g g-1 residue, respectively. The amount of PO4-P that was desorbed consistently increased as immersion period became greater. Corn and wheat residue either adsorbed or desorbed NO3-N depending on residue collection date. Soybean residue adsorbed an average of 20 'g NO3-N g-1 residue. Wheat residue obtained on five of the collection dates adsorbed an average of 13 'g NO3-N g-1 residue. Residue collection date also influenced adsorption of NH4-N by soybean and wheat residue. Corn residue desorbed an average of 77 'g NH4-N g-1 residue. The type of crop residue material, the amount of time the residue has remained in the field following harvest, and residue immersion period were found to influence nutrient concentrations of solution.