The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research cropland common experiment at Northern Plains

Authors: Liebig, Mark; Whippo, Craig; Saliendra, Nicanor; Scott, Drew; Archer, David; Clemensen, Andrea; Halvorson, Jonathan; Friedrichsen, Claire; Christensen, Rachael; IGATHINATHANE, CANNAYEN - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/19/2024
Publication Date: 5/20/2024
Citation: Liebig, M.A., Whippo, C.W., Saliendra, N.Z., Scott, D.A., Archer, D.W., Clemensen, A.K., Halvorson, J.J., Friedrichsen, C.N., Christensen, R., Igathinathane, C. 2024. The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research cropland common experiment at Northern Plains. Journal of Environmental Quality. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20572.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20572

Interpretive Summary: This paper describes the croplands common experiment at the Northern Plains Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Network site. The experiment reflects ongoing efforts at the USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory, Mandan, ND USA to develop adaptive and integrative practices for sustainable crop, livestock, and rangeland production systems. The experiment was started in 2019 on the Area IV Soil Conservation Districts Cooperative Research Farm. Cropping practices for the first 6-years of the experiment were developed with input from stakeholders. A 3-year crop rotation of spring wheat, corn, and soybean with cover crops (alternative practice) and without cover crops (prevailing practice) are included. The prevailing practice also involves baling and removing wheat straw. A second alternative practice involves haying perennial forages. Plants, soil, and air are measured to understand how the practices perform under variable weather conditions. Future plans for the experiment include working with stakeholders to design and implement treatments and interpret results.

Technical Abstract: Cropland agriculture in the northern Great Plains is challenged by variable weather, agricultural intensification, and competing use for energy development. Innovative cropland practices that address these challenges are needed to ensure regional agriculture can sustainably meet future food, fuel, and fiber demand. In response to this need, the Northern Plains (NP) Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Network site established a cropland experiment in 2019 that contrasts prevailing and alternative practices at plot and field scales over a proposed 30-y time frame. The experimental site is located on the Area IV Soil Conservation Districts Cooperative Research Farm near Mandan, ND, USA. Cropping practices for the first 6-y of the experiment were developed with input from stakeholders and include a 3-y crop rotation of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), corn (Zea mays L.), and soybean (Glycine max L.) with cover crops (alternative practice) and without (prevailing practice). The prevailing practice also involves the removal of crop residue, while a second alternative practice of perennial forages is included in the plot-scale experiment. Biophysical measurements are made at both spatial scales at frequencies aligned with approved methods for each agronomic and environmental metric. Findings from the first 6-y of the experiment will help identify tradeoffs associated with cover crop use and residue removal in dryland cropping systems. In the future, the experiment will adopt a knowledge co-production approach whereby researchers and stakeholders will work collaboratively to identify problems, implement research, and interpret results.