The LTAR Cropland Common Experiment at R.J. Cook Agronomy Farm, Washington, USA

Authors: Huggins, David; Phillips, Claire; Carlson, Bryan; Casanova, Joaquin; Heineck, Garett; BEAN, ALYCIA - Washington State University; BROOKS, ERIN - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/7/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Dryland agriculture in the Inland Pacific Northwest is challenged in part by rising input costs for seed, fertilizer, and agrichemicals; threats to water quality and soil health, including soil erosion, organic matter decline, acidification, compaction, and nutrient imbalances; lack of cropping system diversity; herbicide resistance; and air quality concerns from atmospheric emissions of particulate matter and greenhouse gases. Technological advances such as rapid data acquisition, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and robotics have helped fuel innovation and discovery but have also further complicated agricultural decision-making and research. Meeting these challenges has promoted interest in (1) supporting long-term research that enables assessment of ecosystem service trade-offs, and advances sustainable and regenerative approaches to agriculture, and (2) developing co-production research approaches that actively engage decision-makers and accelerate innovation. The Cook Agronomy Farm (CAF) Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) site established a cropping systems experiment in 2017 that contrasts prevailing and alternative practices at field scales over a proposed 30-year time frame. The experimental site is on the Washington State University R.J. Cook Agronomy Farm near Pullman, WA, USA. Cropping practices include a wheat-based cropping system under continuous no-tillage and precision applied N, compared to the prevalent practice of reduced tillage and uniformly applied agrichemicals. This technical review describes the research to date including assessing cropping system performance (e.g., crop yield, soil health, water and air quality) between the two agricultural systems. Future research will explore a co-production approach with the intent of advancing discovery, innovation, and impact through collaborative stakeholder-researcher partnerships that direct and implement research priorities. The description of the Cook Agronomy Farm LTAR site will be of interest to researchers, agency professionals, agribusiness and agricultural producers.

Technical Abstract: Dryland agriculture in the Inland Pacific Northwest is challenged in part by rising input costs for seed, fertilizer, and agrichemicals; threats to water quality and soil health, including soil erosion, organic matter decline, acidification, compaction, and nutrient imbalances; lack of cropping system diversity; herbicide resistance; and air quality concerns from atmospheric emissions of particulate matter and greenhouse gases. Technological advances such as rapid data acquisition, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and robotics have helped fuel innovation and discovery but have also further complicated agricultural decision-making and research. Meeting these challenges has promoted interest in (1) supporting long-term research that enables assessment of ecosystem service trade-offs, and advances sustainable and regenerative approaches to agriculture, and (2) developing co-production research approaches that actively engage decision-makers and accelerate innovation. The Cook Agronomy Farm (CAF) Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) site established a cropping systems experiment in 2017 that contrasts prevailing (PRV) and alternative (ALT) practices at field scales over a proposed 30-year time frame. The experimental site is on the Washington State University R.J. Cook Agronomy Farm near Pullman, WA, USA. Cropping practices include a wheat-based cropping system with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), canola (Brassica napus, variety napus), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), and winter pea (Pisum sativum) with winter wheat produced every third year under the alternative (ALT) practices of continuous no-tillage (NT) and precision applied N, compared to the prevalent (PRV) practice of reduced tillage (RT) and uniformly applied agrichemicals. Biophysical measurements are made at georeferenced locations that capture field-scale spatial variability at temporal intervals that follow approved methods for each agronomic and environmental metric. Research to date is assessing spatial and temporal variations in cropping system performance (e.g., crop yield, soil health, water and air quality) for ALT versus PRV and associated tradeoffs. Future research will explore a co-production approach with the intent of advancing discovery, innovation, and impact through collaborative stakeholder-researcher partnerships that direct and implement research priorities.