2021
Phosphorus runoff from no-till soils – do cover crops make it better or worse?
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Maryland Soybean Board
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Abiotic stressField management SustainabilityWater supply
Parent Project:
Phosphorus Runoff from No-Till Soils: Do Cover Crops Make It Better or Worse?
Lead Principal Investigator:
Raymond Weil, University of Maryland
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
21063240
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Maryland Soybean Board
$17,337
Institution Funded:
University of Maryland
$17,337
Brief Project Summary:

The goal of this research is to provide data on how a range of cover crop practices impact the loss of phosphorus by surface runoff. It investigates several mechanisms by which cover crops can affect the loss of phosphorus. We hypothesize that cover crops may reduce the volume of runoff water from a storm, increase the amount of rain required to start runoff from fields, reduce the concentration of P-carrying sediment in runoff water or increase the concentration P dissolved in runoff water. This research provides data that shows the actual runoff volume and P concentration from single species or multi-species cover crops grow in no-till soils typical of Maryland soybean production.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, Extension agents, NGOs

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Final Project Results

Update:
At the time of this reporting, we are reaching the end of the field runoff season which we can monitor with our mini erosion weirs. In the Fall of 2021 and winter of 2022, we deployed 24 of the erosion wears to collect runoff and sediment from plots with no cover crop, a ride cover crop, or a three-way cover crop mixture of radish - crimson clover - rye. The latter treatment is now primarily crimson clover with some rye mixed in as temperatures were cold enough this winter to completely kill the radish. Since the radish cycles more phosphorus than the other two species, this will give us a good opportunity to look for a flush of phosphorus expected after the radish winter kills. We have collected runoff from 17 rain events and anticipate being able to do possibly one more event before having to remove the runoff weirs from the field to allow planting the corn and soybeans in the plots. We have determined the sediment load by filtering the runoff through a 0.45-micron filter. The filtered samples are currently being analyzed in our lab for their nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. This work will continue for several months before we can summarize the data.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.