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Current Project
Project type
Research and Extension: USDA/NIFA Capacity Building Grant Evans Allen
Date
August 2023-July 2027
Location
Frankfort, Kentucky
Director
Dr. Atanu Mukherjee
Preliminary Results
During the year 2024-2025, this study at Kentucky State University’s Harold R. Benson Research Demonstration Farm assessed short-term impacts of three treatments: dairy manure, composted dairy manure, and synthetic fertilizers on soil health and leachate water quality under corn. Three treatments were randomly applied to a 4047 m2 (1.77-acre) field with four replications and soil and leachate water samples were collected over the growing season from 10 and 20 cm depths of each plot using bulk density core samplers and suction cup lysimeters, respectively. Soil samples were analyzed for a suite of soil physicochemical parameters and leachate water samples were analyzed for nutrients, pH and electrical conductivity (EC). A few soil health parameters were significantly affected by management, however, some of the observed initial changes were not significant over time. Manure significantly increased soil aggregation, and organic matter compared to fertilizer treatment by 7.5 and 40%, respectively, and compost treatment improved specific surface area of soil than manure by 22.8% and the same than fertilizer by 10.9%. Soil pH was significantly increased by manure and compost than that of the fertilizer and fertilizer significantly increased EC than manure and compost by 7.6% and 15.7%, respectively. Leachate water samples showed significantly higher concentrations of nitrate (NO3-N) at both soil depths and phosphate (PO4-P) at 20 cm under fertilizer compared to manure and compost amendments over time. These findings suggest that most of the measured soil properties were varied by management but temporal variation was absent as they did not respond to various treatments in short-term period during first growing season and longer time is needed to understand the full effects of management over time. Yet, these data indicate that fertilizer treatment may pose significant water quality impairment over time under corn cropping system in Kentucky.
Title: Impacts of contrasting farm practices on water quality over temporal and spatial scales
Most farmers in the midwest and southeast United States use conventional farming methods to grow corn and soybean. However, long-term conventional farming methods degrade soil quality and, consequently, impair water quality. Continuous applications of synthetic chemicals (fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide) may adversely impact the environment by increasing leaching of nitrate, phosphate, or other agrochemicals, leading to eutrophication and impairment of surface and groundwaters. Although many conservative farmers use manure and compost as nutrient sources for production agriculture, the impairment of water quality by pathogens and eutrophication due to over-application are serious concerns. Additionally, manure application is also linked to higher methane and nitrous oxide emissions. In this project, manure, compost, and synthetic fertilizers will be compared side-by-side under corn/soybean production system in a 4-year study at Kentucky State University’s research farm. The main objective of this project is to compare various nutrient sources regarding reduction of loading of agrochemicals in the water bodies while simultaneously improving soil health. Collected water samples will be analyzed for water quality parameters, and soil samples will be analyzed for soil physicochemical properties over time. In addition to traditional fertilizers and amendments, biochar will also be used for comparison purpose. This study will evaluate the impacts of various traditional fertility regimes on water quality over spatial and temporal scales while tracking soil health under conservative farming management.
