Soil quality index (SQI) assessment is an important tool for evaluating land use and soil management practices in agroecosystems. Thus, the objectives of this research were to assess SQI using the scoring function analysis for different agricultural management practices, and to evaluate the effects of tillage and drainage systems on SQI of a crosby silt loam in central Ohio. Treatments included...

Despite the use of best management practices for nitrogen (N) application rate and timing, significant losses of nitrate nitrogen (NO3(-)-N) in drainage discharge continue to occur from row crop cropping systems. Our objective was to determine whether a autumn-seeded winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop following corn (Zea mays L.) would reduce NO3(-)-N losses through subsurface tile drain...

Computer models have been widely used to evaluate the impact of agronomic management on nitrogen (N) dynamics in subsurface drained fields. However, they have not been evaluated as to their ability to capture the variability of nitrate-nitrogen (NO(3)-N) concentration in subsurface drainage at a wide range of N application rates due to possible errors in the simulation of other system component...

In GIS and in terrain analysis, drainage systems are important components. Due to local topography and subsurface geology, a drainage system achieves a particular drainage pattern based on the form and texture of its network of stream channels and tributaries. Drainage pattern recognition helps to provide a qualitative description of the terrain for analysis and classification and is useful for...

Nonpoint source contamination of surface and groundwater resources with nitrate-N (NO3-N) has been linked to agriculture across the midwestern USA. A 4-yr study was conducted to assess the extent of NO3-N leaching in a central Iowa field. Water flow rate was monitored continuously and data were stored on an internal datalogger. Water samples for chemical analysis were collected weekly provided ...

Bioenergy cropping systems have been proposed as a way to enhance United States energy security. However, research on soil physical properties, soil-surface CO2 effluxes, and soil drainage dynamics in such systems is needed to ensure environmental sustainability in the field. The objective of our research was to evaluate soil physical properties and conditions as well as soil-surface CO2 efflux...

Installing subsurface tile drain systems in poorly drained claypan soils to improve corn ( L.) yields could potentially increase environmental phosphorus (P) loss through the tile drainage system. The objectives of the study were to quantify the average concentration and loss of ortho-P in tile drain water from a claypan soil and to determine whether managed subsurface drainage (MD) could reduc...

Nitrate nitrogen losses through subsurface drainage and crop yield are determined by multiple climatic and management variables. The combined and interactive effects of these variables, however, are poorly understood. Our objective is to predict crop yield, nitrate concentration, drainage volume, and nitrate loss in subsurface drainage from a corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Mer...