missouri strip trial program · pdf filenitrogen: grain crop response (corn, milo, wheat) to...

Missouri Strip Trial ProgramJohn Lory Greg Luce Darrick SteenState Specialist State Specialist Environmental SpecialistNutrient Management Grain Crops Missouri Corn and Missouri Soybean

Other Team Members:Peter Scharf Bill WieboldState Specialist State SpecialistNutrient Management Soybean

Kent Shannon Wayne FlanaryNatural Resource Engineer Agronomist

Charles Ellis Theresa MusketNatural Resource Engineer Project Manager

Agenda: Dec. 15, 2017• Program mission and approach.

• Background.

• Tools of the trade.

• Case studies.• ILeVO trials.

• Cover Crop trials.

• P trials.

• Priorities for 2018• For existing funding

• For funding requests this fall.

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Missouri Strip Trial Program

Farmer led & farmer focused.

Applied research/trials….“on-farm”.

Practical info & results for farmers.

Deliver results quickly – for next growing season.

Maintain or improve grower profitability.

Enhance environmental stewardship & sustainability.

Helping Missouri farmers validate crop management decisions and

document efficiency and environmental stewardship.

On Farm Trials

•Guidance systems and yield monitors simplify on-farm trials.

•Design around planting & harvest equipment size.

• Provide ample space and replications for good data.

• Simple Comparisons: Change one variable – maybe two.

• Power in comparisons across many farms over multiple years.

Farmer Panel

1. Robert Alpers (Prairie Home)

2. Neal Bredehoeft (Alma)

3. Richard Fordyce (Bethany)

4. Matt Lambert (Brookfield)

5. Mark Lehenbauer (Hannibal)

6. Brian Lehman (Versailles)

7. Aaron Porter (Dexter)

8. Peter Rost Jr. (New Madrid)

9. Doug Thomas (Brashear)

10. Jules Willot (Laddonia)

Industry Reps

1. Scott Wilburn (MFA, Laddonia)

2. Charlie Schafer (Martinsburg)

Prioritize trials and provide practical feedback on how to improve and sustain the program.

Trials Approved for 2016 & 2017

Cover crops (2016-17)

Impact of Cereal Rye and Winter Wheat?

Best timing to terminate?

Phosphorus (2016-17)

Are we near where we need to be?

Nitrogen (2016-17)

How efficient are we?

What is the best timing?

Seed Treatment (2017-18)

Effectiveness ILeVO to control SCN and SDS

2016 Strip Trial Locations

46 trails in 2016

All 2016 Trials

All 2017 Trials

AtchisonP-2

Nodaway

Worth

HarrisonMercer

Putnam Clark

Holt

CC-1

P-1

IL-2

Andrew

CC-1

P-1

Gentry

P-1

Scotland

CC-1

DeKalbDaviess

Grundy

Sullivan Adair

IL-1 Knox

P-1Lewis

Buchanan Clinton

P-7

Caldwell

Linn MaconShelby

Marion

Platte

IL-1Clay

Ray

Carroll

Chariton

P-2Monroe

Ralls

KD-1

N-1

IL-2

Jackson

Lafayette

IL-2

SalineHoward

Pike

Lincoln

CC-4 N-1

IL-5Boone

CC-2

Callaway Warren

IL-1

Franklin

CC-1

St. Louis

Jefferson

OsageCole

Cooper

P-1

Cass

Johnson Pettis

Bates

Henry

Benton

Morgan

Miller Maries

Crawford

Perry

KD-1

Cape

GirardeauMadison

Iron

Phelps

Dent

Reynolds

Scott

CC-1

Shannon

Texas

Wayne

Stoddard

Butler

Pemiscot

Carter

RipleyOregon

Pulaski

Camden

Hickory

St. Clair

Vernon

Barton

IL-2

JasperLawrence

PolkDallas Laclede

Wright

Christian Douglas

GreeneWebster

Newton

McDonald

Barry StoneTaney Ozark

Howell

Audrain

IL-3

Moniteau

Dade

Cedar

53 trails

Expanding technical capacity – in progress

Trial design and layout

• Designs that work... And do not work.

• The critical role of trip trial geometry.

Reliable data collection using UAVs

• Certified pilots: Kent Shannon, Theresa Musket, Wyatt Miller, Rusty Lee

• Methodology• Reliable obtain whole-field stitched images.

• Strategies for low altitude, high resolution data collection (e.g. SDS identification)

• Image analysis: Stand counts, Plant color, Ground cover

Data collection and translation into results

• Yield map protocol handbook

• What information is required and how best to obtain and organize?

• Appropriate statistical methods: single farm, across locations and years.

• Efficiently translating results into reports to farmers.

Scouting: Documenting K deficiency in Soybean

65 feet with 4:3 aspect ratio – moving UAV

65 feet with 5:4 aspect ratio – stationary UAV

300 feet with 5:4 aspect ratio – Stitched image - moving UAV

Documenting cover crop: % cover, weed pressure.

Commercial product – from an airplane – 4/11/17

300 feet UAV Stitched image – 5/5/17

3 feet IPAD image – 5/8/17

The role of soil sampling

• Current Projects• Soybean Cyst Nematode

• Soil test phosphorus.

• Cost vs. Opportunity• Scale issues

• Expensive to obtain – in time and $$

• Timing an issue – For SCN we are sampling before strips are planted.

Data Carpentry • Which are the full swaths?• Is swath width correct?

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Image Processing • Automate pixel recognition.• What is plant? What is soil?

• Develop tools in accessible software.• ArcMap and QGIS

• Goals? • N status/Residue cover/Weeds/pressure/Population.

Method: ManualRed/Green Ratio

Method: AutomatedK-means on ExG vs. V space

Plant

Plant

Developing technical approach – in progress

Data standards

• Insuring trials are uniformly implemented across farms.

• Standardizing processing and organization of data.

Developing analysis and reports

• Goal to reach out to farmers at least three times after trial is established.

• What metrics and reports are effective?

Combining data among locations

• Working with Iowa On-Farm Network and Cornell University to consider spatial and Bayesian statistical methods.

Case Studies from 2017• ILeVO

•Cover Crop

•PhosphorusReview of preliminary results from example trials.

MU Extension, the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council.The MU Certified Strip Trial Program is funded by:

Cover Crop Termination Date: Cover crop Terminated at two different dates in spring

Phosphorus: Crop response to phosphorus fertilizer

Nitrogen: Grain Crop response (corn, milo, wheat) to nitrogen

ILeVO: ILeVO high rate vs. no ILeVO

For more information, contact your local Extension office;Theresa Musket at 573-884-8696 or [email protected]; or

John Lory at 573-884-7815 or [email protected].

2018 Strip Trials Options:

Trials are conducted on Farmers’ fields and designed to work with the Farmers’ own equipment.

MU Certified Strip Trial ProgramHelping farmers validate management decisions on their farm while documenting efficiency and environmental stewardship.

Trial Options for 2018 (some are tentative*)

Cover Crop Trial: Termination date ahead of corn or milo – nitrogen focus.

Cover Crop Trial: Termination date comparison.

Phosphorus Trial: Response to phosphorus fertilizer.

Nitrogen Trial: Assessing fall, winter or spring N application for corn & milo.

Nitrogen Trial: Assessing N decision support tools for corn and milo.

Nitrogen Trial: Nitrogen response of grain crops (corn, milo, wheat).

Seed Treatment Trial: ILeVO test trial*.

Pesticide Trial: Foliar fungicides*.

Cover Crop Trial: WW-CC-Con comparison.

Cover Crop Trial: Cover crop options following soybean prior to corn.

Details of these trials with the exception of the last three follow. Note that the last two cover crop trials have already been initiated for 2018.

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Trial Options for 2018

Cover Crop Trial: Termination date ahead of corn or milo – nitrogen focus. pg. 2

Cover Crop Trial: Termination date comparison. pg. 3

Phosphorus Trial: Response to phosphorus fertilizer. pg. 4

Nitrogen Trial: Assessing fall, winter or spring nitrogen application for corn & milo. pg. 5

Nitrogen Trial: Assessing nitrogen decision support tools for corn and milo. pg. 6

Nitrogen Trial: Nitrogen response of grain crops (corn, milo, wheat) pg. 7

Seed Treatment Trial: ILeVO test trial. pg. 8

Cover Crop Trial: WW-CC-Con comparison. N/A

Cover Crop Trial: Cover crop options following soybean prior to corn. N/A

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Cover Crop Trial: Termination date ahead of corn or milo – nitrogen focus.

Treatments: Early termination date at or before nitrogen application versus a later

termination data where the cover crop is likely to take up applied nitrogen.

Key question(s): Does terminating early, with no uptake of applied nitrogen reduce yield

lag associated with cover crops before corn and milo?

History: New trial in 2018.

Key elements:

Trial is targeted to farmers who apply nitrogen prior to terminating their cover crop.

Farmer choice of cover crop or crop mix that does not winter kill. Prefer trails that include

winter wheat or cereal rye in the mixture.

Compare two termination dates. The early termination data must be at or before the

primary nitrogen application for the corn or milo crop. The second termination date should

be at least 10 days after nitrogen application, longer with anhydrous applications.

Corn and milo are the preferred grain crops. Not soybean.

Minimum of four replicates.

Key measurements

Farmer estimate of cover crop growth stage, and height/biomass at termination dates.

Aerial imagery between termination dates to confirm location of treatments, when feasible.

High resolution images using low altitude UAV at points in the field at V 4-6 (pre-canopy

closure) to assess weed control and stand issues.

Aerial imagery in early in July to assess nitrogen status.

Scouting for any stand issues identified.

GPS referenced yield map.

Key additional information needed from farmer:

Prefer as-applied/coverage map for herbicide applications.

Cropping information on cover crop and grain crop including planting dates, seeding rates

and termination/harvest dates.

Detailed information on herbicide and nitrogen fertilizer program.

Comments:

Requires two trips across field to complete weed control.

It is critical that participating farmers do not delay the late termination data any longer then

they are planning. This trial is for farmers who already terminate their cover crop after

nitrogen application. We are asking to test the earlier termination date.

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Cover Crop Trial: Termination date comparison.

Treatments: Early versus later termination date for cover crop.

Key question(s): Does delayed kill date associated with higher biomass accumulation

increase management risk with cover crops?

History: 8 successful trials in 2016; 3 trials in 2017.

Key elements:

Farmer choice of cover crop or crop mix that does not winter kill. Typically recruited in

spring for existing cover crop stands. Prefer trails that include winter wheat or cereal rye in

the mixture.

Compare two termination dates that are at least 7 days apart. Recommend early

termination date be no later than 6-8 inches growth going to corn and 10-12 inches growth

going to soybean for mixes including cereal grains. Farmer manages kill dates.

Soybean and corn preferred grain crops.

Minimum of four replicates.

Key measurements

Farmer estimate of cover crop growth stage, and height/biomass at termination dates.

Aerial imagery between termination dates to confirm location of treatments, when feasible.

High resolution images using low altitude UAV at points in the field at V 4-6 (pre-canopy

closure) to assess weed control and stand issues.

Aerial imagery in early in July to assess nitrogen status.




Prefer as-applied/coverage map for herbicide applications.

Cropping information on cover crop and grain crop including planting dates, seeding rates

and termination/harvest dates.

Detailed information on herbicide and nitrogen fertilizer program.

Comments:

Requires two trips across field to complete weed control.

We will look for new trials and continue to support farmers continuing existing trials

multiple years.

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Phosphorus Trial: Response to phosphorus fertilizer.

Treatments: With vs. without phosphorus fertilizer.

Key question(s): Does soil test predict where we need phosphorus fertilizer? How many

years of phosphorus do you have in the soil?

History: Program initiated 25 trials in 2016 and 17 in 2017.

Key elements:

For fields where the farmer applies P, create a zero-P strip that extends for 1000 to 2000

feet across a field. Need to be able to obtain yields from the zero-P strip and areas on both

sides of the zero-P strip that had P fertilizer applied.

For fields where the farmer is not applying P, need to strips of P fertilizer on both sides of a

strip that does not receive fertilizer.

In addition to evaluating yield differences, the zero-P strip is soil tested at least once every

two years. Soil test is tracked in 100-foot sections. We may cut back on soil sampling

depending on our analysis of data from the past two years.

Objective to have multiple years at one location maintaining the zero-P strip to document

how long zero-P can be maintained without yield loss. But single-year trials are also

welcome.

Key measurements

Soil test from zero-P strip (every 100-foot section).

Aerial imagery July for nutrient status and site quality control.




Prefer as-applied map to document zero-P strip location.

Agronomic information on crops such as planting dates, harvest dates.

Detailed information on N, P and K fertilizer applications.

Comments:

A goal of this program is to move farmers toward using strip trials to fine tune the P

recommendations on their farm and make more strategic P fertilizer management

decisions.

A goal of this trial is to continue existing trials.

For farmers who do not apply phosphorus we may be able to help them facilitate

applications to create the treatment area.

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Nitrogen Trial: Assessing fall, winter or spring nitrogen application for corn and milo.

Treatments: Compare farmer rate with vs. additional 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre.

If the farmer is concerned about nitrogen loss at the time of side dress,

this trial can be converted into a decision support tool assessment trial.

Key question(s): Has the farmers management strategy resulted in lost yield due to lack of

nitrogen.

History: New trial.

Key elements:

Farmer applied 100% of planned nitrogen in prior to planting (fall, winter or spring).

The extra nitrogen is applied as a side dress application (V-4 or later).

Key logistical component for this trial is identifying how the side-dress nitrogen application

will be accomplished.

Key measurements

Ideally two aerial photos to document nitrogen status. One just prior to application and the

second at least two weeks after the nitrogen application.




Prefer as-applied maps to document treatment locations.


Detailed information on nitrogen fertilizer applications.

Comments:

If the first aerial image documents extensive nitrogen loss and the farmer wants to apply

nitrogen to the whole field, this trial can be converted to a decision support tool trial using

the aerial image to suggest a variable rate or set rate, compared to the farmer preferred

rescue rate.

This trial could also be adapted for wheat crops.

Preferred focus for these trials is currently in NE and EC Extension regions and any farm

within 90-minute drive of Columbia. More regions will be added if we can develop a local

contact capable of providing aerial imagery on short notice in June and July.

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Nitrogen Trial: Assessing nitrogen decision support tools for corn and milo.

Treatments: Side-dress nitrogen application rate based on farmer rate vs. rate

determined by a nitrogen decision support tool.

Key question(s): Does the nitrogen decision support tool result in higher efficiency in

nitrogen use by the crop?

History: We have offered a version of this trial for 2016 and 2017.

Key elements:

Requires that at least 25% of the planned nitrogen rate will be applied as side-dress

nitrogen.

Decision support tool is used to determine side-dress rate compared to farmer side-dress

rate.

A wide range of decision support tools can be used. The strip trial program can provide a

corn-color based nitrogen application recommendation for use in this trial.

Key measurements

Ideally two aerial photos to document nitrogen status. One just prior to application and the

second at least two weeks after the nitrogen application. The first can be used to provide a

nitrogen recommendation as a decision support tool.




Prefer as-applied maps to document treatment locations.



Comments:

This trial could also be adapted for wheat crops.

This trial can be used for farmers who need rescue application because of high nitrogen

losses.

Preferred focus for these trials is currently in NE and EC Extension regions and any farm

within 90-minute drive of Columbia. More regions will be added if we can develop a local

contact capable of providing aerial imagery on short notice in June and July.

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Nitrogen Trial: Nitrogen response of grain crops (corn, milo, wheat)

Treatments: Seeking ideas for N trials that are feasible for farmers. No specific

treatments specified. Will work directly with farmers on developing trials

that answer efficiency questions on their farm.

Key question(s): We have focused on the quantifying the benefits of side-dress systems

and comparisons of farmer approach with other decision support tools.

History: We have a growing number of extension specialists and project personnel

with the skills to implement these trials.

Key elements:

The goal of this program is to link MU Extension personnel with individual farmers to

implement a trial on their farm that has the potential to increase nitrogen use efficiency on

the farm.

Given the technical needs to complete this type of trial these trials will only be supported

in the NE Extension region, the northern part of the EC Extension region and any other farm

located within a 75-minute drive of campus or where there is the ability to obtain drone

imagery in a timely manner.

Key measurements

Aerial imagery in June or July to document nitrogen status. Can be used to guide

application rates.




Prefer as-applied maps to document treatment location.



Comments:

Goal is an expanding list of case studies looking at different systems for corn, milo and

wheat.

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Seed Treatment Trial: ILeVO test trial.

Treatment options: ILeVO high rate vs. none.

Key question(s): Product testing for effectiveness based on yield and nematode numbers.

History: 19 ILeVO trials are in progress in 2017.

Key elements:

Seed treatments same except for ILeVO.

At least five replicates.

Key measurements

Soil sample five GPS located points prior to planting for each treatment (10 total).

Require an as-applied planting map to document the location of the trial and treatments.

Aerial imagery prior to canopy closure to document differences in crop coverage and

provide an earlier image of the field to help with the August assessment.

Aerial imagery including high resolution images in late August to quantify SDS.

Scouting to confirm any SDS identified.


Second soil sample at the same 10 points after harvest.


SCN survey.

Cropping information grain crop including variety, planting dates, seeding rates and harvest

date.

Detailed information on all other seed treatments. These must be used on both treatments.

Comments:

missouri strip trial program · pdf filenitrogen: grain crop response (corn, milo, wheat) to...

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