Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, and Conservation Learning Group (CLG), is hosting a free virtual field day exploring impacts of cover crops, tillage and nitrogen-inhibitors on crop performance and water quality on Thursday, November 5th at 1 p.m. CST. Join us for a live conversation with Matt Helmers, Director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, Emily Waring, Graduate Research Assistant, and Carl Pederson, Agricultural Specialist in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University.
Since 1989, research focused on the effects of nitrogen (N) management on crop production and tile drainage water quality has been conducted in north-central Iowa near Gilmore City. In 2010, the treatments were changed to examine the impacts of cereal rye winter cover crop vs. no rye (with and without tillage), conventional tillage vs. no-till, and timing of N-application and use of nitrification inhibitor. Through extensive data collection and monitoring the team is measuring the impact of these practices on nitrogen and phosphorus loss and crop yield.
“This long-term dataset allows us to examine the impacts of conservation practices under a range of weather conditions. We have measured cover crops as an effective practice in reducing N loss from the cropping system,” says Helmers.
To participate in the live virtual field day at 1:00 pm CDT on November 5th, click this URL: https://iastate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpduihpj8iE9ZHcjpsenc2DWQILG41wg0D or visit www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/events and click “Join Live Virtual Field Day”.
Or, join from a dial-in phone line:
Dial: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 914 1198 4892
The field day will be recorded and archived on the ILF website so that it can be watched at any time. The archive will be available at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/events.