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Agricultural Watershed Institute

Contact
Steve John
AWI
4004 College Park Road
Decatur, IL 62521
sfjohn@agwatershed.org
(217) 877-5640

On the Web: www.agwatershed.org

Activity: Upper Sangamon River Targeted Watershed Project

Geographic location: Upper Sangamon River Watershed, located in central Illinois

Brief activity description: This 3-year project includes several components, all related to agricultural nutrient management for crop production. One set of on-farm nitrogen field trials is providing a beta test of new nitrogen recomendations being developed by University of Illinois; other field trials are determing variable optimal N rate through replicated plot design, with results compared to findings of the amino-sugar soil test. Another component is demonstrating drainage water management and subsurface bioreactors to reduce movement of nitrates through drainage tiles to surface waters. A paired watershed study is addressing economic and environmental benefits from soil testing and variable rate technology to improve phosphorus management.

Primary goals or focus:

• Nutrient reduction
• Water quality improvement
• Development/implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs)
• Education/information sharing
• Monitoring
• Performance evaluation

Projected outcomes/impacts, if known: By demonstrating the farm economics of a new nitrogen BMP (still under development) and precision agriculture approaches for both N and P, the project is expected to help reduce over-application of these nutrients for corn production, resulting in both increased net farm income and reduced nutrient losses to surface waters. The drainage water management/bioreactor study is expected to refine methods for reducing nitrogen losses through drainage tiles. Water quality outcomes will be monitored in small paired sub-watersheds and modeled at the watershed scale.

Activity type:

• Research
• Education
• Demonstration
• Implementation

Scale of activity:

• On-farm program
• Watershed
• County

Lead organization(s)/organizer(s): Agricultural Watershed Institute

Other partners and participants: University of Illinois, Department of Crop Sciences; University of Illinois, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering; Illinois State Water Survey; County Soil and Water Conservation Districts; Agricultural Conservation Innovation Center; Individual farmer-cooperators; Technical service providers in the fertilizer industry

Timeline/duration: Jan 05 through Dec 07, with expected extension to Dec 08
Projected or real startup time: Field trials during 2006, 2007 and 2008 crop years

Funding sources:

• Federal government
• Local goverment
• Corporations/Business/Industry
• Other (please specify):
• In-kind match from cooperators

Follow-up activities that will/might result from this activity: Economic findings may help refine nutrient BMPs and increase their adoption by Illinois producers. Funding may be sought to continue implementation of management practices and monitoring of water quality in the paired subwatershed beyond the end date of the current project.

Publications