Characterizing Groundwater Chemistry and Recharge in the Critical Zone of an Agricultural Claypan Watershed

Hofmeister, K.; Lerch, Robert N.; Baffaut, Claire; Yang, John; Liu, Fengjing

doi:10.1029/2021wr031797

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 69 publications

(189 reference statements)

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“…In‐season precipitation was the highest (876 mm) at Ottawa when average corn yield was the least; however, the site has a claypan soil with a shallow depth, making it uniquely different than the other sites. Claypan soils have low permeability to water and are vulnerable to loss of rainwater and nutrients through runoff, and shallow soil depth reduces soil and nutrient holding capacity (Hofmeister et al., 2022).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen fertilizer source, rate, placement, and application timing effect on sorghum (grain and forage) and corn grain yields

Holman,

Ruiz Diaz,

Obour

et al. 2024

Agrosystems Geosci & Env

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Identifying the limiting nutrient, fertilizer source, rate, placement, additives, and timing of application are critical components of fertilizer management. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilizer source, rate, placement method, additives, application timing, and environment on yields of grain sorghum, forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and corn (for grain, Zea mays L.). Independent field experiments were conducted at 13 different environments in Kansas from 2008 through 2013 on grain sorghum, forage sorghum, and corn. Treatments were an incomplete factorial combination of four fertilizer placement methods, three fertilizer types, five fertilizer additives, three fertilizer application times, and six fertilizer rates that varied by location and across years. Results showed grain and forage sorghum yields responded to N fertilizer in environments that were not extremely dry (<136 mm) or wet (>651 mm). Corn responded to N fertilizer application only in high‐precipitation environments. For grain sorghum, where rate × placement × source × additive interaction was significant, broadcast application of urea (source) at high rates (67–134 kg N ha−1), with summer application timing, or with additive in winter (with environmentally smart nitrogen [ESN]) resulted in up to 43% greater yield compared with application of urea‐ammonium nitrate (UAN; source) and surface band (placement) at 67 kg ha−1 without additives. In the one site‐year where forage sorghum responded to fertilizer application, forage yields with preplant application of UAN at 56–140 kg ha−1 were 164% greater than the control. For corn, application of either urea or UAN fertilizer, UAN in coulter or surface band, with ESN blend, applied at planting, and at highest rates (160 kg ha−1) resulted in best yields compared with the alternatives and 110% greater yield compared with the unfertilized control. We concluded that fertilizer rate is an important management component as it consistently affected yield regardless of crop considered. Fertilizer placement and timing have crop‐specific importance as they were significant for only corn, but the main effect of additives (N stabilizers) was not significant for any of the crops. Environment and crop type influenced crop response to N fertilizer rate, timing, placement, and additives.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen fertilizer source, rate, placement, and application timing effect on sorghum (grain and forage) and corn grain yields

Holman,

Ruiz Diaz,

Obour

et al. 2024

Agrosystems Geosci & Env

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“…First, ET at the CMRB location had an opposite response to land cover than the other two locations (i.e., prairie had higher ET than cropland). An important feature of the CMRB location is the shallow claypan soil, which prevents infiltration (Hofmeister et al., 2022). The prairie site has deeper topsoil that improves water holding capacity, which facilitates higher ET (Mudgal et al., 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface Resistance Controls Differences in Evapotranspiration Between Croplands and Prairies in U.S. Corn Belt Sites

Schreiner‐McGraw,

Baker,

Wood

et al. 2024

Water Resources Research

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Water returned to the atmosphere as evapotranspiration (ET) is approximately 1.6x global river discharge and has wide‐reaching impacts on groundwater and streamflow. In the U.S. Midwest, widespread land conversion from prairie to pasture to cropland has altered spatiotemporal patterns of ET, yet there is not consensus on the direction of change or the mechanisms controlling changes. We measured ET at three locations within the Long‐Term Agroecosystem Research network along a latitudinal gradient with paired rainfed cropland and prairie sites at each location. At the northern locations, the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB) and Kellogg Biological Station (KBS), the cropland has annual ET that is 84 and 29 mm/year (22% and 5%) higher, respectively, caused primarily by higher ET during springtime when fields are fallow. At the southern location, the Central Mississippi River Basin (CMRB), the prairie has 69 mm/year (11%) higher ET, primarily due to a longer growing season. Differences in climate and that the CMRB prairie is remnant native prairie, while the UMRB and KBS prairies are restored, make it challenging to attribute differences to specific mechanisms. To accomplish this, we examine the energy balance using the Two‐Resistance Method (TRM). Results from the TRM demonstrate that higher surface conductance in croplands is the primary factor leading to higher springtime ET from croplands, relative to prairies. Results from this study provide insight into impacts of warm season grasses on the hydrology of the U.S. Corn Belt by providing a mechanistic understanding of how land use change affects the water budget.

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“…We defined three potential groundwater recharge end members, precipitation, beginning water, and surface water, by analysing the hydrogeological parameters, climate characteristics, and existing research in the study area (Hofmeister et al, 2022). Samples with low TDS and low δ 18 O abundance in groundwater were as initial water, in addition to the fact that precipitation and surface water are the two primary sources of groundwater recharge.…”

Section: End Member Definitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater recharge in typical geomorphic landscapes and different land use types on the loess plateau, China

Chen

et al. 2023

Hydrological Processes

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Land use significantly affects the rate and amount of groundwater recharge. To understand these patterns, stable isotope analyses (δ 2 H and δ 18 O) and hydrochemical methods were employed to study the recharge and evolution of groundwater.MixSIAR Bayesian mixture modelling and statistical regression techniques were utilized to investigate the influence of land-use type on groundwater recharge and to calculate the contribution of various water sources to different groundwater types.These findings are important for effective management and conservation of groundwater resources. The groundwater in all studied areas displayed a magnesium bicarbonate type with notable cation exchange, and also demonstrated the dissolution of carbonate and weathering of silicate. Results from the Bayesian mixture model indicate that 69.3% of the groundwater in the Loess Plateau region was recharged by precipitation, while 86.9% of the groundwater in the loess hilly-gully region was recharged from the surface water. Groundwater recharge was more rapid in the loess hilly-gully region than in the Loess Plateau and was less sensitive to the land use type in the former. Dryland-moderate coverage grassland was found to be most conducive to groundwater infiltration, whereas monotypic dryland and high-coverage grassland inhibited infiltration to some degree. To maintain balanced soil erosion control, an increase the area of moderate-coverage grasslands in the Loess Plateau region is recommended.

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Characterizing Groundwater Chemistry and Recharge in the Critical Zone of an Agricultural Claypan Watershed

Cited by 6 publications

References 69 publications

Nitrogen fertilizer source, rate, placement, and application timing effect on sorghum (grain and forage) and corn grain yields

Nitrogen fertilizer source, rate, placement, and application timing effect on sorghum (grain and forage) and corn grain yields

Surface Resistance Controls Differences in Evapotranspiration Between Croplands and Prairies in U.S. Corn Belt Sites

Groundwater recharge in typical geomorphic landscapes and different land use types on the loess plateau, China

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