Identification of Factors Affecting Carbon Sequestration and Nitrous
Oxide Emission in Three Organic Cropping Systems
USDA-NIFA Grant Award
10/2011 – 08/2014
Principle Investigator: Tim Reinbott, University of Missouri
Co-Investigators:
Bob Kremer, USDA-ARS
Newell Kitchen, USDA-ARS
Debi Kelly, University of Missouri Extension
Establishing organic research at the University of Missouri and utilizing on-farm research
and demonstrations with cooperating farmers is a crucial step in developing local and
regional outreach programs for organic agricultural practices.
The overall goal of this research project is to improve the competitiveness of organic
crop producers in Missouri by providing research into cropping systems that will help
them maintain or increase grain productivity, suppress weeds and provide fertility while
reducing their negative impacts on water, air and soil quality.
Specific goals of the study:
 Provide data on nitrous oxide emissions in corn-soybean-wheat rotations using
conventional tillage vs. no-till and using cover crops in both tillage schemes.
 Compare tillage and cover crop practices to optimize carbon sequestration and
reduce carbon dioxide emission in Missouri’s claypan soils
 Expand our knowledge of cover crops that can be incorporated into organic
agriculture for nitrogen, weed suppression and soil quality specific to Missouri’s
diverse soils and climatic conditions.
 Determine how much organic compost is required in addition to legume cover
crops to maximize grain yield
 Utilize project data to inform University Extension and NRCS personnel and
develop outreach programs for organic producers in Missouri and those
considering organic production.
The main part of this study will take place at the University of Missouri Bradford
Research and Extension Center (BREC), located 5 miles east of Columbia, MO. Soils
at this site are primarily Mexico silt loam (fine, smectitic, mesic Vertic Epiaqualfs).
MU Research Grain Production Plots:
An area located at BREC that has been in a conventional corn/soybean rotation is
divided into three 40 x 30 ft (12 x 9 m) main plots of either:
1. Tillage without cover crop;
2. Tillage with cover crop;
3. No-tillage with cover crop.
Each main plot is divided into four split plots of 10 x 30 ft (3 x 9 m) of four rates of composted manure
from a local organic poultry farm in California, MO. Three studies with corn (Zea mays), soybeans
(Glycine max (L) Merr.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) run simultaneously beginning in the fall of each
harvest year. In mid October, wheat planted with a grain drill at 7.5 inch row spacing (0.2 m) into main
plots that have either been tilled (treatments 1 and 2) or left untilled (treatment 3). After wheat harvest in
late June, a crop of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is planted and tilled under in late August. A
rye/hairy vetch mixture consisting of common rye, 60 lbs/acre (67 kg/ha), and inoculated common hairy
vetch, 30 lbs/acre, (33.5 kg/ha) is drilled in late Aug/early September in those plots that will be followed by
corn in the spring. Winter cereal rye will be planted in late Sept/early Oct at 90 lbs/acre (101 kg/ha) in
those plots followed by soybeans in the spring. Cover crops will be flail mowed in early May ahead of
corn and mid May ahead of soybeans. Corn will be planted in 4 rows of 30 inch (76 cm) row spacing with
an organic, non-GMO hybrid corn variety. Soybean plots will be planted with an organic, non-GMO
soybean variety in four 30 inch rows in tilled plots and 15 inch rows in no-till plots, which is the best
management practice for weed control in no-till.
Each tillage treatment will be divided into four 10 x 30 ft (3 x 9 m) plots (split plots), organic
compost (3-3-2) added at rates dependent upon the crop, plot and need. The base N fertility for wheat will
be 80 lb N/acre (90 kg/ha), and for corn 150 lb/acre (168 kg/ha), Compost rates will be determined to
achieve N rates of 0, 40, 80, and 120 lbs N/acre in wheat and 0, 75, 150, and 225 lbs N/acre in corn.
Compost will be added to soybean at the same rate as wheat.
Analyses Planned a/o Underway:
Soil Organic Carbon Analyses
Nitrous Oxide, Carbon Dioxide Gas Sampling
Global Warming Potential
Soil Biological Activity
Soil Microbial Biodiversity
Crop Nutritive Value
Cover Crop Screening:
Soil moisture
Weed suppression
Plant nutrient cycling
Economic Analysis
Outcomes:
 Increased understanding of tcontribution of organic cropping systems to
production or mitigation of the greenhouse gases, CO2 and N2O.
 Increased knowledge of integrating cover crops and no-till in an organic cropping
system.
 Provide organic producers, and those considering organic production, with
increased knowledge on using cover crops and manure for nitrogen fertilization
and weed suppression.
 Increased knowledge of Extension educators, NRCS and other agency partners in
Missouri on basic information on certification and organic grain crop production;
serve as information source for future producers who have questions about
organic production.
2012
60 lbs rye 30 lbs vetch/acre
Rye/Vetch
mix
CORN
Plot
layout
90 lbs/acre
Rye
SOYBEAN
Buckwheat
WHEAT
NE
20 FT
20 FT
20 FT
ALLEY
SE
3106
2
3105
3
3104
1
3103
2
3102
3
3101
0
2106
0
2105
1
2104
3
2103
0
2102
2
2101
3
1106
3
1105
2
1104
0
1103
3
1102
1
1101
0
3108
15 FT
0
3109
0
3110
3
3111
2
3112
1
2107
3
2108
2
2109
2
2110
1
2111
1
2112
0
1107
0
1108
1
1109
1
1110
2
1111
2
1112
3
3206
0
3205
1
3204
2
3203
3
3202
1
3201
3
2206
2
2205
0
2204
0
2203
1
2202
3
2201
2
1206
0
1205
3
1204
2
1203
1
1202
3
1201
2
3207
2
3208
3
3209
1
3210
0
3211
0
3212
2
2207
3
2208
1
2209
2
2210
3
2211
1
2212
0
1207
1
1208
2
1209
3
1210
0
1211
0
1212
1
3306
0
3305
1
3304
1
3303
2
3302
2
3301
3
2306
2
2305
3
2304
1
2303
2
2302
3
2301
0
1306
3
1305
1
1304
2
1303
3
1302
1
1301
0
3307
3
3308
2
3309
0
3310
3
3311
1
3312
0
2307
1
2308
0
2309
0
2310
3
2311
2
2312
1
1307
2
1308
0
1309
0
1310
1
1311
3
1312
2
3406
2
3405
1
3404
0
3403
3
3402
3
3401
2
2406
3
2405
2
2404
2
2403
1
2402
1
2401
0
1406
0
1405
1
1404
3
1403
0
1402
2
1401
3
3407
3
3408
0
3409
1
3410
2
3411
0
3412
1
0= 0
compost
1= level 1
compost
2= level 2
compost
3= level 3
compost
2407
0
2408
1
2409
3
2410
0
2411
2
2412
3
1407
3
1408
2
1409
2
1410
1
1411
1
1412
0
3107
1
15
FT
till with no cover crop
till with cover crop
no-till with cover crop