With the rising cost of nitrogen fertilizer and its impacts on air and water quality, University of Illinois researchers want to help farmers make more informed fertilizer rate decisions. Their latest modeling effort aims to do that by examining the role of pre-growing season weather on soil nitrogen dynamics and end-of-season corn yield. “When farmers plant […] Read more
Soil nitrogen dynamics studied
Science Notes: Pre-planting weather may provide a clue
Corn genetic heritage the strongest driver of chemical defenses against insect munchers
Science Notes: The plant, microbes and soil all play an important role
Plants release chemical distress signals when under attack from chewing insects. These “911 calls,” as entomologist Esther Ngumbi calls them, alert other bugs that dinner or a nice place to lay their eggs is available nearby. If predatory or parasitic insects detect the right signal, they swoop in to make a meal out of – […] Read more
Illinois researchers seek weapons against tar spot in corn
Science Notes: The race is on to find genes that control tar spot resistance
Tar spot is a fungal disease of corn capable of causing significant yield loss. When it appeared out of nowhere in 2015, corn growers in the U.S. Midwest scrambled to manage the outbreak with few effective tools. Tar spot arrived in Ontario in 2021. The industry has since made progress toward management with fungicides, but […] Read more
New path to monitor soil carbon
Science Notes: Machine-learning methods meet soil hyperspectral data
Just how much carbon is in the soil? That’s a tough question to answer at large spatial scales, but understanding soil organic carbon at regional, national or global scales could help scientists predict overall soil health, crop productivity and even worldwide carbon cycles. Classically, researchers collect soil samples in the field and haul them back […] Read more
Powerful sensors on planes can detect crop nitrogen
Hyperspectral imagery offers cost-effective, quick assessment
Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers transformed agriculture during the Green Revolution, catapulting crop yields and food security to new heights. But despite improvements in crop nitrogen use efficiency, fears of underperformance still spur fertilizer overapplication. Excess nitrogen then ends up in waterways, including groundwater, and in the atmosphere in the form of potent greenhouse gases. Why it […] Read more
Study clarifies nitrogen impact on carbon sequestration
Science Notes: Why soil organic carbon fails to build in high-input corn fields
Soil organic carbon is a cornerstone of soil health. It improves soil structure while enhancing water- and nutrient-holding capacity. To build it up, farmers incorporate crop residues into soil. So why, despite decades of residue inputs, is soil organic carbon diminishing in corn production systems? Short answer: it’s the nitrogen. “With intensive nitrogen fertilization, you […] Read more
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Science Notes: New study is engineering crops to be more productive by improving photosynthesis
New research from the University of Illinois indicates crops that experience and survive drought conditions or extreme temperatures in early stages of growth are better able to deal with those same conditions later in their growth cycle. This ‘memory,’ or adaptation by the plant, could help reduce yield loss that year and help researchers prevent future […] Read more
High-oil corn packs punch for pigs
Science Notes: Nutrients and energy in high-oil corn shown more digestible
A new high-oil corn product offers greater amino acid and energy digestibility in growing pigs, according to new research from the University of Illinois. “This corn has a higher oil concentration – almost nine per cent – and more protein, a little bit more fibre and a little bit more phosphorus. We know the concentrations […] Read more
Advanced model and field data add up to better cover crop management
Science Notes: Termination timing can be just as important as the plant species you select
Cover crops are widely seen as one of the most promising conservation practices, improving soil health while also removing carbon from the atmosphere. But while the number of Midwestern farmers planting cover crops has increased markedly in recent years, 2017 USDA Census data show only about five per cent have adopted the conservation practice. The […] Read more
Male piglets less resilient to stress
When sows have significant illnesses during key stages of pregnancy, their immune response may negatively affect developing piglets, making them less productive on the farm. New research from the University of Illinois shows that when those piglets, especially males, experience a second stressor in early life, they are at higher risk of neurodevelopmental and other […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
