By Blake Jackson
Research underway at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is providing new insights into how dairy farming practices designed to improve soil health can also benefit water quality and environmental outcomes. The work is being conducted at UW-Platteville’s Pioneer Farm, where a research team led by senior scientist Dr. Dennis Busch recently completed the third year of a long-term study.
UW-Platteville is one of eight institutions nationwide participating in the six-year Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration project. The initiative, launched by Dairy Management Inc. in partnership with the Soil Health Institute, supports the dairy industry’s broader goal of achieving significant environmental stewardship milestones by 2050.
The project examines how soil health strategies and manure management influence greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, and crop yield and quality for dairy feed production.
At Pioneer Farm, Busch’s team is comparing two dairy cropping systems. One follows conventional practices, including regular tillage, injected liquid dairy manure, and commercial fertilizer applications as needed.
The second system uses Soil Health Management System (SHMS) practices, which emphasize no-till production, a manure-based fertilizer product, and cover crops planted after corn harvest to protect the soil.
“We are evaluating the impact of these production systems on soil health, water quality, carbon storage and crop yield,” Busch said.
The study is being conducted across eight replicated, hydrologically isolated catchments that allow researchers to closely track water movement and nutrient losses. Specialized equipment, including surface-water runoff gauges and soil core lysimeters, is used to measure runoff, erosion, and nutrient transport.
Recent field activities included harvesting corn silage, measuring forage yields, collecting silage samples, applying manure to conventional plots, and seeding cover crops in SHMS plots. Water samples continue to be collected monthly, while soil carbon dioxide emissions are measured biweekly.
Early results show comparable corn silage yields between systems, but SHMS plots have demonstrated dramatic reductions in runoff, erosion, and nutrient loss. Busch noted that consistent monitoring is critical to success, adding, “We are fortunate to have dedicated staff and students who are highly skilled and dependable in monitoring runoff events.”
Photo Credit: pexels-binyaminmellish
Categories: Wisconsin, Education