Temperate silvopastures provide greater ecosystem services than conventional pasture systems.

Management and design affect systems' ability to deliver ecosystem services and meet sustainable intensification needs for a growing population. Soil-plant-animal health evaluations at the systems level for conventional and silvopastoral environments are lacking and challenge adoption across temperate regions. Impacts of silvopasture on soil quality, microclimate, cattle heat stress, forage quality and yield, and cattle weight gain were compared to a conventional pasture in the mid-southern US.

Post-processed data and graphical tools for a CONUS-wide eddy flux evapotranspiration dataset.

Large sample datasets of evapotranspiration (ET) measurements with well documented data provenance and quality assurance are critical for water management and many fields of earth science research. We present a post-processed ET oriented dataset at daily and monthly timesteps, from 161 stations, including 148 eddy covariance flux towers, that were chosen based on their data quality from nearly 350 stations across the contiguous United States. In addition to ET, the data includes energy and heat fluxes, meteorological measurements, and reference ET downloaded from gridMET for each flux station.

Nitrate losses and nitrous oxide emissions under contrasting tillage and cover crop management.

Agroecosystems in the upper Mississippi River Basin are highly productive but often contribute to deterioration of water quality and greenhouse gas emissions. Cover cropping and no-till are conservation strategies implemented to reduce the environmental impact of these agroecosystems. However, using multiple strategies can lead to systemwide interactions that are not fully understood.

Spatial monitoring technologies for coupling the soil plant water animal nexus.

Systems-level studies aimed at determining how soil properties are linked to plant production and ultimately animal response spatially are lacking. This study aims to identify if grazing pressure is linked to soil properties, terrain attributes, and above-ground plant accumulation and nutritive value in a silvopastoral (or integrated tree-livestock) system. Overall, cattle prefer grazing native grasses (2.

Prairie strips' effect on transport of antimicrobial resistance indicators in poultry litter.

Poultry litter is a valuable nutrient resource for agricultural production but is also a potential source for introducing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and litter-associated bacteria (LAB) to the environment. Prairie strips have been demonstrated as an effective conservation practice to improve environmental quality in agroecosystems. This research aims to assess prairie strips' potential for reducing the transport of LAB and ARGs in runoff after litter application.

Antibiotic resistance gene dissipation in soil microcosms amended with antibiotics and swine manure.

The use of antibiotics in animal agriculture has exacerbated the presence of both antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and residual antibiotics excreted in animal manure. Field application of this manure is a common practice because its nutrient rich material can benefit crop growth. However, this practice can also introduce antibiotics and ARGs into nonagricultural settings.

Swine manure dilution with lagoon effluent impact on odor reduction and manure digestion.

Manure management systems have a major impact on odor from swine operations. A study was conducted to compare deep-pit manure management systems to flushing barn manure management systems for odor reduction and organic matter degradation. Bioreactors were used to mimic manure management systems in which manure and lagoon effluent were loaded initially, and subsequent manure was added daily at 5% of its storage capacity (1 L).

Nitrous oxide and methane production from denitrifying woodchip bioreactors at three hydraulic residence times.

Denitrifying bioreactors remove nitrate (NO) from agricultural drainage and are slated to be an integral part of nitrogen reduction strategies in the Mississippi River Basin. However, incomplete denitrification can result in nitrous oxide (NO) production and anaerobic conditions within bioreactors may be conducive to methane (CH) production via methanogenesis. Greenhouse gas production has the potential to trade excess NO in surface water with excess greenhouses gases in the atmosphere.

Changes in lateral floodplain connectivity accompanying stream channel evolution: Implications for sediment and nutrient budgets.

Floodplain storage commonly represents one of the largest sediment fluxes within sediment budgets. In watersheds responding to large scale disturbance, floodplain-channel lateral connectivity may change over time with progression of channel evolution and associated changes in channel geometry. In this study we investigated the effects of channel geometry change on floodplain inundation frequency and flux of suspended sediment (SS) and total phosphorus (TP) to floodplain storage within the 52.

Soil nutrient variability and groundwater nitrate-N in agricultural fields.

Landscape may result in uneven nutrient loads within a field. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of landscape on soil carbon and nutrient levels, and on levels of nitrate-N in groundwater. Soil samples were collected in three fields, two transects each, 30 sites in each field.

Whole genome sequencing of Mycobacterium bovis to obtain molecular fingerprints in human and cattle isolates from Baja California, Mexico.

Objectives: To determine genetic diversity by comparing the whole genome sequences of cattle and human Mycobacterium bovis isolates from Baja California.

Methods: A whole genome sequencing strategy was used to obtain the molecular fingerprints of 172 isolates of M. bovis obtained from Baja California, Mexico; 155 isolates were from cattle and 17 isolates were from humans.

Advanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy of natural organic matter.

Solid-state NMR is essential for the characterization of natural organic matter (NOM) and is gaining importance in geosciences and environmental sciences. This review is intended to highlight advanced solid-state NMR techniques, especially a systematic approach to NOM characterization, and their applications to the study of NOM. We discuss some basics of how to acquire high-quality and quantitative solid-state C NMR spectra, and address some common technical mistakes that lead to unreliable spectra of NOM.

Crop residue management and fertilization effects on soil organic matter and associated biological properties.

Returning crop residue may result in nutrient reduction in soil in the first few years. A two-year field experiment was conducted to assess whether this negative effect is alleviated by improved crop residue management (CRM). Nine treatments (3 CRM and 3 N fertilizer rates) were used.

The Potential for Cereal Rye Cover Crops to Host Corn Seedling Pathogens.

Cover cropping is a prevalent conservation practice that offers substantial benefits to soil and water quality. However, winter cereal cover crops preceding corn may diminish beneficial rotation effects because two grass species are grown in succession. Here, we show that rye cover crops host pathogens capable of causing corn seedling disease.