Evaluation and Management Protocols for Cover Crops Using Controlled Subsurface Drainage/Irrigation to Limit Nitrate-Bearing Effluents

Identify recommendations to refine and market best management practices to limit nitrate migration from agricultural croplands having drainage system. Continue to develop nitrogen and drainage management protocols for the agriculture community using controlled subsurface drainage systems. (2) Propose recommendations to refine and market best management practices associated with development of riparian buffers in key watershed locations. (3) Continue to evaluate nitrate-N, total N, P, S and other nutrient concentrations in tile drainage effluents from a large controlled subsurface drainage - irrigation system in southeastern Missouri, (4) Continue to assess different N fertilizer strategies for corn to minimize nitrate-N concentrations from the tile drainage effluent, (5) Continue to assess different soil drainage scenarios during the fall-winter-early spring period to promote denitrification and potentially limit nitrate-N concentrations in tile drainage effluent, (6) Continue to develop cover crop protocols to sequester nitrate-N as organic-N.