WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Protecting a critical resource

Water is one of the most important resources. Thoughtful farming practices can protect and improve water quality.

Timely moisture is key to productive crops

Adequate water is most important to soybeans throughout the growing season, but is most critical during the pod development and seed fill stages.

Seedling stage

Soybeans don’t require much water during the seedling stage.

Vegetative stage

Water demand increases as soybean plants put on leaves.

Pod fill stage

During the pod fill stage, water is very important for soybeans to be able to produce high quality seeds and fill pods.

The Edge Of Field Monitoring Project

Through the investment of the Missouri Soybean and Missouri Corn Merchandising Councils, the Edge of Field (EoF) Water Quality Research Program was a farmer-driven collaboration conducted from 2017 through 2022. The goals of this five-year research were to (1) quantify the effectiveness of on-farm practices, (2) demonstrate the benefits of voluntary agricultural conservation, and (3) support water quality efforts aimed at meeting state soil and water stewardship goals. While these results may not be applicable to all fields and conditions in Missouri, they represent typical farming practices that are transferable to most conventional farms.

Click here for the full report detailing the results of the 5-year comprehensive research.

Grassed Waterways with Conventional Terracing

When researching the annual runoff and loads leaving the grassed waterway and control plot, values leaving the grassed waterway were found to be significantly lower in all years. The research results from the EoF monitoring study demonstrate and confirm the ability of grassed waterways to reduce runoff, decrease soil erosion, and improve water quality. The average percent reductions were as follows:

Runoff 50%
Nitrate (No3-N) 67%
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) 45%
Total Phosphorus (TP) 57%
Total Suspended Solids (TSS or sediment) 64%

Cover Crop Versus Non-Cover Crop on Surface Tile-Drained Field

Comparing the annual runoff and loads leaving the cover crop and control plot, values leaving the cover crop were found to be significantly lower in most years, with average yearly reductions ranging from 12-25%. Overall, results demonstrated the consistent effectiveness of cover crops in reducing runoff, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment. The average percent reductions were as follows:

Runoff 12%
Nitrate (No3-N) 25%
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) 19%
Total Phosphorus (TP) 19%
Total Suspended Solids (TSS or sediment) 20%

Grassed Waterways with Cover Crops

Examining the annual runoff and loads leaving the treatment and control plots, values leaving the grassed waterway and cover crop combination were significantly lower in all years. The grassed waterway was effective at reducing nutrient loading compared to a terraced field with sheet and rill erosion. The average percent reductions were as follows:

Runoff 22%
Nitrate (No3-N) 64%
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) 77%
Total Phosphorus (TP) 54%
Total Suspended Solids (TSS or sediment) 99%

Planning for the Future

If growers want to implement additional conservation practices, now is the time to utilize a variety of state and federal programs available. The results from the EoF monitoring study demonstrate and confirm the ability of conservation practices to reduce nutrient runoff, decrease soil erosion, and improve water quality. With five years of data, there is still more to be learned. The results of this collaborative research – and future projects – can help give farmers the resources to make on-farm management decisions while improving productivity, profitability, and water quality.

Best management practices protect water quality

While being careful with water use and crop inputs helps water quality, there are best management practices that farmers put in place to further care for water sources.

Grass waterways and buffer strips

By building grass waterways and buffer strips around fields and streams, farmers add a natural filter that slows water runoff, traps sediment and enhances infiltration.

Conservation tillage

No-till, reduced-till and vertical tillage systems leave crop residue on the field after harvest, creating a barrier that protects soil from wind and water erosion. This also decreases soil in water runoff.

Cover crops

Between soybean growing seasons, farmers can plant cover crops such as cereal rye or wheat to further protect soil from heavy rainfall and erosion.

Water isn’t just important to farming

Farmers live in their communities, too, and want to ensure that enough clean water is available for everyone.

Crops

Water needs to be available, plentiful and usable for next year’s crop and for future generations of farmers. Some farmers have access to irrigation, which allows them to water crops during dry times. Farmers can measure soil moisture to make sure they are only irrigating when crops need the water, providing a sufficient amount of water and not overwatering.

Animals

Animal agriculture uses water and it’s especially important to have clean water available for livestock and poultry.

Community

Clean water is critical to the entire community surrounding every farm. Adopting practices that protect water quality such as conservation tillage, cover crops and best nutrient management practices ensures waterways such as streams, rivers and lakes are healthy.

Explore other regenerative soybean production practices

Carbon capture and sequestration

With the right systems and practices in place, farmers can enhance soil quality and retention of carbon making it stable there for years.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CARBON

Nitrogen fixing

While all plants need nitrogen to grow, soybeans can fix nitrogen with the aid of nitrogen fixing soil bacteria. Through a symbiotic relationship with soil microbes, soybeans convert nitrogen to a usable form.

LEARN MORE ABOUT NITROGEN AND SOYBEANS

Greenhouse gas emissions

Conservation tillage systems help soybean farmers reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and improve air quality by reducing trips across the field.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Tillage

Soybeans are well suited for conservation tillage systems including no-till, reduced-till and vertical tillage that help to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and improve soil health.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TILLAGE SYSTEMS

Crop residue

Leaving crop residue in the field after harvest contributes to soil health and protects fields from erosion. Over several months, the stubble breaks down and turns into organic matter. With microorganisms nutrients are returned back to the soil.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CROP RESIDUE AND SOIL HEALTH