Switchgrass Planting Would Reduce Nitrate Leaching

Research by Iowa State University (ISU; Ames) shows that planting switchgrass in rotation with fertilized crops reduces levels of soil nitrates leached into waterways following heavy rain.   Matt Helmers, associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, and Antonio Mallarino, professor of agronomy at ISU have researched fertilizer, nitrate leaching, and crop type for three summers, and concluded that different combinations of crop use could effect the levels of nitrates leached.   "One of the biggest things we found is that when...

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