Site Drop-in: Cornell evaluates effects on soil health, crop yield, GHG
May 30, 2026
Eight research institutions across the country are participating in the Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration (DSWR) project. Cornell University’s Quirine Ketterings, who leads the institution’s Nutrient Management Spear Program and is a principal investigator for DSWR, provided an update on what’s happening at the on-farm research sites in central and western New York.
What is the focus of your team’s research?
At Cornell, we are evaluating the effects of different dairy-based crop production systems on soil health, crop yield and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across two locations.
At the central New York farm, we compare a soil health management system (SHMS) that includes no-till corn silage production, drilled cereal rye cover crops and compost as the dairy manure product, against a conventional system with disk tillage, broadcast wheat cover crops and liquid dairy manure applied with a draghose system and manure injection.
At the western New York site, we evaluate five systems: three SHMS treatments receiving flocculated solids, evaporative solids or liquid dairy manure under strip tillage; a conventional system with liquid dairy manure under full-width tillage; and a control receiving only starter nitrogen under strip tillage. Triticale cover crops are seeded for all but the conventional system. In addition, laboratory-based incubation studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of different manure-based nitrogen sources, moisture and soil nitrate on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions.
What are the most recent activities?
After completing four growing seasons of measurements in corn silage, both sites have now transitioned into the alfalfa phase of the crop rotation. Cover crops were terminated in mid-April. Alfalfa was seeded at both farms in mid-May. At the central site, the entire field received liquid manure followed by disk incorporation in late April, regardless of prior treatment history. We continued to measure GHG emissions for the manure spreading event. No manure was applied at the western site.
What are the findings so far?
At the western site, corn silage yield was highest with the conventional system in Year 1, but there were no differences in Years 2-4. At the central site, the SHMS yielded less than the conventional system. N2O emissions were elevated following liquid manure application and sidedress nitrogen application at both locations. N2O emissions were higher in conventional practices with liquid dairy manure. Data analyses are ongoing to determine if such elevated emissions are source-specific and/or influenced by the overall nitrogen application rate. Incubation studies showed limited N2O emissions when soil nitrate and/or moisture levels are low.
What has been a key challenge your team has faced?
Conducting on-farm research can be unpredictable at times. One of the most significant challenges we have faced is the untimely malfunction of GHG measurement equipment. It is not unusual to experience technical difficulties with equipment in the field, especially with innovative systems like we are using, but our continued usage and discoveries will help improve the functionality and accuracy of the equipment in the future.
What has been a key success?
Although the timing of field activities is weather dependent, coordination with farmers has been great, enabling timely sampling. This partnership has been key to the success of the project.