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Iowa State Research Aims to Improve Next Generation of Bioreactors

January 24, 2019

On a cold day last fall, Iowa State University scientist Michelle Soupir and her team of graduate students shoveled out the woodchip-and-mud entrails of nine concrete-lined water-quality cells at the Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Research Farm near Ames. They packed samples from the cells — mini-bioreactors — into plastic bags and labeled them to take back to the lab, where they would measure bacterial activity and the rate of woodchip decomposition.

Multi-purpose Oxbows Make the Grade for Nutrient Reduction

November 14, 2019

New research shows that “multi-purpose oxbows” can effectively reduce nitrate-nitrogen, earning them a spot in the Iowa Nutrient Research Strategy’s menu of conservation options. Keith Schilling, State Geologist and Director of the Iowa Geological Survey, is lead investigator for Iowa Nutrient Research Center- sponsored research to better understand the benefits of oxbow restoration for water quality. Partners in the research include the Iowa Soybean Association, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Geological Survey's Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Iowa State.

Iowa State University Advances Saturated Riparian Buffers as a Promising Water-quality Practice for Crop Fields

December 17, 2018

A new technology for cleansing nutrients from water leaving Iowa’s tile-drained fields began with two Iowa State University researchers brainstorming after a professional meeting. Their “back of the napkin” discussion in 2010 led to development of saturated riparian buffers, a new conservation practice that is rapidly gaining interest in Iowa and far beyond.

Putting Science Into Practice: AAI Agribusiness Showcase & Conference 2021

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 - 8:00am to Wednesday, February 10, 2021 - 3:55pm

Putting Science into Practice is the theme of the 2021 Agribusiness Association of Iowa Virtual Showcase & Conference, Feb. 9-10. INRC Assistant Director Kay Stefanik will speak on "Implementing Wetland Edge-of-Field Management: Why, Where, and How" at 3:00.p.m., during the session, Putting Wetland & Edge of Field Management into Practice, from 3:00-3:55. 

Webinar: Making Water Quality Impacts at the Edge of Fields

Wednesday, January 12, 2022 - 12:00pm

The webinar “Better Utilizing the Field Edge: Saturated Buffers and Bioreactors,” Jan. 12 at noon CST will feature Matt Helmers, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at ISU and director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center. He will draw on his expertise with field drainage systems and drainage water quality in this session. The meeting is hosted by the Iowa Learning Farms. 

Watch the recording of this webinar, at: https://vimeo.com/665801165

Conservation Station On The Edge Demonstration

INRC Director Matt Helmers narrates a short video demonstrating nutrient-reduction processes for a saturated riparian buffer and a bioreactor for an Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Station On The Edge Demonstration. 

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