Scientists examine perennial grass for flood-prone land

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Emily Heaton, associate professor of agronomy and a member of the Iowa State University research team, stands in a 'pothole,' or a low-lying area of an agricultural field that tends to flood. Miscanthus, right, a tall perennial grass, is being tested for its ability to grow in 'potholes.'

Jaejin Lee/Iowa State University

Many people in the Iowa-part of the corn belt are familiar with ponding areas in fields. Iowa State University researchers call them potholes. They are working on inventing other ways to manage those specific land features that might allow for more profitable and sustainable outcomes.

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Iowa State University scientists are examining about 320 acres of land on two Iowa State University research farms. They’ve identified 15 'potholes,' where water commonly pools and for which the researchers already have yield data from previous years.

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The Iowa State University experiment will track three variables associated with each pothole -- yield, water quality and greenhouse-gas emissions. Previous research has shown those potholes to be hotspots for the loss of nutrients. Nitrogen can leach from the potholes into nearby waterways. The potholes emit nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas. Planting miscanthus puts roots in the soil that may hold those nutrients in place more effectively.

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Andy VanLoocke Iowa State University

AMES, Iowa – Low-lying fields often flood after heavy rains, sometimes requiring those acres to be replanted or even leading to total crop losses. The problem occurs often enough that some Iowa State University scientists wonder if planting grasses in those flood-susceptible sections might make more sense than corn and soybeans.

Andy VanLoocke is an assistant professor of agronomy at Iowa State University. He’s also the primary investigator on the $475,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Email andyvanl@iastate.edu to reach him.