About

Dr. Lindsay Pease is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Nutrient and Water Management at the University of Minnesota's Department of Soil, Water, and Climate. Her work primarily focuses on nitrogen and phosphorus management in row crop systems, with an emphasis on nutrient loss in agricultural runoff. She is dedicated to working with Minnesota farmers to develop resilient and sustainable agricultural production systems. Lindsay Pease holds a BS, MS, and PhD from The Ohio State University. Her research interests include contaminant hydrology, water quality, and nutrient management.

Research topics

• Environmental science
• Agronomy
• Ecology
• Geography
• Meteorology
• Biology
• Soil science
• Materials science
• Environmental engineering
• Metallurgy
• Geotechnical engineering
• Engineering
• Geology

Selected publications

• Evaluation of Minnesota Phosphorus Loss Index performance

  Journal of Environmental Quality · 2024-10-08 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Supported by the National Phosphorus (P) Research Project led by Dr. Andrew Sharpley, Minnesota developed its statewide P-Index, the Minnesota P Loss Index (MNPI), to manage critical source areas of agricultural P. The MNPI has remained unchanged since its last revision in 2006. The overall goal of this study was to critically evaluate the MNPI to determine, in the parlance of Sharpley, if the MNPI remains "directionally and magnitudinally correct." Observed P loss from 67 site-years of annual edge-of-field data was compared with MNPI-predicted P loss. Our assessment indicates that MNPI performance is directionally correct: it correctly ranks fields that are more at risk than others. The MNPI performed better in years with high-intensity rainfall events. Averaging MNPI assessment across multiple years of data input, along with minor adjustments to the calculation algorithm, improved the robustness of MNPI estimates. Continued re-evaluation of the MNPI will ensure that this important tool for nutrient management is properly evaluating P loss potential. This study reflects Dr. Sharpley's decades-long effort to improve and revise P indices so that they reflect advances in the science and management of agricultural P.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Denitrifying bioreactor surface subsidence varies with age and cover

  Ecological Engineering · 2024-11-22 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Surface subsidence at denitrifying woodchip bioreactors treating subsurface drainage has been anecdotally noted but has not been consistently documented and is thus poorly understood. Subsidence is of concern due to safety and potential exacerbation of ponding within the bioreactor but could also indicate flow restrictions within the woodchip bed. This study used 3D light detection and ranging (LiDAR) surveying on handheld devices (iPhone 12 Pro, iPad Pro) to provide minimum estimates of surface subsidence at 17 full-size bioreactors across a range of ages (0.1 to 14 years). Bioreactors with woodchips extending to the surface subsided faster than bioreactors with soil covers with median subsidence rates over the entire surface of 7.3 and 1.0 cm/y, respectively. Maximum subsidence averaged 40 ± 14 cm across all sites and tended to occur near the inflow manifold where subsidence could disproportionately impact hydraulic performance. Although these findings are limited to the bioreactors in the present evaluation and other sites may show different trends, it may be that subsidence is not reducible to aerobicity alone. Subsidence is not necessarily, on its own, the best individual indicator of the end of design life. In practice, checking for a consistent reduction in the amount of outflow over time is the best way to assess the need for a bioreactor woodchip recharge. Nevertheless, in this study, subsidence at full-size bioreactors was successfully approximated using a hand-held LiDAR device, and use of this method at additional sites is suggested, especially following bioreactor construction. • Surface subsidence at 17 full-size bioreactors was assessed with 3D LiDAR scanning. • Conservative subsidence estimates were 1.0 and 7.3 cm/y for covered and non-covered. • Deeper depressions were often near the inlet or outlet (approximately 30–60 cm). • 3D LiDAR scanning is a useful rapid method for this type of field-scale assessment.

  PublisherDOI

• Comparing the short- and long-term impacts of subsurface drainage installation on soil physical and biological properties

  Journal of Soil and Water Conservation · 2023-11-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Subsurface drainage is a common practice used to support agricultural production and increase yields in poorly drained soils. Following decades of subsurface drainage installation, agricultural fields often have increased water discharge and nutrient losses. However, few studies have evaluated the changes in soil properties or soil health metrics at different ages of subsurface drainage. In this study, we attempt to quantify changes to soil properties over time. To achieve this, we sampled six fields in northwest Minnesota representing two timescales: three fields were drained more than 15 years prior to sampling (i.e., subsurface drainage installed prior to 2006), and three fields were drained within 5 years of sampling (i.e., subsurface drainage installed after 2016). We evaluated three soil physical properties: saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_fs), bulk density, and aggregate stability, as well as three soil health metrics at 0 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm: water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC) and nitrogen (WEON), and potentially mineralizable carbon (PMC). The fields with older drainage systems had greater K_fs, WEON (all depths), WEOC (15 to 30 cm), and PMC (15 to 30 cm). There were no differences in bulk density, aggregate stability, WEOC (0 to 15 cm), and PMC (0 to 15 cm). We suspect that the increased K_fs is likely the result of further development of preferential flow pathways in fields with older drainage systems. These preferential flow paths could also be areas with increased microbial diversity and activity, indicated by the higher biological indicators in the fields with older drainage systems. Our findings suggest that nutrient losses, soil physical properties, and soil health metrics evolve over time. These metrics should be tracked as a standard practice in drainage research to improve our understanding of how subsurface drainage installation changes long-term soil properties. This knowledge will improve the information provided to growers and help them more effectively manage their soil’s health and reduce nutrient losses into waterways.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effectiveness of Saturated Buffers on Water Pollutant Reduction from Agricultural Drainage

  Journal of Natural Resources and Agricultural Ecosystems · 2023-01-01 · 13 citations

  articleOpen access

  Highlights Saturated buffers redistribute tile drainage water below riparian buffers to reduce nitrate-nitrogen loading. NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 604 guides saturated buffer design in the USA. Annual edge-of-field nitrate-nitrogen loss reductions averaged 46 ± 24% and 9.4 ± 5.9 kg N/ha/y. Further research on design, siting, and mechanisms will enhance performance. Abstract. It is a pivotal time in the development of saturated buffers as a conservation drainage practice. Field data have demonstrated that this practice can effectively reduce nitrate loads in subsurface drainage. The compilation and assessment of current knowledge for this relatively new practice is timely to help identify future opportunities. This review summarizes the state of the science for saturated buffers in the US within the context of this special collection’s emphasis on performance and cost. Suggested research areas are identified to improve understanding of saturated buffer function and performance and to refine design processes and criteria to accelerate adoption. As currently designed, saturated buffers removed an average of 46 ± 24% (mean ± sd) of the N load that would have otherwise entered receiving waters (9.4 ± 5.9 kg N removed/ha-y; n = 30 site-years). Cost efficiencies, which generally trended around $3 to $5/kg N removed per year, were considered relatively efficient compared to similar nitrate removal practices (range: $1.20 to $9.20/kg N/y), with planning level costs between $25 and $66/ha treated/y. As adoption is scaled, engineering design costs need to be considered unless the design model can be simplified. Future research should refine design processes, management, and siting criteria to facilitate scaled adoption for water quality goals. Additional studies on nutrient cycling within saturated buffers are needed to fill gaps about nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics and the role of buffer vegetation. Saturated buffers have significant nitrate reduction potential for tile-drained landscapes, but design adaptations may be needed to facilitate adoption in varied landscapes. Keywords: Denitrification, Edge-of-Field, Nitrate, Nonpoint-source pollution, Saturated riparian buffer, Subsurface drainage, Tile drainage, Water quality.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Haney Soil Health Test changes with season, not subsurface drainage

  Agricultural & Environmental Letters · 2023-01-12 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract The Haney Soil Health Test (HSHT) is used to quantify soil health using soil biological activity and water‐extractable C and N. However, suitability of the HSHT to measure soil health in subsurface drained fields remains unknown. Our goals were to use the HSHT in Minnesota cropand to (a) test the effect of recent tile drainage installation, (b) evaluate seasonal variability, and (c) calculate a potential N fertilizer credit. Three soil biological indices used in the HSHT were measured seasonally across 2 yr and used to calculate a soil health score and N credit. All metrics were unaffected by subsurface drainage, but all varied seasonally (greatest in spring) and annually (greater in 2020 than in 2021). Soil biological indicators did not change abruptly following subsurface drainage but may change gradually, and this needs to be tested further. Significant seasonal variability may pose challenges in tracking soil health over time.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Impact of Controlled Drainage on Corn Yield Under Varying Precipitation Patterns: A Synthesis of Studies Across the U.S. Midwest and Southeast

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2022-01-01 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Paired field and water measurements from drainage management practices in row-crop agriculture

  Scientific Data · 2022-06-01 · 10 citations

  articleOpen access

  This paper describes a multi-site and multi-decadal dataset of artificially drained agricultural fields in seven Midwest states and North Carolina, USA. Thirty-nine research sites provided data on three conservation practices for cropland with subsurface tile drainage: saturated buffers, controlled drainage, and drainage water recycling. These practices utilize vegetation and/or infrastructure to minimize off-site nutrient losses and retain water in the landscape. A total of 219 variables are reported, including 90 field measurement variables and 129 management operations and metadata. Key measurements include subsurface drain flow (206 site-years), nitrate-N load (154 site-years) and other water quality metrics, as well as agronomic, soil, climate, farm management and metadata records. Data are published at the USDA National Agricultural Library Ag Data Commons repository and are also available through an interactive website at Iowa State University. These multi-disciplinary data have large reuse potential by the scientific community as well as for design of drainage systems and implementation in the US and globally.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Impact of controlled drainage on corn yield under varying precipitation patterns: A synthesis of studies across the U.S. Midwest and Southeast

  Agricultural Water Management · 2022-11-04 · 21 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Controlled drainage (CD) is a valuable management practice for reducing drainage volume and nutrient loss, but its impact on corn (Zea mays L.) production is not completely understood. The objectives of this study were to investigate the regional effect of CD on corn grain yield compared to free drainage (FD), investigate the factors influencing corn yield response to CD, provide management recommendations for optimizing corn yield under CD, and identify future research needs for corn production on poorly drained soils with subsurface drainage systems. This synthesis included data collected from 13 field sites where corn was planted under both FD and CD in six U.S. Midwestern states and North Carolina totaling 55 site-years of data from 2006 to 2017. On average, there was no statistically significant difference in corn grain yield between CD (10.62 Mg/ha) and FD (10.53 Mg ha−1). However, 42% of the dataset indicated that CD either increased or decreased corn yield by 4% or more compared to FD. Further analysis was conducted on this subset of data in order to evaluate underlying factors (i.e., weather conditions during the season, soil type, and drainage system design and management) influencing corn yield response to CD. Results of this analysis showed that CD was effective in alleviating plant stress caused by mild to moderate drought conditions and subsequently increased corn grain yield by 4–14% in 12 site-years. In contrast, CD reduced corn grain yield by 4–10% during wet growing seasons (6 site-years). Variability in growing season precipitation has been identified as a key factor influencing corn grain yield under CD, and more active management or CD system automation is recommended. General recommendations are provided for managing manually operated CD systems in the U.S. Midwest to improve growing season water management and corn yield. Additional research to develop technologically advanced water management systems for crop production on poorly drained soils is needed in order to adapt to changing weather patterns.

  PublisherDOI

• Impact of controlled drainage on subsurface drain flow and nitrate load: A synthesis of studies across the U.S. Midwest and Southeast

  Agricultural Water Management · 2021 · 49 citations

  • Environmental science
  • Ecology
  • Geology

  Controlled drainage (CD), sometimes called drainage water management, is a practice whereby the drainage system outflow is managed during specific periods to retain more water in the field. Although CD has been shown to reduce downstream nitrate-N (NO3--N) load, seasonal patterns have been less consistent which can potentially impact the effectiveness of conservation practices. The main objective of this study was to assess the regional and seasonal impact of conventional free drainage (FD) and CD on drainage flow and nitrate-N load. Using experimental data from ongoing and historical CD experiments across the Corn Belt and in North Carolina, we evaluated subsurface drain flow, nitrate-N load, and performance of CD systems. Across the data set and regions, there was little difference in annual flow from FD conditions. Seasonally, more northern and western sites experienced a greater percentage of the annual flow occurring in the spring. There was no nitrate-N concentration reduction with CD. Flow and nitrate-N load reductions with CD did not vary by plant hardiness zone across the region, but the season with the greatest reduction did shift from winter to spring moving north and west in the study area. Absolute flow reductions (in mm) were similar regardless of precipitation category. Consequently, the percent reduction was lower as the amount of precipitation (category) increased. Overall, this analysis found CD to be an effective practice for reducing drain flow and nitrate-N loading directly delivered by the drains to downstream water bodies across the region.

  PublisherDOI

• Episode 35: Drainage Research

  University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy (University of Minnesota) · 2021-02-05

  article
  Publisher

Frequent coauthors

• Jay F. Martin

  The Ohio State University

  12 shared

• L. C. Brown

  10 shared

• Kevin W. King

  United States Department of Agriculture

  10 shared

• Norm Fausey

  10 shared

• Jeffrey S. Strock

  University of Minnesota

  8 shared

• Mark R. Williams

  National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory

  8 shared

• Paul McDivitt

  7 shared

• Norman R. Fausey

  Agricultural Research Service

  7 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering

  The Ohio State University

  2016

• M.S., Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering

  The Ohio State University

  2012

• B.S., Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering

  The Ohio State University

  2010