Cultivation Of Crops: Nutrient Management

Showing posts with label Nutrient Management. Show all posts

Mar 28, 2017

Should You Use Micronutrients or BioStimulants

A recent article in Prairie Farmer explores the use of micro-nutrients and bio-stimulants. Karen Corrigan is quoted extensively and she is a very respected agronomist. Karen says to use both soil testing and tissue sampling to determine needs. I find myself in agreement with her concerning many of the additive mixes. Often the amount of nutrient in the mixes will not completely correct a real problem area.

I also learned from Ted Peck that correcting the macro-nutrients and soil pH soil be done first. If P, K, Ca, and Mg are not correct, there is no use messing around with the micros. I always try to correct the big things first. After a year or two we can look at micro's when everything else is right. If you macro-nutrients are all at or above ideal levels, then perhaps you can push yields with micro-nutrients.

Bio-stimulants are coming into their own with many of the bigger ag supply companies owning or researching products. Some of the products that are used for seed treatments have become mainstream. Others need to be tested on your farm as Ms. Corrigan points out.

Mar 2, 2017

Phosphorous Pollution

When I was getting my degree, we were taught that phosphorous does not move. In the modern world we hear of problems created by phosphorous in our surface waters. Recent issues in Lake Erie, especially in the Toledo area is teaching us that phosphorous does move. Very little phosphorous can also cause big problems. Why is the problem surfacing now. In many places farmers have been cutting back. Nutrient stratification could be an issue. No-Till could be an issue. Joe Nester, A consultant in Ohio has been looking at rainfall pH as an issue. He has run some simple tests and found that dissolved phosphorous does increase as rainfall pH approached 6 or a bit higher. Click on the link to learn more about the Great Soluble Phosphorous Mystery.

Jan 14, 2017

Responsible Nutrient Management

cover crops Nutrient Management Soil Management

We have spent the past three days at the National No-Till Conference in St. Louis. Not only is this a great No-Till Conference, but it is a great crop production conference.

At the Luncheon on the first day, Responsible Nutrient Management Practitioners we awarded for their diligence in taking care of their soil nutrient levels. Jason Carter, Mike Werling, and Mike Taylor were recognized for their nutrient management programs. Jason Carter is using chicken litter to build his soils up. His program also includes annual soil testing to measure progress. As his soil has improved, he has cut back on chicken litter.

Mike Werling is looking at economics and applying fertilizer at modest rates to maximize profits. He soil tests every three years. Cover cr ops are also a component of his program. Werling uses less than one pound per bushel of corn to produce high yields economically.

Mike Taylor makes sure his soil tests correlate with soil types on his farm. He also uses cover crops and lower than average fertilizer rates to produce higher than average yields. He uses variable rate technology as appropriate and also applies in row fertilizer to spoon feed his crops. He is using No-till and cover crops to improve organic matter levels on the topsoil.

Dec 9, 2016

Water Quality Issues

Nutrient Management

In the business of nutrient management, maintaining productive nutrient levels in the soil has been a driving force. In the modern day world, we need to be more sensitive to the effects of fertilizer on water quality. High soil test levels of phosphorous can pollute our water and contribute to declining water quality in our rivers lakes and streams. Keeping soil test levels around ideal will help minimze the loss of phosphorous. Ideal P1 levels are 25 to 30 ppm. Ideal Mehlich 3 levels are 30 to 35 ppm. Multiply the listed levels by 2 if your reports come in pounds per acre. higher levels may be acceptable on high pH soils.

Nitrogen management is more challenging, although most farms can make improvelents on their nitrogen management as well. Nitrogen testing, split applications and cutting back on overall rates are all practices that should be looked into. With low crop prices, using the N RATE CALCULATOR will help you determine the rate of return on you nitrogen application and keep nitrogen applications at environmentally friendly levels. In season soil tests can help you factor in weather during the growing season. Nitrogen modelling such as is done by Climate Corp may also be useful. Cover crops can convert soil nitrogen into a more stable form for release during the growing season. The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy is saying, don't stand pat on managing your nutrients. Do something. Why? The EPA has found that 4 in 10 Lakes Have Excessive Nitrogen or Phosphorus Levels. The days of multiplying your expect yield by 1.2 to get your nitrogen rate are over. You should be giving it more thought than that.

Mar 15, 2016

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy

Nitrogen management Nutrient Management

Today I attended a meeting on the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. It looks like the information push is on; there was an article in FarmWeek News this week. The meeting went over what can be done to reduce nitrogen loss and phosphorous loss. Then there was a discussion on programs available. The final presentation was on drainage water management.

One of the things that caught my eye is that water testing is available so you can have your drainage water tested for nitrates. I have always thought this was a good idea, but never got anyone to do it because I had to charge for it. Click on the link to find out how to collect you samples and where to take them. The testing is confidential, but gives yo an idea whether or not you need to do something about nitrogen management on your farm.

Jan 29, 2016

Nitrogen or Phosphorous Based Manure Management.

manure Nutrient Management

I read a research article on using phosphorous to determine manure rate instead of maxing out the nitrogen. The Cornell researchers did some in field research and found that they were short on nitrogen if they based the application on phosphorous. This is not really surprising. You could do the math. The advantage of applying manure based on phosphorous need is that it will help you keep disolved phosphorous out of our water. In addition, if you make a small application of fertilizer nitroen, it will speed up the mineralization of the manure nitrogen. It might save you a little on fertilizer too.

Dec 3, 2015

Nutrient Management and Edge Conference Day 2