Nutrient Management

Best Management Practices:

Nutrient Management

• Use regular soil tests to determine nutrient needs, and apply only the amount of nutrients needed by the crop to be grown. Site-specific nutrient application varies the amount of nutrients within fields based on a series of soil tests and global positioning equipment.
• Use manure tests to determine nutrient content, and take credit for the nutrient content of manure.
• Use conservation tillage and other erosion-control practices to minimize loss of phosphorus that is attached to the soil. (See Best Management Practices for Soil Erosion).
• Improve timing of fertilizer application, applying nutrients just before they are needed by the crop. Most of the nitrogen is needed by corn after the plant is three to four weeks old. The most efficient method of applying N fertilizer is as sidedress after planting.
• Look for a low soil test to decide which field to apply manure on and base manure application rate on the manure test for N.

Info derived from: http://www.epa.gov/oecaagct/ag101/cropnutrientmgt.html#bmps