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Economic & Environmental Benefits of Precision Nitrogen Management Target
of NYFVI Grant Project
Farmers, agricultural educators and farm consultants
want better tools for managing the use of nitrogen. To meet that need, the New
York Farm Viability Institute, Inc. is funding an applied research project
that unites 13 farmers, four research farm managers, and Cornell Cooperative
Extension field crop educators in 14 counties with Cornell University
researchers Quirine M. Ketterings and Karl J. Czymmek to evaluate ways to
maximize economic gains and minimize nutrient loss into the environment
through more precise nitrogen management.
Corn
is grown on nearly 1 million acres in New York with a value of $401 million
(2003). Nitrogen (N) is an essential crop nutrient, particularly for corn, but
excessive use can create runoff problems as well as economic losses, since
fertilizer is an important part of a farmer’s production costs.
Ketterings, an assistant professor of crop and soil sciences, says, “To save
money, increase farm profitability and reduceenvironmental losses of nitrogen,
we are testing and calibrating tools that will help farmers identify which
fields need extra N for optimum production.” (Photo: Mike Hunter, CCE
Jefferson County, takes soil samples at Mike Kiechle’s farm. This NYFVI-funded
project builds on nitrogen management studies conducted by Cornell researchers
and on work funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program.)
The farmers and researchers agree that identifying a range of values whereby
reducing or eliminating N fertilizer application does not reduce silage yield
or quality is needed. Ketterings, and Czymmek of Cornell’s PRO-Dairy Program,
say results so far show significant economic and environmental gains can be
made with a small spring starter N application that is sufficient to meet, but
not exceed, first-year corn N needs following a healthy grass or legume/grass
sod.
“Working directly with the farmers allows them to see the results for
themselves,” Cyzmmek says. “We believe this project will result in high
quality forage production at substantially lower cost, saving a minimum of
$30-40 per acre based on an application of 50-100 pounds of N to first-year
corn and 75-150 pounds to second-year corn.”
This project is breaking ground in New York in two ways: the calibration of
the new Illinois Soil N Test for NY growing conditions, and the large-scale
quantification of sod N credits in NY. Sod credits represent the amount of
nitrogen from decomposing sod available for the next season’s corn crop when
the field is rotated. Measurements will be entered in a statewide database.
“Knowing how much nitrogen already exists in a field before applying any
additional N is essential to more accuratelypredicting the amount, if any, of
additional fertilizer N is needed,” Ketterings says. “An additional benefit of
adjusting N applications based on need is that farmers will reduce nutrient
imbalances in soils, thus making their farms more sustainable long-term.”
For More Info:
Quirine M. Ketterings
Cornell University
607-255-3061
Karl J. Czymmek
Cornell University
607-255-4890