Project title: Nitrogen and Water Management for Groundwater Protection

Principal investigators: Richard Ferguson, Charles Shapiro

Duration: On-going

Funding: Various

Contact:  

Charles Shapiro Northeast Research and Extension Center, Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, UNL, 57905 866 Road, Concord, NE 68728-2828, (402) 584-2803, cshapiro1@unl.edu

Bill Kranz Northeast Research and Extension Center, Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, UNL, 57905 866 Road, Concord, NE 68728-2828, (402) 584-2803, wkranz1@unl.edu

Richard B. Ferguson, Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, IANR, rferguson1@unl.edu

Projects description: In northeast Nebraska two farmer field demonstrations are being conducted to show the need to manage both irrigation timing and amount as well as use of UNL N recommendations to maximize profit and reduce leaching of nitrate. These demonstrations are unique in that they utilize changing irrigation amounts within center pivot spans to create a range of irrigation quantities.

Key results: Irrigation timing has not affected yield when increased or decreased by 10% in eastern Nebraska. In 2008, with 8 inches of spring rains, there was an apparent leaching loss of pre-plant applied N and the reduced N rates were inadequate. Calculated sidedress rates should have been adjusted to account for these losses. Stalk nitrate values and yields have been affected by N rates.