Bijesh Maharjan - Extension Soil and Nutrient Management Specialist

Bijesh Maharjan

faculty
Work
4502 Ave I Scottsbluff NE 69361-4939
US
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Faculty Bio

Man sampling soil in field

Harnessing Residual Soil Nitrogen Following a Dry Season: The Key to Smarter Fertilizer Planning for the Coming Season

November 7, 2024
As farmers look toward the 2025 season, higher residual nitrogen levels in the soil from this year's dry conditions might offer a valuable opportunity to optimize fertilizer planning, in turn reducing production costs and improving yields.

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Tractor applying nitrogen fertilizer to corn field
Three Nebraska Extension NebGuides have been updated to include information about the new UNL Nitrogen Tool, designed to increase efficiency of nitrogen use in crop production.

Nitrogen Management Suggestions for Corn Updated in EC117, EC155, and EC2008

May 9, 2024
The updated publications provide information about UNL's newly developed web-based nitrogen (N) recommendation tool for corn grain, adapted from extension's previous N recommendation equation.

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Tractor spraying corn field

Nitrogen Fertilizer Trends in Nebraska from 1955-2023

April 16, 2024
This Nebraska Extension article highlights the impact of factors such as plant genetics and improved production practices to fertilizer consumption in Nebraska over numerous decades.

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Tractor spreading black coal char in cattle pen
Coal char is applied to a cattle pen for research. After a snowfall, coal ash-applied pens dried quicker than the control pens, which was beneficial for cattle health.

Coal Char Enhances Manure and Soil Management to Improve Crop Production

April 11, 2024
A byproduct of processing sugarbeets, coal char has the potential to optimize soil nutrients and increase crop yields. In this article, UNL researchers share results of a study on incorporating coal char amendments into corn and dry bean cropland.

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Tractor applying nitrogen fertilizer in bare soil field

How Can a Warm Winter and Spring Affect Nitrogen Availability for the Upcoming Crop?

April 3, 2024
With a warmer start to the 2024 growing season, more nitrogen could be available in the soil. To estimate the amount of fertilizer N to apply this year, extension educators review how to conduct a late spring soil nitrate test. 

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Burnt radicle

Fertilizer-nitrogen Injury to Corn

May 17, 2023
Nebraska Extension recommendations on minimizing crop injury from anhydrous ammonia applications.

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Corn yield diagram
This graph demonstrates the increase in crop yield over time at the Knorr-Holden plot, which has been continuously planted with corn since 1912, and treated with beef cattle manure since 1942. (Graph courtesy UNL Water)

Manure Improves Soil Health and Provides Yield Stability and Reliability

March 17, 2023
UNL researchers share their results after 77 years of applying manure to soil at the Knorr-Holden plot, the oldest experimental irrigated corn plot in North America.

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Tractor spraying soil
For producers planting corn-on-corn this growing season, Nebraska Extension encourages taking soil samples to determine accurate nitrate levels and adjusting N application rates accordingly, as there may be considerable amounts of residual nitrogen left from the previous corn crop.

Understanding Soil Residual Nitrogen and its Dollar Value for Next Crop

March 14, 2023
For producers planning corn-on-corn this growing season, there may be a substantial opportunity to reduce nitrogen fertilizer applications, as drought and reduced yields likely left higher-than-normal residual N in many fields.

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