Charles Wortmann - Emeritus Extension Soil and Nutrient Management Specialist

Charles Wortmann

emeriti
Work Keim Hall (Keim) 202
Lincoln NE 68583-0915
US
Work 402-472-2811 On campus, dial 2-2811

Faculty Bio

Research Cited in CW
How Manure Impacts Soil Aggregation

Drone equipped with sensors to read nitrogen levels
Figure 1. Nitrogen sensors can be used in drones, high-clearance rigs, or hand-held devices to determine how much in-season N may be needed following a wet spring. (Photo by Laura Thompson)

In-season Nitrogen Management for Corn in 2019

June 12, 2019
Spring weather has complicated nitrogen management this year, making in-season nitrogen application necessary in many fields. You can estimate N needs with the Late Spring Soil Nitrate Test or by use of crop canopy reflectance sensing, both of which are addressed here.

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Improving Manure Nitrogen Use Efficiency

April 18, 2019
A multi-year study of organic N used in Nebraska crop production validated sensor guided in-season N application as a means to efficiently use the N available from manure and other organic materials. See what benefits they found, as well as considerations for use.

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Spring fertilizer application

More on Nutrient Management for 2019

April 11, 2019
This article addresses nitrogen application options for corn and availability of P and K from land-applied grain and fodder damaged by flooding. It supplements the previous article, Nutrient Management Issues for 2019.

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Graph showing hypothetical illustration of variability of N loss.

Overall Efficiency of Fertilizer Nitrogen Use for Corn Production in Nebraska

April 3, 2019
How well are we managing N fertilizer in corn and where can we improve to increase economic and environmental benefits.This article looks at sources of N fertilizer losses, input efficiencies and other factors.

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A New NebGuide: Perennial Grass or Grass-Legume in Rotation with Annual Crops

March 29, 2019
Including perennial grass or a grass-legume mixture in up to a nine-year rotation may help improve soil productivity and profitability while achieving other benefits.

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Nutrient Management Issues for 2019

March 29, 2019
The impact on soil nutrient availability after the March snowmelt/heavy rainfall event is highly variable. The following describes what to consider in areas of little, moderate, and severe harmful effects.

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Nebraska map showing departure from normal precipitation in inches for the last 6 months (9/25/2018 through 3/24/2019, generated on 3/25/2019 at HPRCC)

Topdressing Winter Wheat with Fertilizer Nitrogen

March 26, 2019
Spring topdressing winter wheat with fertilizer N is an effective way to enhance winter wheat production and profitability. Check soil moisture and fertilizer and wheat prices to help determine N needs.

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Figure showing the marginal net returns to N fertilizer application for irrigated corn following corn and corn following soybean. The analysis was done for $4/bu corn and fertilizer costs of 7 lb N and 9 lb N equal to value of one bushel of grain or of $0.57/lb N and $0.44/lb N, respectively.

Effects on Profitability and Nitrogen Loss from Reducing N Rate for Corn

February 5, 2019
This study looks at how various reductions in nitrogen application rates in corn might reduce nitrogen loss to the environment and what the costs of those changes would be in yield and profit.

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