Fertilizer

Figure 3

Agronomic Management for Reduced Nitrate Leaching

January 7, 2020
The leaching of nitrate to groundwater and the increasing occurrence of groundwater with excessive nitrate levels for human consumption is a major concern in Nebraska. The amount of leached NO3- depends on soil NO3- concentration at different soil depth layers and the quantity of water movement downward through these soil layers to beyond the root zone.

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watering cornfield

Crediting Essential Nutrients Applied in Irrigation Water

December 18, 2019
Crediting some of the nitrate-N applied in irrigation water for determination of fertilizer-N rates has long been advised in Nebraska.

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Nebraska NRCS soil survey map of K-feldspar

Soil Potassium Availability: The Roles of Manure, Irrigation and Potassium Feldspar

December 17, 2019
Why do Nebraska soils tend to have high potassium (K) availability, even with high yields and often without fertilizer K application? Why are yield responses to fertilizer-K infrequent?

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Laila Puntel

New Soil Scientist/Precision Ag Specialist Joins Agronomy

October 4, 2019
Laila Puntel's focus will be on improving efficiency and profitability of soil nutrient management, particularly through the use of precision ag technologies. She will be conducting research at university centers and one-on-one with growers through on-farm research.

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Chart showing corn yield response to various levels of nitrogen fertilizer

The Difference between Maximum Profit and Maximum Production

September 26, 2019
In this week's Cornhusker Economics Nebraska Extension Agricultural Economist Matt Stockton looks at corn yield response to N and provides an economic analysis of N application rates.

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Price adjustment graph for N in corn

Nutrient Management Suggestions for Corn Updated in EC117

July 9, 2019
The Nebraska Extension Circular, Nutrient Management Suggestions for Corn (EC117), has been updated to account for residual soil nitrate-N and provide an alternative for determining fertilizer-P rates.

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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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Figure showing reductions in nitrification based on temeprature.
Figure 1. Reductions in nitrification over time based on temperature.

Anhydrous Ammonia Conversion

April 18, 2019
The environmental conditions allowing for anhydrous injury in 2018 are different then what we are experiencing this year. This brief looks at factors affecting the conversion from ammonia to usable soil nitrate.

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