Tractor in field
Anticipated high residual soil nitrate-N levels in Nebraska rainfed crops of dry 2020 may allow reduced N rates for 2021.

Q&As on Nitrogen Investment in Corn This Year

March 31, 2021
Most of Nebraska was drier than normal in 2020, which means a potential increase of residual nitrate-N. As such, producers may need to reduce fertilizer-N rates for 2021 — but how much is enough?

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Nebguide g2322

New NebGuide - Crop Management to Reduce Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Nebraska

February 24, 2020
A new NebGuide, G2322, authored by Bijesh Maharjan, Virginia Jin, Laila Puntel, Javed Iqbal, Tyler Williams, Humberto Blanco and Charles Wortmann, is available in both html and PDF formats.

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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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Graph of potential N loss

Considerations for Fall Fertilizer-Nitrogen Application

October 30, 2019
Fall fertilizer applications offer cost savings and time management benefits, but also may contribute to increased soil nitrate-N leaching. With Nebraska's high soil moisture levels, consider these suggestions when applying nitrogen this fall.

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Sorghum-sudan cover crop plant damaged by a light frost

Forage Hazards Following a Freeze Event

October 6, 2023
Freezing temperatures cause metabolic and cellular changes to our forage crops — prussic acid formation and nitrate poisoning are the biggest concerns. Learn more about these issues and how to avoid them.

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Figure 1. Graph showing average (1998-2009) cumulative NO3-N loss in response to interaction effects of N treatments

Poultry Manure Reduces Nitrate Loss to Water in Iowa Study

March 6, 2019
Iowa State University researchers concluded from a long-term field study that poultry manure, when applied at a rate to meet crop nitrogen (N) requirements, can reduce nitrate loss and achieve equal or better yields in corn-soybean production systems.

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Spring N application in the field
Growers planning for their 2019 N management in corn might consider the potential for increased N efficiency and reduced loss from split applications at planting and up to R3 growth stage rather than a fall application.

Consequences of Fall-Applied N

November 9, 2018
A fall nitrogen application has a relatively high loss potential and is considered the riskiest N management practice. Consider breaking tradition and splitting your N applications next year to coincide with when your corn most needs more N.

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Nebraska Water Center Receives Grant to Research Nitrate Mitigation

June 19, 2018
This project will demonstrate how subsoil injection of an abundant carbon source (recycled sawdust and wood shavings) will establish a biologically active layer for interception and removal of dissolved nitrate after it has left the crop root zone.

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