Soil Management

Find more information in the Soil Management to Optimize Crop Production in Nebraska section of CropWatch.

Dr. Bijesh Maharjan standing in a field
Dr. Bijesh Maharjan is one of many specialists scheduled to present information during the 2021 Soils School in February.

Soils School to Feature Latest Strategies in Soil Management

January 4, 2021
The 2021 Soils School, set for Feb. 17-18, will provide research and Extension updates on the advanced application of the principles of soil management.

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farmer in corn field

Towards 4Rs Nutrient Stewardship Concept: An Illustration of N Rate and Timing for Optimizing Corn Yield and Profits

August 11, 2020
The 4Rs is a nutrient management and water stewardship approach which emphasizes fertilizer use with the right source, right rate, right time, and right placement of fertilizers.

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Panhandle Soil Health Workshop info

First Panhandle Soil Health Workshop Set for March 3 in Bridgeport

February 5, 2020
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will sponsor the first Panhandle Soil Health Workshop in Bridgeport next month. The half-day event will take place on March 3 from 8-11:30 a.m. in the Prairie Winds Community Center.

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Soil probe

Soil Sampling for Better Fertilization Decisions

October 17, 2023
Recommendations for collecting soil samples to ensure the quality results needed for good management decisions about fertilizer, manure and lime application rates.

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Andrea Basche in a field of cover crop planted into corn stubble
Figure 1. Nebraska’s Andrea Basche and a colleague have found that planting perennials and cover crops may substantially improve the ability of soils to soak up heavy rainfall, potentially alleviating the most severe effects of flooding and drought. (Photo by Greg Nathan, UNL)

Which Farming Practices Help Soils Absorb Heavy Rains?

October 3, 2019
A synthesis of 89 studies across six continents has helped clarify which agricultural practices hold water when it comes to helping soils soak up precipitation — a factor critical to mitigating floods, outlasting drought and stabilizing crop yields.

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Figure 1. When making decisions for your farm, check out some of the on-farm research results from 2018 to see what other growers learned.
Figure 1. When making decisions for your farm, check out some of the on-farm research results from 2018 to see what other growers learned.

Extension Releases Results from 2018 Farmer-Conducted Research

April 12, 2019
An online database of results from the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network allows users to search and filter data from over 800 Nebraska on-farm research studies dating back to 1990.

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Routes of nitrogen loss in the soil

Nitrogen Inhibitors for Improved Fertilizer Use Efficiency

January 14, 2019
This article looks at how some nitrogen inhibitors temporarily reduce populations of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria, the soil bacteria responsible for converting ammonium to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate as well as what to look for in product claims.

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Chart of grain yield (averages for 15 site-years) with five P application practices.

Fertilizer P for Corn: Update of Research Findings and Revised Recommendations

January 9, 2019
Results of research conducted since 2000 to address fertilizer phosphorus (P) for corn will be reviewed. The current fertilizer P recommendations for corn will be discussed and revised recommendations presented at the 2019 Crop Production Clinics.

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