ARS | Publication request: INTENSIVE N FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT EFFECTS ON WATER QUALITY AT THE WATERSHED SCALE

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 4, 1999
Publication Date: November 4, 1999
Citation: Dinnes, D.L., Jaynes, D.B., Cambardella, C.A., Colvin, T.S., Hatfield, J.L., Karlen, D.L. 1999. Intensive n fertilizer management effects on water quality at the watershed scale [CD-ROM]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Madison, Wisconsin.

Technical Abstract: Our project, the Walnut Creek Nitrogen Initiative, addresses a prevalent environmental issue of the Midwest, nitrate contamination of tile drainage waters. The project's objective is to quantify changes of nitrate content in tile flow as a result implementing intensive N fertilizer management at the watershed scale. We are using the Late-Spring Soil Nitrate Test (LSNT) method of managing N fertilizer for corn production. With this system, N fertilizer is applied in split applications; the first application a nominal rate shortly before or at planting and the second soon after late-spring soil sampling with the rate determined by soil sampling results. While designed to provide optimum N fertilizer rate and timing, the impact of adopting the LSNT on water quality had not been quantified at the watershed scale. Baseline and treatment effect comparisons of water quality data will be presented.