Author
Dinnes, Dana | |
Jaynes, Dan | |
Meek, David | |
Cambardella, Cynthia | |
Colvin, Thomas | |
Hatfield, Jerry | |
Karlen, Douglas |
Submitted to: Water Environment Federation
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 7/13/2000 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Our project, the Walnut Creek Nitrogen Initiative, addresses a prevalent environmental issue of the Midwest, nitrate contamination of agricultural field tile drainage waters. The project's objective is to quantify changes of nitrate content in tile flow as a result of 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 is a nominal rate shortly before, or at, planting and the second is 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 yet been quantified at the watershed scale. Preliminary statistical analyses indicate a significant reduction in nitrate concentration of tile drainage (average of 3.6 ppm nitrate-N) from the treatment area compared to the control area. |