ARS | Publication request: THE FUTURE OF NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2004
Publication Date: December 6, 2004
Citation: Smith, D.R., Joern, B. 2004. The future of nutrient management. Meeting Abstract.

Technical Abstract: Fertilization is an essential part of cropping systems to sustain profitable crop production. Over application of nutrients can lead to degraded water quality, resulting from increased levels of nutrients in runoff waters. Degradation of a drinking water source in Oklahoma led to a lawsuit in which a temporary moratorium was placed on poultry litter and inorganic fertilizer applications to fields within the watershed. On overview of this lawsuit is given to help technical service providers understand how the recommendations they provide to producers can impact other producers and consumers of water within their watershed. The need and use of a nutrient management planner developed by researchers at Purdue University is then presented. Inputs for the nutrient management plan include the field boundaries, soil type, soil test nutrient levels, inventories of inorganic fertilizers and manures, number and type of animals produced, cropping systems used, and manure spreading equipment. The plan can then aid producers in determining when to apply manure, and to which fields based on travel distance, and factors that may influence nutrient losses. This presentation impacts certified crop advisors by providing the information needed to start a comprehensive nutrient management plan required for confined animal feeding operations, and to give them an understanding of how poor nutrient management of an entire watershed can negatively impact land owners and water users from that watershed.