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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #138143
Title: MANAGING LEGUMES TO REDUCE EXCESS NITROGEN ON DAIRY FARMS

Author
item Russelle, Michael

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2002
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Many dairy farms import excess N, primarily in feed and fertilizer. Surveys show that dairy farmers do not credit manure N fully when it is applied to nonlegumes. Legumes can utilize soil ammonium and nitrate, and symbioses between rhizobia and legumes typically are quite sensitive to uptake of combined N. Spreading manure on legumes would open a new application window, utilize manure N efficiently, reduce excess fertilizer N rates, and help balance the whole farm N supply. This strategy requires improved application methods and symbioses that are sensitive to N supply.