Iowa farmers use adaptive nitrogen management

Advancing Agricultural Performance®

Summary of 2013 Iowa Adaptive Nutrient Management Project

2014 Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Meeting

Heath Ellison, CCAAgriculture and Natural Resources Manager

Iowa Soybean Association

Peter Kyveryga, PhDOperations Manager‐AnalyticsIowa Soybean Association


Outline

• Overview of project and adaptive management process

• Review 2013 results and analyses of historical data

• Tools and information


2013 Adaptive Nitrogen Management Project

OBJECTIVES:• To evaluate N management practices within 3 HUC‐8 watersheds in Iowa;

• To compare current and historical trends in corn N status across state and within North Raccoon, Boone River and Upper Cedar watersheds.

• To develop Adaptive Management Publication and outline examples of decision support system.


Adaptive Management/Participatory Learning

• A process of evaluating, adjusting and improving management practices by: conducting on‐farm studies and collecting critical management, soil and weather information;sharing and discussing results with other farmers, agronomists, crop consultants, and scientists; and using evaluation results to make adjustments for the future.

Analyses, Discussions,

andInterpretations

Plan

Collect DataAdjust


ISA AM Process• Working with groups of farmers (OFN groups, watershed projects)

• Conduct in field research and testing• Aggregate data including

• Management practices• Trials and testing results• Weather• Soil data• Site observations

• Reporting• Individual farmer reports• Group meetings• Online database• ISA Research Conference


Post Season Feedback in Corn N Status

• Tools to collect feedback in N status:

1. Digital aerial imagery.2. Corn stalk nitrate test (CSNT).3. On‐farm replicated strip trials

(RST).4. Aggregate data analyses and

result interpretations.

Iowa State Univ. PM 1584


Activities & Participation

• Guided stalk sampling 2013 – 1548 samples collected from 387 fields for 146 farmers

• 90 fields enrolled in Boone River• 170 fields enrolled in Raccoon River• 127 fields enrolled in Upper Cedar

• Replicated strip trials 2012 ‐ 2013• 24 nitrogen related trials implemented

• Farmer meetings in each watershed to review data and discuss observations


2013 Study Coverage


Average Monthly Rainfall in 2013

mesonet.agron.iastate.edu


Corn N Status in Upper Cedar

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Corn‐after‐Soybean Corn‐after‐Corn

Upper Cedar in 2013

Excessive

Optimal

Marginal

Deficient

Total N rates: 160 lb N/acre 212 lb N/acre


2013: Corn N Status, Rainfall and N Rates


Observations from 2013

1. Higher likelihood of deficient N status for corn after soybean than for corn after corn.

2. Higher N rates were needed to reach optimal N status for fields receiving Fall Manure applications.

3. Spring UAN applications were at a higher risk of N loss than other forms and timing in 2013.


Analysis of Historical Data: 2006‐2013

3430 corn fields from 2006 through 2013


Benchmarking Farmer Practices

Distribution of N rates that resulted in corn optimal N status within 166 corn after corn and 465 corn after soybean fields.

For aggregate data, these are “benchmark rates” that farmers can use to compare their N management with similar management.


Differences Between N Management Categories

For Optimal N Status, fields with Fall‐Injected Liquid Swine Manure required about 15‐20% higher N rates than those with commercial N.

Potential reasons: Increased yield potentials and higher demand for N; Large uncertainty in N availability or delayed N availability; Larger N losses with manure.


Evaluation Results On‐Line


On‐Line Database of Replicated Strip Trial Summaries

http://www.isafarmnet.com/onlinedb/index.php


On‐Line Database of Trial Summaries


Developing Decision Support Systems

Content:P2. Complexity of N management.P3. Adaptive management to collect feedback.P4. N diagnostic tools for late‐season evaluations.P5. On‐farm replicated strip trials. P6. Data collection, summarization and interpretation.P7. Verifying calibration categories of corn stalk nitrate test.P8. Using feedback in N status to make adjustments for the future. P11. Establishing relationship between corn N status, management and rainfall. P11. Concerns and fears of unexpected results.P12. Farmer group meetings.P13. Optimized N management and water quality.P13. General concussions.

www.isafarmnet.com/publications


Partners

• Project funded by;• Natural Resources Conservation Service in Iowa• Integrated Farm and Livestock Management (IFLM) through Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship

• Local partners;• Soil and Water Conservation Districts• Local crop consultants and agronomists• Farmers


Natural ResourcesConservation Service

In addition to the sponsors, the On‐Farm Network® wishes to thank our partners in the commercial agronomic service industry, including farm supply dealers and cooperatives, independent consultants and service providers, community colleges, and above all, the hundreds of farmers who have cooperated with the network

and contributed to its success this year and in the past.Iowa Soybean Association Research Programs are partially funded by the soybean checkoff

Thank you 2013 research sponsors…


Thank you!Contacts:Heath EllisonDesk: [email protected]

Dr. Peter KyverygaDesk: [email protected]

Date post:	20-Jun-2015
Category:	Environment
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Iowa farmers use adaptive nitrogen management

Environment