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Lower Platte North NRD

Certification Training

Presented in Cooperation by

Working Together To Preserve Our

Ground Water for Future Generations

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Certification Training Format

First - Test

Questions on nitrogen and water

management

Instead of written test, we will use

audience response cards

No failing grades, just want to see what

kind of job we have done

Second – NRD Update

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Audience Response Cards

Reply is

anonymous

Will not work as

calculator so

please don’t

take home

Press button

you think

is correct

answer

No need to

press GO

button

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Practice Question : What Price

are you Waiting for to sell your

remaining 2010 corn?

Alreadysold i...

$6.00 $7.00 $8.00 $4.00 afterth...

24%

5% 5%

19%

48%1.Already sold it

2.$6.00

3.$7.00

4.$8.00

5.$4.00 after the market

crashes

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Ready?

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Which factor has the biggest

influence on the amount of

residual nitrate-nitrogen

present in the spring?

Amount of n

itr...

The previous c

...

Rainfall and i..

.

10%

52%

38%1.Amount of nitrogen

fertilizer applied to

previous crop

2.The previous crop

3.Rainfall and

irrigation amounts

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Correct Answer – ? Depends

on the Year and the Field

Each of these factors plays a role in

determining how much residual nitrate-

nitrogen is present in the spring

Depending on the year, any one these could

be the biggest factor in determining how

much residual N is present

Which one is the biggest factor this year?

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The estimated nitrogen credit for a

corn crop following soybeans

yielding 60 bushels on a medium

textured soil is:

30 lb/acre

45 lb/acre

60 lb/acre

75 lb/acre

33%

0%

24%

43%

1.30 lb/acre

2.45 lb/acre

3.60 lb/acre

4.75 lb/acre

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Correct Answer – 2 – 45

lbs/Acre UNL recommendation is 45 lbs/acre nitrogen credit

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However:

USDA-ARS research in Nebraska over 20

years indicated average credits of 65 lbs/acre

for irrigated fields and 55 lbs/acre for dryland

fields

45 lbs/acre is conservative to account for

year to year variation

For soybeans yielding under 30 bushels, use

1 lb N / bushel credit

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Which of the following should

a nitrogen credit not be

allowed for:

Previo

us legu

m...

Irrig

ation w

at...

Soil p

H

Resid

ual Soil .

..

Manure

5%

19%

10%5%

62%1.Previous legume

crops

2.Irrigation water with

10 or more ppm

nitrate-nitrogen

3.Soil pH

4.Residual Soil Nitrate

5.Manure

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Answer – 3 – Soil pH

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Nitrate-Nitrogen is:

Held by cl

ay a...

Very

mobile

an...

Unava

ilable

to...

4%

17%

78%1.Held by clay and

organic matter and can’t

be lost to leaching

2.Very mobile and can be

lost to leaching

3.Unavailable to plants

until is broken down by

bacteria

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Answer – 2 – Very mobile

Nitrate nitrogen has a negative charge

Clay and organic matter also have a

negative charge

Results in a very mobile nutrient that is

subject to leaching

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At the end of the season there is

_________ residual nitrate-

nitrogen in the soil:

Never

Seld

om

Alw

ays

Occ

asionally

4% 4%

92%

0%

1.Never

2.Seldom

3.Always

4.Occasionally

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Answer – 3 - Always

Mineralization of nitrate-nitrogen from

organic matter occurs throughout growing

season

No crop can uptake 100 % of nitrate-nitrogen

in soil

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How much nitrogen is potentially

lost per day from denitrification in

saturated 60oF soils

0% 2-3%

4-5%10%

0%

23%27%

50%1.0 %

2.2-3%

3.4-5%

4.10%

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Answer – 2 – 2 to 3 %

Denitrification - Process of anaerobic bacteria in soil

converting nitrate-N into gaseous forms (nitric oxide,

nitrous oxide) which can be lost to the atmosphere

University of Illinois data

1 to 2 % - Below 55 0F

2 to 3 % - 55 to 65 0F

4 to 5 % - Temps above 65 0F

Complicated process that is difficult to estimate

accurately

Decision to apply additional N is complicated by

stand loss and plant stunting, and nitrate leaching

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Which is likely to cause more

yield loss when irrigating:

Applying 75 pe...

Applying 125 p...

88%

12%

1.Applying 75

percent of crop ET

2.Applying 125

percent of crop ET

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Answer – 2 – 125% of ET

Neb Guide G1904

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Which system has the greatest

potential for N loss:

Fall a

pplied n...

Ferti

gation

Side-d

ress

app...

Fall a

pplied n...

0%

96%

4%0%

1.Fall applied

nitrogen with

Agrotain

2.Fertigation

3.Side-dress

applications

4.Fall applied

nitrogen

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Answer – 4 – Fall Applied

Nitrogen Nitrification inhibitors like Agrotain

slow conversion of ammonium to

nitrate

Fertigation and side dressing results in

nitrogen application closer to timing of

crop uptake

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How Do You Apply The Majority of

Your Nitrogen Fertilizer?

Anhyd

rous –

Fa...

Anhyd

rous –

Sp...

UAN –

28% o

r 3...

UAN –

28% o

r 3...

UAN –

28% o

r 3...

UAN Fe

rtiga

ted

Dry

Spre

ad Ure

...

Oth

er

17%

22%

39%

0%0%0%

13%

9%

1.Anhydrous – Fall

2.Anhydrous – Spring

3.UAN – 28% or 32% -

Broadcast

4.UAN – 28% or 32% Injected

5.UAN – 28% or 32% Sidedress

6.UAN Fertigated

7.Dry Spread Urea

8.Other

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If you answered 3- UAN – 28% or

32% Broadcast, Do You No-Till?

Yes

No

22%

78%1.Yes

2.No

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Ammonia volatilization with no-till

surface application Concern with UAN and urea

Urea and ammonium are

converted to ammonia gas,

which is lost to the

atmosphere

High urease activity in crop

residues

Crop residues prevent urea

or UAN from reaching the soil

From: Better Crops Source – Charlie Wortmann

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What percent of UAN fertilizer

can potentially volatilize?

25%50%

75%100%

28%

12%

24%

36%1.25%

2.50%

3.75%

4.100%

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Answer – 3 – 75%

UAN is made up of:

50 % Urea - N

25 % Ammonium – N

25 % Nitrate – N

All but nitrate – N can potentially

volatilize

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To accurately estimate residual soil

nitrate-nitrogen, you should:

Collect

sam

ple...

Separa

te sa

mpl..

.

Collect

4 rand...

0%

13%

88%1.Collect sample cores

to 8 inch depth

2.Separate sample

cores in depth

increments to 3 feet

3.Collect 4 random soil

cores per sample

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Answer – 2 – Separate Sample

Cores in Depth Increments

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Normally, how much water is

required by corn at growth stage

“R5 ¼ milk line” to reach maturity?

5.0 i

nches

3.75 in

ches

2.25 in

ches

1.0 i

nches

9% 9%

61%

22%

1. 5.0 inches

2. 3.75 inches

3. 2.25 inches

4. 1.0 inches

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Answer – 2 – 3.75 inches

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From Neb Guide G1871 –

Predicting the Last Irrigation of

the Season

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Which condition would result

in reduced crop water use?

Cle

ar Sunny d

a...

90 d

egree Tem

p...

30 M

ile P

er Ho...

90 %

Rela

tive ..

.

0%

88%

8%4%

1.Clear Sunny day

2.90 degree

Temperatures

3.30 Mile Per Hour

Wind

4.90 % Relative

Humidty

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Answer – 4 – 90% Relative

Humidity

Many factors affect crop water use

Sunny versus cloudy day

Wind speed

Crop growth stage

Humidity

Temperature

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To obtain more accurate soil test

results, a field should be divided

according to patterns of :

Cropping hist

o...

Topography

Soil T

ype

All o

f the abo...

0%

92%

8%0%

1.Cropping history

2.Topography

3.Soil Type

4.All of the above

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Answer – 4 – All of the Above

Cropping

history,

topography,

and soil type

all affect soil

test results

Watch for

old lanes,

homesteads,

feed lots

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Which soil water monitoring tool

offers the best combination of

accuracy and price:

Soil p

robe

Wate

rmark

sens..

.

Capacita

nce pr..

.

Neutro

n probe

55%

5%9%

32%

1.Soil probe

2.Watermark sensor

3.Capacitance probe

4.Neutron probe

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Answer – 2 – Watermark sensor

Watermark soil water sensors offer the following

advantages compared to a soil probe:

More accurate, don’t rely on experience

Can provide soil water status down to 4 feet

Compare same spot week to week

Less labor during growing season

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Lower Platte North NRD

NAWMDN Program

Partnership between Lower Platte North NRD and

UNL Extension to help growers increase their

irrigation management

Provide cost share on equipment and hands on

assistance to install and use Watermark sensors and

ET Gage.

Had 45 producers participate in 2010

Looking for 40 growers throughout the NRD to

participate in 2011.

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Which of these factors does the UNL

nitrogen recommendation for corn

not account for ?

Expect

ed yield

Resid

ual soil .

..

Soil o

rganic

m...

Type of n

itrog...

Applic

ation ti

...

Corn an

d nitro...

8%

0%

67%

0%

21%

4%

1.Expected yield

2.Residual soil nitrate N

3.Soil organic matter

content

4.Type of nitrogen

fertilizer

5.Application timing

6.Corn and nitrogen

price

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Answer – 4 – Type of Nitrogen Fertilizer

Recommendation in lb N / acre =

35 + (1.2 x Yield Goal)

Minus

- (0.14 x Yield Goal x % Organic Matter)

- (8 x residual soil nitrate)

- (other credits such as legume, manure, nitrates in

irrigation water)

Then multiplied by

× fA = Correction factor for application timing

× fR = Correction factor for Corn to Nitrogen price ratio

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UNL Corn

Nitrogen

Calculator

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Cropwatch.unl.edu

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Fall applied nitrogen should not be

applied until the soil temperature is at

or below:

60 ºF 55 ºF

50 ºF 40 ºF

5%9%

73%

14%

1.60 ºF

2.55 ºF

3.50 ºF

4.40 ºF

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Answer – 3 – 50 ºF

Conversion of

ammonium to

nitrate slows

below 50 ºF

pH, moisture and

plant residue will

effect conversion

rate.

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To determine a realistic yield goal for

corn you would use your five year field

average minus an unusual year. What

percent increase would you add to the

average to determine the yield goal:

1510% 5% 0%

5% 5%

55%

36%

1.15

2.10%

3.5 %

4.0 %

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Answer – 3 – 5 %

Annual Fertilizer Application Report

For Corn ► Line 6

Yield Goal (Bushels/Acre) (Past 5 year average + 5%

recommended)

“The expected yield should be about 105 percent of the

five-year average.”

EC 117 – Fertilizer Suggestions for Corn

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Regardless of soil temperature, the

earliest date the Lower Platte North

NRD allows the fall application of

nitrogen fertilizer on non-sandy soil is:

October 1st

November 1st

November 15th

December 1

st

14%

5%10%

71%1.October 1st

2.November 1st

3.November 15th

4.December 1st

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Answer – 2 – November 1st

Ground Water Management Area Rules and

Regulations - Implemented January 1, 1997

Section E Ground Water Quality Management Area – Phase One

Rule 8 - Fertilizer Application on Non-sandy Soils

No fall applications of N fertilizer (commercial) for row crops will be allowed on non-sandy or fine textured soils until after November 1. ◄

Rule 9 - Fertilizer Application on Sandy Soils

Fall and winter applications of N fertilizer (commercial) for row crops will be prohibited on sandy soils. Commercial fertilizer can be applied on sandy soils after March 1 of the crop year.

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Water in Nebraska is owned by?

County

Land o

wner

Loca

l NRD

State

of N

ebra...

0%

71%

4%

25%

1.County

2.Land owner

3.Local NRD

4.State of Nebraska

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Answer – 4- State of Nebraska

Correlative Rights - Groundwater

Land owners are allowed to drill wells and extract

groundwater from an underlying aquifer for

beneficial purposes subject to management by

the public

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Questions?

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Evaluation

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Which of the Following Do You

Consider Your Primary

Occupation?

Farm

er

Cro

p Consu

ltan...

Agrib

usiness

R...

Public

Agency

...

Oth

er

71%

0%

13%

0%

17%

1.Farmer

2.Crop Consultant

3.Agribusiness Representative

4.Public Agency Representative

5.Other

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Number of Acres that You Directly

Manage:

0 acres

1 to 500 acres

501 to 1000 ac...

1001 to 2000 a...

2001 to 5000 a...

5001 to 10000 ...

More than 1000...0%

30%

22%

0%

4%

13%

30%

1.0 acres

2.1 to 500 acres

3.501 to 1000 acres

4.1001 to 2000 acres

5.2001 to 5000 acres

6.5001 to 10000 acres

7.More than 10000 acres

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As a result of this educational

experience, I have an improved

knowledge of the principles of

nitrogen losses:

No Improvement...

Slight Improve...

Moderate Impro...

Significant Im...

Very Significa...

17%

25%

4%

17%

38%

1.No Improvement in Knowledge

2.Slight Improvement in Knowledge

3.Moderate Improvement in Knowledge

4.Significant Improvement in Knowledge

5.Very Significant Improvement in Knowledge

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As a result of this educational

experience, I am likely to adopt the

UNL nitrogen recommendations

I have no plan...

I am already d...

I plan to expa...

I plant to sta...

I need more he...

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1.I have no plans to do this

2.I am already doing this

3.I plan to expand or modify my current

practices

4.I plant to start this in the future

5.I need more help to do this 0 of 5

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Have You Previously Attended a

Lower Platte North NRD

Certification Training?

Yes

No

43%

57%

1.Yes

2.No

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After attending a Lower Platte

North NRD Certification I have

adopted practices that improve

nitrogen fertilizer application

No

Yes -

Slig

ht I...

Yes -

Modera

te...

Yes -

Signifi

c...

Yes -

Very

Sig...

38%

31%

8%8%

15%

1.No

2.Yes - Slight Improvement

3.Yes - Moderate Improvement

4.Yes - Significant Improvement

5.Yes - Very Significant Improvement

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Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture

and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–

Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United

States Department of Agriculture.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension educational

programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of

the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United

States Department of Agriculture.