Farms.com Home   News

Keep The Impact Of Your Soil Nutrients Positive

 
Berger_soil_sample
 
Tips to keep N and P in the soil and prevent them from impacting the environment
 
Most row crops require nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to get an adequate supply of nutrients and maximize yield. Soybeans are no different, requiring both N and P to grow, but the application of these fertilizers could have negative effects on the environment.
 
Researchers continue to look for ways to help farmers apply these and other nutrients without the environmental impact.
 
“While soybeans require substantial amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus for crop production, these nutrients could enter the environment and impact the water or atmosphere,” says University of Minnesota Assistant Professor Fabian Fernandez, Ph.D.
 
In a recent video from the Plant Management Network Fernandezffers practices to help.
 
Additional N not needed
 
Soybeans have the ability to fix their own N in the soil, so applying additional N does not usually benefit the crop. Fernandez has studied the benefit of applying N to soybeans at different growing stages and found that it does not increase yields.
 
Reducing the loss of P
 
Phosphorus is another important nutrient for soybeans, but soil erosion causes major losses. Fernandez says P is usually found in higher concentrations at the surface layer of the soil, which is the same layer where most erosion loss occurs. Minimizing the possibility of erosion will help keep P in the soil.
 
Other practices
 
Fernandez offered these additional tips that may be beneficial to reducing the loss of N and P:
 
  • Cover crops
  • Crop rotation
  • Buffers, bioreactors and wetlands
  • Testing soil-nutrient levels to help you apply nutrients only in the amounts they’re needed
 
Environmental impacts
 
N and P can be harmful to the environment in a variety of ways, including:
 
Surface water: N and P can cause pollution of surface water. Runoff of these nutrients into bodies of water can support algal blooms, which can deplete oxygen levels in the water, making it unable to support fish and other aquatic life.
 
Ground water: N can be leached into the ground water as nitrate, impacting water resources that many Midwestern communities use for drinking water.
Click here to see more...

Trending Video

OFA New President Announcement Video

Video: OFA New President Announcement Video

OFA proudly introduces Drew Spoelstra as our new President! With a background in dairy and grain farming, he will bring a fresh perspective to guide us going forward for OFA. Committed to collaboration and innovation, Drew invites our #ontag community to join together in shaping the future. Subscribe now for new updates from OFA #teamOFA