University of Idaho and U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers have developed a free online calculator to help Idaho barley and sugar beet growers determine how much nitrogen fertilizer to apply for the greatest profit.
The researchers plan to expand the tool in the future to provide customized nitrogen recommendations for additional Idaho crops. Using data collected during the project, the team has also updated Idaho’s nitrogen application guidelines for malt barley.
The calculator and updated guidelines are available at idahocropnitrogen.org.
Jared Spackman, a U of I associate professor and Extension specialist and the Idaho Barley Commission Endowed Barley Agronomist, and Christopher Rogers, a research soil scientist with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Kimberly, led the crop research. UI Extension agricultural economist Patrick Hatzenbuehler led the project’s economic analysis.
Users enter information about their crop variety, existing soil nitrogen levels, yield goals, commodity prices, fertilizer type and fertilizer costs. The calculator then estimates both the nitrogen rate needed to achieve maximum yield and the rate likely to produce the greatest profit. Applying more fertilizer can eventually cost more than the additional crop yield is worth.
“It’s really helping farmers make better on-farm decisions for their bottom line,” Rogers said. “Just achieving the maximum yield may not be the most profitable for them.”
Source : uidaho.edu