Author: 4RMidAtlantic

Recap: Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test

Posted on by 4RMidAtlantic | Posted in Resources

If you’ve followed the Delaware-Maryland 4R Alliance on Facebook over the last few weeks, you might have noticed that we linked to several resources on the Pre-sidedress Nitrate Test, or PSNT. Whether you’re looking for information on how to sample for a PSNT or how to interpret the results, or information on the reliability of the test, here’s a recap on the resources that we posted:

About the PSNT

Per the University of Maryland Extension website, “The Pre-sidedress Soil Nitrate Test (PSNT) is a widely used test for optimizing nitrogen fertilizer use for corn grain and corn silage. It is a soil test that measures the amount of nitrate nitrogen available in the soil at the time when the crop is most likely to start using it. This nitrogen is a by-product of the mineralization of manure and/or last year’s forage legume crop, and its availability is influenced by soil temperature and moisture.

The PSNT should be run when corn is between 6 and 12 inches tall. This is the time period when corn is getting ready for a rapid growth spurt and will require nitrogen to fuel this growth. If the PSNT shows enough nitrogen is present in the soil, it may be beneficial to forego the application, thus saving time and money. If the test shows nitrogen is low, it may be beneficial to consider sidedressing additional nitrogen to avoid any potential compromise in yield.”

If you grow corn and have applied manure as a nutrient source, a PSNT can help you refine your in-season nitrogen recommendations.

Marylanders can find guidance here: https://extension.umd.edu/…/pre-sidedress-soil-nitrate-test…

Delawareans should look here: http://extension.udel.edu/…/nitrogen-management-for-corn-i…/

 

Reliability of the PSNT

The Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test has been a trusted tool in the Mid-Atlantic for nearly 30 years. While a lot of things have changed in agriculture over that time, the processes that drive N availability in the soil are still as relevant as they were when the PSNT was first developed.

The study below evaluated the PSNT in fields in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Each dot represents a sample. By far, most samples fall in the green areas of the graph, where the PSNT did its job. The blue area shows non-responsive sites- those areas where additional N did not result in a higher yield. The red area shows the few sites where the corn responded to additional N that the PSNT didn’t recommend.

PSNTs are recommended in Maryland and Delaware on corn acres with a history of manure application and/or legume production.

The Mid-Atlantic Nutrient Management Handbook can be found here. Information about the PSNT is on pages 173-174. Please note that nutrient management guidance issued by your state’s department of agriculture or university extension will have the most up to date information as it applies to regulations in your area.

 

 

MD Farmer Jonathan Quinn selected as 2019 4R Advocate

Posted on by 4RMidAtlantic | Posted in 4Rs on the Farm, In the News

It’s no surprise that one who leads a fifth-generation farm might also be an early adopter. Jonathan Quinn was one of the first in the Delmarva region to invest in a yield monitor. He also incorporated the 4Rs before they were so named. It comes naturally. His father was conducting annual soil tests in the 1960s. They still do. Little Bohemia Creek Farms now covers 2,350 acres in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and includes corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, and spinach, as well as a custom farming business.

Though Maryland law requires nutrient management plans be filed for every acre on the farm, they’re not new to Quinn. He and his crop advisor, Kenny Glenn with Southern States Cooperative in Middletown, Delaware, have used 4R strategies in the plans since the beginning. In fact, they’ve worked together for 20 years to continually improve the farm and community.

“Even when we voluntarily compiled nutrient management plans, we found we didn’t need all the nutrients we were applying,” Quinn says. “We’ve gotten better since.”

In addition to 4R practices, technology helps. GPS, autosteer, the yield monitor, a 16-row, variable-rate planter, 30’ air seeder, and variable-rate sprayer are supplemented by satellite field imagery and soil maps.

Pre-sidedress nitrate tests, tissue samples, and fall nitrate tests help guide in-season nitrogen applications. UAN is variable-rate injected, even in sidedress applications, and Avail phosphorous enhancer and NutrisphereN help ensure they’re available to the crop when needed. Cover crops help retain nutrients through winter.

It pays off. Corn and soybean yields are up five to 10 percent, while nutrient application remains optimal for soil and crop health. If these 4R practices work for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, they’ll work anywhere.

Best Practice Management
  • Annual grid and soil sampling guide nutrient management plan to focus only on what nutrients are needed.
  • Nutrient management plan determines how much N, P, and K are needed.
  • Pre-sidedress and fall nitrate tests help determine in-season nitrogen applications.
  • Injected UAN reduces volatilization.
  • Variable-rate nutrient application ensures crops get the right amount of nutrients.
  • GPS-precision nutrient applications helps soils that need additional nutrients get the right ones.
  • Variable-rate sprayer delivers the exact amount of product needed.
  • Cover crops retain nutrients.
  • Conservation practices include cover crops, no-till, grassed waterways, riparian buffers, wildlife habitat, an agricultural chemical handling facility, and a manure storage building.

Jonathan was also featured on the Chesapeake Bay Program’s website for his advanced nutrient management practices:

You can read about all of the 2019 4R Advocates at nutrientstewardship.org

On-Farm Research Resources

Posted on by 4RMidAtlantic | Posted in Resources

Today’s article in the American Agriculturist- “4 tips to ensure on-farm research success”– highlights several considerations for how to carry out a project. Interested in learning more about testing new products, tools or management strategies on your farm? Here’s a list of resources that might come in handy!

Our 4R On-Farm Research Factsheet offers a broad overview about the benefits and basics of conducting on-farm research.

Great Guides

Help to Fund the Project

  • SARE offers Farmer Grants and Partnership Grants that might help to cover the cost of adopting an on-farm research project.
  • Check with your local NRCS Office to see if they offer an Adaptive Management Program for Nutrient Management or Cover Crop Projects
  • Your local University Extension may be able to assist with project design and statistical analysis for project results.

 

 

On Farm Research at Delaware Ag Week

Posted on by 4RMidAtlantic | Posted in 4Rs on the Farm, Events

THE 4R WHOLE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT APPROACH requires finding the right nutrient sources, rates, timing and method of application for your individual farm. An on-farm research project can help to evaluate new practices, allowing you to identify site-specific management strategies that provide the greatest benefits to your operation.

On January 15, from 1-4pm, the Delaware-Maryland 4R Alliance will host an On-Farm Research and ROI Session at Delaware Ag Week. The program includes:

  • Tips, Tricks, Trials and Tribulations of On-Farm Research
    Joshua McGrath, University of Kentucky
  • Precision Agriculture Economics and Decision Making-Beyond Profitability
    Jordan Shockley, University of Kentucky
  • Walking Through the Steps of a Successful On-Farm Research Trial
    Anthony Martin, Iowa Soybean Association, On-Farm Network 

See the full program and register at https://sites.udel.edu/delawareagweek/2018/11/28/on-farm-research-and-roi-session/

Interested in learning more? Our factsheet offers a brief overview about considerations and keys to success for an on-farm research trial: