Perfecting Fertilizer Management Precision technology brings university-level research to real Iowa farms BY REBEKAH JONES
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farmer wears many hats on the farm from business owner to accountant to maintenance technician and everything in between. Many farmers are also adding one more title to this impressive list: scientist. No, farmers aren’t donning white lab coats in the field. But they are contributing valuable data to researchers at Iowa State University (ISU) that could transform the way farmers plan their nitrogen application for improved profitability and water quality. The study, called the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative or N Initiative, uses on-farm nitrogen fertilizer rate trials to create several tools to better pinpoint how much nitrogen is needed to grow crops in Iowa fields.
“Improved nitrogen recommendations and forecasting tools will improve farmers’ nitrogen use efficiency and reduce harmful nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching. These efforts will lead to better water quality, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved farmer profitability, particularly in extreme weather years,” notes Sean McMahon, executive director for Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA). IAWA is actively seeking additional funding for and promoting this research. During the 2022 legislative session, the Iowa Legislature approved SF 5153, a $1 million appropriation for fiscal year 2023 to update the maximum return to nitrogen (MRTN) modeling
for fertilizer management The amount of fertilizer to purchase and apply is a tough decision every year. This year was incredibly stressful as fertilizer rates skyrocketed. The billions of potential combinations that affect nitrogen uptake are adding to the challenge, including soil type, location, weather, plant genetics, type of fertilizer, application timing and soil nutrient levels. “There are challenging pressures on farmers to fertilize at the right rate in every field, every year for productivity and the environment,” says Dr. Mike Castellano, soil science professor at ISU who leads the research. “If they hit the sweet spot, it’s the best outcome for economics and environment.”
Mike Williams, crop production manager at Amana Farms, participates in the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative trial studies.
22 | JUNE 2022 | IASOYBEANS.COM
