Cropping System Nutrient Management

Transcription

1 Cropping System Nutrient Management A Crop Advisor and Extension Specialist View Chris Snip Crop Sales Specialist Agris Co-op Cottam Jake Munroe Soil Fertility Specialist Field Crops OMAFRA Stratford

2 Goals for Nutrient Managers Apply nutrients to maximize uptake and minimize losses Measure and respond to changes over time Minimize non-nutrient limitations to productivity

3 Short and Long-Term Management Short-Term Impact felt within a single season or between seasons Nitrogen application in corn In furrow phosphorus in wheat Starter fertilizer for corn Frost-seeding red clover Long-Term Impact felt years to decades in the future Background soil fertility (e.g. P & K, ph) Crop rotation Reduced traffic, tillage and use of cover crops

4 Soil as the Foundation Soil type determines: Yield potential Inherent fertility Pathways of nutrient loss Long-term soil management modifies these properties over time

5 Start with Soil Testing Basic fertility analysis should always be step #1 Cannot manage what you don t measure Begin with ph, move to macronutrients and then micronutrients OMAFRA accredited tests: Soil ph, buffer ph Olsen P K, Mg Zn and Mn Index

6 Start with a Soil Test * Olsen P K Mg ph Buffer ph Zn Index Mn Index

7 Fertilization Philosophies Sufficiency Feed the crop P & K applied for optimum return in year of application Can be used for both immobile and mobile nutrients Past research has supported it as most economical Build and Maintain Feed the soil Build to a critical level, then maintain it Cannot be used for mobile nutrients Requires investment during build phase

8 MERP (kg-p 2 O 5 /ha) Are OMAFRA Fertilizer Recs Still Relevant? Response of Corn to Phosphorus Fertilization 77 research trials ( ) Yes! However, yield levels have changed. Monitoring soil test levels is more important than ever. Band Broadcast OMAFRA Guidelines Soil Test P (ppm)

9 Sufficiency vs. Build and Maintain Corn yield response to background fertility and starter fertilizer 21 site-years Starter (per ac) P -20 K -120 Background treatment (soil test ppm) P +20 K -120 bu/ac P -20 K +120 P +20 K +120 Average across background No starter 153 d 159 c 174 c 191 c 169 d 3-5 gal IF 168 c 175 b 179 b 194 b 179 c 100 lbs (2x2) 169 c 171 b 188 a 198 ab 182 bc 80 lbs (2x2) 175 b 192 a 175 c 195 b 184 b lbs (2x2) 188 a 196 a 190 a 200 a 193 a Mean separation within column statistically significant at P=0.05 Hooker (UG) Bohner (OMAFRA)

10 Sufficiency vs. Build and Maintain Corn yield response to background fertility and starter fertilizer 21 site-years Starter (per ac) P -20 K -120 Background treatment (soil test ppm) P +20 K -120 bu/ac P -20 K +120 P +20 K +120 Average across background No starter 153 d 159 c 174 c 191 c 169 d 3-5 gal IF 168 c 175 b 179 b 194 b 179 c 100 lbs (2x2) 169 c 171 b 188 a 198 ab 182 bc 80 lbs (2x2) 175 b 192 a 175 c 195 b 184 b lbs (2x2) 188 a 196 a 190 a 200 a 193 a Mean separation within column statistically significant at P=0.05 Hooker (UG) Bohner (OMAFRA)

11 Sufficiency vs. Build and Maintain Corn yield response to background fertility and starter fertilizer 21 site-years Starter (per ac) P -20 K -120 Background treatment (soil test ppm) P +20 K -120 bu/ac P -20 K +120 P +20 K +120 Average across background No starter 153 d 159 c 174 c 191 c 169 d 3-5 gal IF 168 c 175 b 179 b 194 b 179 c 100 lbs (2x2) 169 c 171 b 188 a 198 ab 182 bc 80 lbs (2x2) 175 b 192 a 175 c 195 b 184 b lbs (2x2) 188 a 196 a 190 a 200 a 193 a Mean separation within column statistically significant at P=0.05 Hooker (UG) Bohner (OMAFRA)

12 Sufficiency vs. Build and Maintain Soybean yield response to background fertility and starter fertilizer 21 site-years Starter (per ac) P -20 K -120 Background treatment (soil test ppm) P +20 K -120 bu/ac P -20 K +120 P +20 K +120 Average across background No starter 51 c 53 c 54 c 59 b 54 d in-furrow 53 b 54 b 55 b 59 b 55 c 100 lbs (2x2) 54 b 55 b 58 a 61 a 57 b 80 lbs (2x2) 53 b 57 a 53 c 59 b 55 c lbs (2x2) 56 a 58 a 58 a 60 ab 58 a Mean separation within column statistically significant at P=0.05 Hooker (UG) Bohner (OMAFRA)

13 Sufficiency vs. Build and Maintain Soybean yield response to background fertility and starter fertilizer 21 site-years Starter (per ac) P -20 K -120 Background treatment (soil test ppm) P +20 K -120 bu/ac P -20 K +120 P +20 K +120 Average across background No starter 51 c 53 c 54 c 59 b 54 d in-furrow 53 b 54 b 55 b 59 b 55 c 100 lbs (2x2) 54 b 55 b 58 a 61 a 57 b 80 lbs (2x2) 53 b 57 a 53 c 59 b 55 c lbs (2x2) 56 a 58 a 58 a 60 ab 58 a Mean separation within column statistically significant at P=0.05 Hooker (UG) Bohner (OMAFRA)

14 Sufficiency vs. Build and Maintain in Ontario Results to date are favourable for B & M Key considerations: Owned or rented land; length of rental Impact of soil health on crop response to P and K Non-nutrient limitations (e.g. compaction) Sustainable long-term soil management requires nutrient replacement Role of non-commercial nutrients?

15 PLATO Score (Risk of P Loss) 4R Nutrient Stewardship What is the impact of fertilizer application timing and placement on risk of P loss? 75 STP = 12 ppm STP = 30 ppm Inc. <48 hr No Incorp. Inc. <48 hr No Incorp. Inc. <48 hr No Incorp. Inc. <48 hr No Incorp. August October August October Phosphorus Loss Assessment Tool for Ontario (PLATO)

16 PLATO Score (Risk of P Loss) 4R Nutrient Stewardship What is the impact of fertilizer application timing and placement on risk of P loss? 75 STP = 12 ppm STP = 30 ppm Inc. <48 hr No Incorp. Inc. <48 hr No Incorp. Inc. <48 hr No Incorp. Inc. <48 hr No Incorp. August October August October Phosphorus Loss Assessment Tool for Ontario (PLATO)

17 Why 4R? -fish, hunt, trap and do various other water sports in the Western Basin of Lake Erie -drinking water -public perception -want to leave the lake in better shape for my kids -being a CCA I can have an impact October 9, 2011

18 Essex County and Why It s Important Essex County

19 Three Key Components of a Good 4R Nutrient Program Financial Environmental Social

20 Rate of application Principles of Build Maintenance and Drawdown Recommendation Program Maintenance Build Drawdown Soil test Level

21 Creating Management Zones Site specific soil sampling results Yield data Satellite imagery (in season and bare ground) Drone or aircraft imagery In field observations Combinations of the above

22 Management Zones Using 3 Years of Yield Data

23 Management Zones Using Aerial Imagery

24 Variable Rate Application of MAP P (Sodium Bicarb) levels ppm Average P 29 ppm Total VR MAP applied 363kg Total MAP applied if using average P 1100 kg 737 kg less MAP applied with a savings of $16/ac

25 Variable Rate Application Blend Based on Crop Removal 43 acres 61bu/ac average acres close to average ½ the acres above or below ave.

26 Varied Application Methods -use tailored rates based on actual crop needs -apply different products at different times -option to add other nutrients if needed -apply nutrients when soil conditions are optimal

27 Nitrogen Management in Corn

28 Long-Term Management & Nitrogen Conventional Till C-S-Wrc C-S-W C-S Long-term rotation tillage system trial, Ridgetown (Gaudin et al, 2015)

29 Long-Term Management & Nitrogen Strip Till C-S-Wrc C-S-W C-S Long-term rotation tillage system trial, Ridgetown (Gaudin et al, 2015)

30 Long-Term Management & Nitrogen Past management affects soil s capacity to supply N If we can measure that impact, we can manage differently

31 Managing for Organic Matter Organic matter stores and supplies nutrients, holds water, buffers ph changes and provides structure

32 Managing for Organic Matter Courtesy of SGS Labs and Chris Brown

33 Managing for Organic Matter Courtesy of SGS Labs and Chris Brown

34 Managing for Organic Matter Crop Crop Residue lbs/ac 1 Root Biomass lbs/ac 1 Stable OM from crop biomass (lbs/bu yield) Yield to maintain 3% SOM Crop residue (1,800 lbs/ac OM) estimated Crop residue + Root Biomass Corn 12,000 1, bu/ac 142 bu/ac Wheat 5,000 2, bu/ac 92 bu/ac Soybeans 2, bu/ac 158 bu/ac 1 Source: Dale Cowan (AgriFood Lab info sheets) assumes 180 bu corn, 80 bu wheat and 45 bu/ac soy yield Courtesy of Chris Brown (OMAFRA)

35 Managing for Organic Matter Crop Crop Residue lbs/ac 1 Root Biomass lbs/ac 1 Stable OM from crop biomass (lbs/bu yield) Yield to maintain 3% SOM Crop residue (1,800 lbs/ac OM) estimated Crop residue + Root Biomass Corn 12,000 1, bu/ac 142 bu/ac Wheat 5,000 2, bu/ac 92 bu/ac Soybeans 2, bu/ac 158 bu/ac 1 Source: Dale Cowan (AgriFood Lab info sheets) assumes 180 bu corn, 80 bu wheat and 45 bu/ac soy yield Courtesy of Chris Brown (OMAFRA) Greater frequency of soybeans = accelerated loss of OM Carbon inputs and outputs must be considered Current course in Ontario is not sustainable

36 Managing for Organic Matter

37 Protected Nitrogen

38 Non Commercial Nutrients Nutrients can be cheaper Get other nutrients for free Often good source of organic matter

39 Variable Rate Bio Pellet Application

40 Challenges with Non Commercial Products Lack of availability Limited control of timing of product arrival Limited storage life Truck load lots Trucking costs (can be high volume product) Application hurdles All nutrients need to be accounted for Possible contaminants

41 Cover Crops -capture nutrients -reduced wind and water erosion -increase soil OM -winter kill blends better on clays -simple is better

42 Yield Limiting Factors -poor planting conditions -poor drainage -compaction -poor soil structure -lack of moisture -poor variety/hybrid selection -pest pressure

43 Lessons From 4R Pilot Audit Process Document! Document how you do your nutrient recommendations(using generally accepted agronomic principles) Document soil test levels used for your recommendations(soil test used need to be less than 4 years old) Staff and grower training(staff and growers need to be trained in 4R practices and principles) Actual nutrient applied(as applied maps) Documented weather forecasts(daily forecasts) Use realistic yield goals(yield monitor data is helpful) Have field maps indicating surrounding areas(watercourses and waterbodies) Equipment calibration

44 Wrap-Up Many different strategies vary farm-to-farm Effective nutrient managers balance short and long-term decisions Ultimate goal: tighten up nutrient cycling on the farm and build inherent fertility over time