Nutrient Management

Nutrient Management

Natural Resources Conservation Service

National Nutrient Management Guidance

Better Nutrient Management Guidance 3 Important Documents

Nutrient Management Standard (CPS-590) Nutrient Management Policy (GM-190-402) Nutrient Management Policy Implementation

(NI-190-302)

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard

DEFINITION- Managing the amount (rate), source,

placement (method of application), and timing of plant nutrients and soil amendments.

4 R’s of Nutrient StewardshipRight RateRight SourceRight PlacementRight Time

Minor Rewording

PURPOSE- To budget, supply, and conserve nutrients for plant

production.- To minimize agricultural nonpoint source pollution of

surface and groundwater resources.- To properly utilize manure or organic by-products as a

plant nutrient source.- To protect air quality by reducing odors, nitrogen

emissions (ammonia, oxides of nitrogen), and the formation of atmospheric particulates.

- To maintain or improve the physical, chemical, and biological condition of soil.

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard

CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES

- This practice applies to all lands where plant nutrients and soil amendments are applied. This standard does not apply to one-time nutrient applications to establish perennial crops.

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard

Minor Rewording

CRITERIA

- The NRCS-approved nutrient risk assessment for nitrogen must be completed on all sites unless the State NRCS, with the concurrence of State water quality control authorities, has determined specific conditions where nitrogen leaching is not a risk to water quality.

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard

Nitrogen Leaching Index

302.2 TECHNICAL CRITERIA FOR RISK ASSESSMENT

-B. Nitrogen Risk Assessment Criteria.

Leaching Index.—The current NRCS-approved tool to assess the nitrogen leaching potential is the Leaching Index (LI).

If N leaching is a concern, planners will use the N risk assessment and implement needed BMP (N application at planting, Split application …)

National InstructionsPart 302 –Nutrient Management

ImplementationNitrogen Leaching Index

-Average Annual Percolation-Considers evapotranspiration of the crop

- Inputs average monthly precipitation and the hydrologic soil group

-Tables will be developed by county and soil group.

Nitrogen Leaching IndexRUSLE 2

Nitrogen Leaching Index

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard

CRITERIA

The NRCS-approved nutrient risk assessment for phosphorus must be completed when:

- phosphorus application rate exceeds land-grant university fertility rate guidelines for the planned crop(s)

- The planned area is within a phosphorus- impaired watershed

-The NRCS and State water quality control authority have not determined specific conditions where the risk of phosphorus loss is low.

Phosphorus Index

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard

CRITERIA

Nutrient planning must be based on current soil and manure testing

-in accordance with land-grant university guidance or -industry practice, if recognized by the university

Soil & Manure/Litter Testing

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard

CRITERIA

Manure analyses must include, at minimum, total nitrogen (N), ammonium N, total phosphorus (P) or P2O5, total potassium (K) or K2O, and percent solids, or

-follow land-grant university guidance regarding required analyses

Manure/Litter Testing

Current AL Nutrient Management Practice Standard

CRITERIA

-Laboratory results will need to be adjusted for nitrogen application losses by using Tables 2 and 3.

Manure/Litter Testing

Current AL Nutrient Management Practice Standard

Table 2

Current AL Nutrient Management Practice Standard

Table 3

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard

CRITERIA

The following nutrient use efficiency strategies or technologies must be considered:

• slow and controlled release fertilizers • nitrification and urease inhibitors• enhanced efficiency fertilizers • incorporation or injection • timing and number of applications • soil nitrate and organic N testing

Additional Criteria to Minimize Nonpoint Pollution

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard

CRITERIA

The following nutrient use efficiency strategies or technologies must be considered:

• Coordinate nutrient applications with optimum crop nutrient uptake

• Corn Stalk Nitrate Test (CSNT), Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test (PSNT), and Pre-Plant Soil Nitrate Test (PPSN)

• Tissue testing, chlorophyll meters, and spectral analysis technologies

• Other land-grant university recommended technologies that improve nutrient use efficiency and minimize surface or groundwater resource concerns.

Additional Criteria to Minimize Nonpoint Pollution

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard

CRITERIA

Nitrogen and phosphorus application rates must be planned based on risk assessment results as determined by NRCS-approved nitrogen and phosphorus risk assessment tools.

Additional Criteria to Properly Utilize Manure

302.2 TECHNICAL CRITERIA FOR RISK ASSESSMENT

D. Minimum Criteria for State P-Index Tools.

- Consider nutrient losses caused by water and wind erosion using current NRCS water and wind erosion prediction technology (RUSLE 2).

- At a minimum, consider STP; time, rate, and method of P application; erosion; runoff; and leaching (when leaching is applicable) factors in the assessment of P- loss risk from fields.

- Demonstrate that risk increases with increasing runoff, erosion, STP, application rate, and also depends on method of application.

National InstructionsPart 302 –Nutrient Management

ImplementationP-Index

302.2 TECHNICAL CRITERIA FOR RISK ASSESSMENT

D. Minimum Criteria for State P-Index Tools.

Include the following risk categories:Low risk—phosphorus can be applied at rates greater than crop

requirement not to exceed the nitrogen requirement for the succeeding crop

Moderate risk—phosphorus can be applied not to exceed the crop requirement rate or crop removal rate

High risk— phosphorus can be applied not to exceed the crop removal rate if the following requirements are met:

-- A soil phosphorus drawdown strategy has been implemented-- A site assessment for nutrients and soil loss has been conducted

to determine if mitigation practices are required to protect water quality.

National InstructionsPart 302 –Nutrient Management

ImplementationP-Index

302.2 TECHNICAL CRITERIA FOR RISK ASSESSMENT

F. Phosphorus Application.

If increases in soil phosphorus levels are expected (i.e., when N-based application rates are used), the nutrient management plan shall document:

(i) The soil P levels at which it is desirable to convert to P-based planning

(ii) The proposed plan for STP drawdown from the production and harvesting of crops

(iii) Management activities or techniques used to reduce the potential for P transport and loss

National InstructionsPart 302 –Nutrient Management

ImplementationP-Index

Alabama P-Index

STPRate

Method

ErosionRunoff

Alabama P-Index

Low RiskModerate Risk

High Risk

New vs Old3 Risk Categories vs 4 Field Vulnerability

Alabama P-Index

Other Practices that May Reduce Risk Reduced tillage systems and cover crops to reduced runoffImplementation of intensive grazing systems to reduced runoff Use of precision application equipment to increase the accuracy of applicationsApplication of other products with the litter that may reduced P loss risk

Reduced Tillage Systems to Reduced Runoff

Soils

Infil

trati

on (i

n/hr

)

Sulivan et al 2007

Dothan Tifton Decatur0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

Conservation Tillage Conventional Tillage

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard

Use no-till/strip till, cover crops and crop rotationUse variable-rate application based on crop yield, site-

specific variability, soil characteristics, soil test and other factors

Soil test should not be older than 1 yearUse soil test, plant tissue analyses and field observations

to check for secondary plant nutrient deficiencies or toxicity

Use adaptive nutrient management learning process to improve nutrient use efficiency

Considerations

302.2 ADAPTIVE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

A process used to plan, implement, evaluate, and adjust nutrient application strategies over time (multiple seasons).

The process is intended to allow for continued adjustment of the CPS Code 590 4Rs plan to achieve better nutrient-use efficiency.

General ManualPart 402 –Nutrient Management

302.2 ADAPTIVE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

The process is to be carried out by producers themselves, in cooperation with the land-grant university, or with other agencies and industry partners following prescribed protocols developed by the State NRCS, land-grant university, or other appropriate technical agencies and industry.

The results of adaptive nutrient management testing that meet the established protocols and are concurred with by NRCS and the land-grant university may be used in nutrient planning where appropriate.

General ManualPart 402 –Nutrient Management

Current AL Nutrient Management Practice Standard

Other needed information

Averaged Nutrient Value of Manure/Litter (Table 1)

Available N Provided by Cover Crop (Table 4)

Recommended Application Distance for Manure/Litter (Table 9)

Filter StripsRiparian Forest BufferField Boarders

Needed Feedback - N Leaching Index

Needed Feedback - N Leaching Index- P Index

Needed Feedback - N Leaching Index- P Index- Soil and Manure/Litter Testing

Needed Feedback - N Leaching Index- P Index- Soil and Manure/Litter Testing- Nutrient Efficiency Strategies

Needed Feedback - N Leaching Index- P Index- Soil and Manure/Litter Testing- Nutrient Efficiency Strategies- Considerations

Reduced Tillage and Cover Crops Adaptive Nutrient Management

Needed Feedback - N Leaching Index- P Index- Soil and Manure/Litter Testing- Nutrient Efficiency Strategies- Considerations- Other Information

Averaged Nutrient ValuesN Provided by Cover CropsFilter Strips

QUESTIONS?