Nutrient Management Natural Resources Conservation Service National Nutrient

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 Mino r Rew ordin DEFINITION - Managing the amount (rate), source, placement (method of application), and timing of plant nutrients and soil amendments. 4 R’s of Nutrient Stewardship Right Rate Right Source Right Placement Right Time g

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard 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 Mino r Rew ordin g 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 Nitrogen Leaching Index 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 Instructions Part 302 –Nutrient Management Implementation 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 …)

Nitrogen Leaching Index RUSLE 2 Nitrogen 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.

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard Phosphorus Index 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.

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard Soil & Manure/Litter Testing 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

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard Manure/Litter Testing CRITERIA Manure analyses must include, at minimum, total nitrogen (N), ammonium N, total phosphorus (P) or P 2 O 5, total potassium (K) or K 2 O, and percent solids, or -follow land-grant university guidance regarding required analyses

Current AL Nutrient Management Practice Standard Manure/Litter Testing CRITERIA -Laboratory results will need to be adjusted for nitrogen application losses by using Tables 2 and 3.

Current AL Nutrient Management Practice Standard Table 2

Current AL Nutrient Management Practice Standard Table 3

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard Additional Criteria to Minimize Nonpoint Pollution 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

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard Additional Criteria to Minimize Nonpoint Pollution 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.

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard Additional Criteria to Properly Utilize Manure 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.

National Instructions Part 302 –Nutrient Management Implementation P-Index 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 Instructions Part 302 –Nutrient Management Implementation P-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 Instructions Part 302 –Nutrient Management Implementation P-Index 302. 2 TECHNICAL CRITERIA FOR RISK ASSESSMENT F. Phosphorus Application. If increases in soil phosphorus levels are expected (i. e. , when Nbased 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

Alabama P-Index STP Rate Method Erosion Runoff

Alabama P-Index New vs Old 3 Risk Categories vs 4 Field Vulnerability Low Risk Moderate Risk High Risk

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

Reduced Tillage Systems to Reduced Runoff Infiltration (in/hr) Conservation Tillage Conventional Tillage 2. 5 2 1. 5 1 0. 5 0 Dothan Tifton Decatur Soils Sulivan et al 2007

National Nutrient Management Practice Standard Considerations Use no-till/strip till, cover crops and crop rotation Use variable-rate application based on crop yield, sitespecific variability, soil characteristics, soil test and other factors Soil test should not be older than 1 year Use 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

General Manual Part 402 –Nutrient Management 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 4 Rs plan to achieve better nutrient-use efficiency.

General Manual Part 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.

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 Strips Riparian Forest Buffer Field 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 Values N Provided by Cover Crops Filter Strips

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