GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Husker scientists rewrite the book on nitrogen fertilizer to use the right among, protecting the farmer’s bottom line but also our groundwater.
High nitrates in the water around his farm forced big changes for Curtis Rohrich in the ‘80s.
“This well was somewhere between 24 and 28 parts per million,” he said. “It’s cleaning up the water. It’s taken time but it was a great program.”
That program came from regulations the Central Platte Natural Resources District issued.
“Met with a lot of resistance,” Rohrich remembered.
Farmers were reluctant to reduce fertilizer use.
“Nitrogen was cheap you were going after high bushels and that was the way to get after it,” he said.
Now nitrate hot spots light up on the map, the legacy of too much fertilizer that leached into the soil and groundwater.
“We start to push for maximizing yield and not necessarily maximizing profit and that starts to allow nitrate to accumulate and move into the groundwater,” Dr. Richard Ferguson said.
In 2015, Ferguson and a team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln began a new project with a novel concept. At first they used sensors mounted on equipment going through the field to read the wavelength and see if corn needed more nitrogen.
ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH: FARM SENSORS PROMISE LESS POLLUTION, HIGHER FARM PROFITS
That technology has now been commercialized by a company called Sentinel Fertigation, born out of university research.
“We’re seeing the use of satellite sensing technology really helps improve both efficiency of use and profitability,” Ferguson said.
The system uses satellite mapping to show farmers like Rohrich when to fertilize.
“To tell how green it is to show how much nitrogen is there. we look at it, put our applied nitrogen on at scheduled times you need less you need more sometimes I need more,” Rohrich sad.
Ferguson says the data is conclusive, as he has written new guidelines with significant changes. Officials at the Central Platte NRD said the Nebraska Extension NebGuide, an eight page handout serve a role as the definitive statement of what the best research shows.
The guide was released with little fanfare but when presented to the CPNRD board, brought great interest from farmers who rely on advice from Nebraska Extension.
Ferguson said he has high hopes for the technology.
“I see it as the future. For farmers it will be beneficial economically and for the population of the state it will be beneficial long-term environmentally,” he said.
Applying nitrogen fertilizer in the fall or a large application pre-planting is not recommended. The new guidance calls for most fertilizer to be applied during the growing season, shown to maximize profitability and reduce the environmental impact.
“We apply when needed. there’s a cost savings and bottom line is the dollar and that’s what we’re chasing” Rohrich said.
Rohrich saw added expenses and paperwork when regulations too effect in the ‘80s but now says it’s the best thing that could’ve happened. The nitrate level is his well is half what it was and now sensor-based technology like Sentinel brings a new level of precision, even if there’s more work during the growing season.
“Change is tough but look at the science the fact they data they can do it,” Rohrich said.
This post was originally published on here
