MINNESOTA GROUNDWATERMINNESOTA GROUNDWATERTTASSOCIATIONASSOCIATION

November 9 2010November 9 2010November 9, 2010November 9, 2010

Ni MNi MNitrogen Management Nitrogen Management For For

Cheap Norwegian Farmers.Cheap Norwegian Farmers.

D id L ld N hfi ld MND id L ld N hfi ld MNDavid Legvold, Northfield, MNDavid Legvold, Northfield, MN

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ReRe--thinking Fertilizer for Row Cropsthinking Fertilizer for Row CropsReRe thinking Fertilizer for Row Cropsthinking Fertilizer for Row Crops

Provide fertilizer based on crop uptake needsProvide fertilizer based on crop uptake needsp pp pRetain high amounts of residue, carbon retention and Retain high amounts of residue, carbon retention and erosion preventionerosion preventionEliminate fall N application with its built in loss factorEliminate fall N application with its built in loss factorZone (in the row) placement of fertilizer offers greater Zone (in the row) placement of fertilizer offers greater ffi iffi iefficiency.efficiency.

Credit N from previous cropsCredit N from previous cropsU plit N ppli ti pU plit N ppli ti p pl t d t 1’t ll fpl t d t 1’t ll fUse split N applications: preUse split N applications: pre--plant and at 1’tall for cornplant and at 1’tall for cornUse IOWA STATE onUse IOWA STATE on--line N calculator as a guideline N calculator as a guide

Corn Nitrogen Rate CalculatorFinding the Maximum Return To N and Most Profitable N RateA Regional (Corn Belt) Approach to Nitrogen Rate GuidelinesA Regional (Corn Belt) Approach to Nitrogen Rate Guidelines

State: MinnesotaState: MinnesotaNumber of sites: 50Number of sites: 50Rotation: Corn Following SoybeanRotation: Corn Following SoybeanNonNon--Responsive Sites Not IncludedResponsive Sites Not Included

Nitrogen Price ($/lb): 0.35Nitrogen Price ($/lb): 0.35Corn Price ($/bu): 3.77Corn Price ($/bu): 3.77Price Ratio: 0.09Price Ratio: 0.09

MRTN Rate (lb N/acre): 103

Profitable N Rate Range (lb N/acre): Profitable N Rate Range (lb N/acre): 9191--117117

Net Return to N at MRTN Rate ($/acre): Net Return to N at MRTN Rate ($/acre): $115.61$115.61

Percent of Maximum Yield at MRTN Rate: Percent of Maximum Yield at MRTN Rate: 99%99%

Anhydrous Ammonia (82% N) at MRTN Rate (lb product/acre): Anhydrous Ammonia (82% N) at MRTN Rate (lb product/acre): 126126

Anhydrous Ammonia (82% N) Cost at MRTN Rate ($/acre): Anhydrous Ammonia (82% N) Cost at MRTN Rate ($/acre): $36.05$36.05

Most profitable N rate is at the maximum return to N (MRTN).Most profitable N rate is at the maximum return to N (MRTN).

Profitable N rate range provides economic return within $1/acre of the MRTNProfitable N rate range provides economic return within $1/acre of the MRTNProfitable N rate range provides economic return within $1/acre of the MRTN.Profitable N rate range provides economic return within $1/acre of the MRTN.

S il W rri r ith dr f rtiliz r t m $84 354Soil Warrior with dry fertilizer system $84,354

Trimble Auto Steer with cellular correction $20,322

A recipe for corn on a small N A recipe for corn on a small N budgetbudget

With Soil Warrior fall apply 150 lb 9With Soil Warrior fall apply 150 lb 9--2323--30 dry30 dryWith Soil Warrior, fall apply 150 lb. 9With Soil Warrior, fall apply 150 lb. 9 2323 30 dry 30 dry fertilizerfertilizerSpring apply 60lb N with strip tillageSpring apply 60lb N with strip tillageSpring apply 60lb. N with strip tillage Spring apply 60lb. N with strip tillage At 1’ tall, apply 30lb. N as liquid side dressAt 1’ tall, apply 30lb. N as liquid side dressTotal N for corn crop: 105 lb.Total N for corn crop: 105 lb.

Use stalk N test and yield resultsUse stalk N test and yield results--yyPERFORMANCE!PERFORMANCE!

Experimental levels of N fertilizer Experimental levels of N fertilizer applicationapplication

79 890

79.8

70

80

54

50

60

30

20

30

40

00

10

20

0

1 2 3 4Treatment #

Sampling regimeSampling regimeSampling regimeSampling regime

80% or more black layer (when corn reaches80% or more black layer (when corn reaches80% or more black layer (when corn reaches 80% or more black layer (when corn reaches physiological maturity)physiological maturity)8” cornstalk sample cut 1’ from ground8” cornstalk sample cut 1’ from ground8 cornstalk sample cut 1 from ground8 cornstalk sample cut 1 from groundSent to MVTL, New Ulm, MNSent to MVTL, New Ulm, MN00 700 is deficient; probably lost yield700 is deficient; probably lost yield00--700 is deficient; probably lost yield700 is deficient; probably lost yield700700--2000 is optimal2000 is optimal2000 i i d f ili $$2000 i i d f ili $$2000 or greater is excessive; wasted fertilizer $$2000 or greater is excessive; wasted fertilizer $$

Cornstalk nitrate concentration Cornstalk nitrate concentration with varying levels of Nwith varying levels of N

2600

3000

2600

2500

1800

1500

2000

7151000

107

0

500

0

0 30 54 79.8

N applied (lbs/acre)

Gross returns for varying N Gross returns for varying N application levelsapplication levels

$1,550.00

$1,462.18$1,446.43

$1,499.15

$

$1,500.00

$1,446.43

$1,400.00

$1,450.00

$1,359.52

$1,350.00

$1 250 00

$1,300.00

$1,250.00

0 30 54 79.8

N applied (lbs/acre)

Stalk Nitrate Tests with hog Stalk Nitrate Tests with hog manuremanure

7000 gal/acre (~350 lbs N): stalk nitrate 5822 ppm7000 gal/acre (~350 lbs N): stalk nitrate 5822 ppm7000 gal/acre ( 350 lbs N): stalk nitrate 5822 ppm7000 gal/acre ( 350 lbs N): stalk nitrate 5822 ppm(229bu/a)(229bu/a)

1500 gal/acre (~75 lbs N + 60 lbs commercial N): stalk 1500 gal/acre (~75 lbs N + 60 lbs commercial N): stalk g / ( )g / ( )nitrate 522 ppm (219bu/a)nitrate 522 ppm (219bu/a)No manure (130 lbs commercial N): stalk nitrateNo manure (130 lbs commercial N): stalk nitrate 162 162 ( )( )ppm (198bu/a)ppm (198bu/a)

Return above manure and commercial N costsReturn above manure and commercial N costs7,000 gal/acre = $418.617,000 gal/acre = $418.61, g, g1,500 gal/acre = $630.941,500 gal/acre = $630.94

Dribble or inject?Dribble or inject?Dribble or inject?Dribble or inject?

My goal is maximum N efficiencyMy goal is maximum N efficiencyMy goal is maximum N efficiencyMy goal is maximum N efficiencyStudy by Ostermeier, Van De Wostyne, and Study by Ostermeier, Van De Wostyne, and Blackmer of Iowa StateBlackmer of Iowa StateBlackmer of Iowa StateBlackmer of Iowa StateFound injecting N provided a 5bu. AdvantageFound injecting N provided a 5bu. AdvantageRate was 100lb/acreRate was 100lb/acreRate was 100lb/acreRate was 100lb/acreMay address loss of N to atmosphere if May address loss of N to atmosphere if placement is 2placement is 2 4” deep4” deepplacement is 2placement is 2--4 deep4 deepMy 2009 stalk N was low. Need to do yield and My 2009 stalk N was low. Need to do yield and stalk N testing to get best rate Takes years!stalk N testing to get best rate Takes years!stalk N testing to get best rate. Takes years!stalk N testing to get best rate. Takes years!

Gross returns per acre for side Gross returns per acre for side dressed vs. dribbled applicationdressed vs. dribbled application

$1 446 43$1,450.00 $1,446.43

$1,440.00

$1,445.00

$1,450.00

$1 425 00

$1,430.00

$1,435.00

$1,417.20

$1,415.00

$1,420.00

$1,425.00

$1 400 00

$1,405.00

$1,410.00

$1,400.00

Side dressed Dribbled

N application method

Drainage Water ManagementDrainage Water Management

DrainWatertable

MarFeb May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct NovJan DecApr

Watertable

Mower County Surge Basin Near Grand Meadow.

Mower County Site Retention Basin Near Ostrander

Tile flow from subsurface drainage divereted into a trench of woodchiops. Routed in and out with one structure.

P f PiPerf -Pipe Non-P

eerf Pipe

Site, one month after construction.

Perf -Pipep

Bioreactor receiving 66 acres, 10 by 75 ft excavated area.

Questions?Questions?QQ