je.st
news
Research shows cropping system changes means reduced river nitrates
2016-08-03 17:50:00| Corn & Soybean Digest
Data shows that soybean residue helps to leach nitrates. Think Different Conventional wisdom has been that increased corn acres and more use of nitrogen fertilizer translates to increased nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in downstream waters. But a recent analysis of water sampling and crop management databases in the Raccoon River Watershed in central Iowa indicates otherwise. Nitrate concentrations and loading data from more than 60 main stem and tributary locations coupled with fertilizer data from the Iowa Soybean Associations On-Farm Network show that while corn acreage increased 19 percent and N fertilizer on corn increased by 24 percent from 1999 to 2014with a 24 percent drop in soybean acresnitrate levels in the water have not increased. While the study concentrated on estimating N balance and nitrate trends, the research team suggested better management of soybean residues may be one of the keys to improving both crop production methods and water quality. read more
Tags: system
research
means
shows
Category:Agriculture and Forestry