Improving N Management Improving N Management in Crop Production - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Reducing Risk from Reactive N Reducing Risk from Reactive N in the U.S.: in the U.S.: Improving N Management Improving N Management in Crop Production in Crop Production Paul E. Fixen Paul E. Fixen EPA SAB Integrated N Committee EPA SAB Integrated N Committee April 10, 2008 April 10, 2008

Mission Mission To develop and promote scientific To develop and promote scientific information about the responsible information about the responsible management of plant nutrition for the management of plant nutrition for the benefit of the human family. benefit of the human family.

IPNI Programs Eastern Europe and Central Asia North America China India Northern Latin America Southeast Asia Brazil Latin America Southern Cone • 23 Ph.D. scientists in 8 program areas – 6 scientists in North America – 13 scientists in International regions – 4 in management

Main Points Main Points 1. Today’s market and the presence of new technologies provide a great opportunity to make improvements in integrated N management . 2. Agricultural productivity must increase and environmental N policy will be more effective if it facilitates that increase. 3. Nitrogen is managed as an integral component of a cropping system based on system objectives with performance assessed at a system level. 4. Average is the enemy of efficient and effective N management … and policy. 5. Research and education focused on improving N use efficiency in systems producing near genetic yield potential levels are greatly needed.

1. Today’s market and the presence of new technologies provide a great opportunity to make improvements in integrated N management .

Net Cash Farm Income, 1997- -2008f 2008f Net Cash Farm Income, 1997 Billion dollars

$5 corn/$0.50 N vs $2 corn/$0.20 N $5 corn/$0.50 N vs $2 corn/$0.20 N • Price ratio the same … optimum rate the same • But the economic penalty for over or under estimating need or for nutrient loss is much greater with today’s higher prices … greater risk • Greater economic justification for: – Precision input application, enhanced efficiency N sources – Guidance systems – Soil testing and plant analysis, soil or plant imaging – On-farm strip trials, omission plots – Other forms of decision support including simulation models – Investing in determination of right source, rate, time and place for nutrients … risk management tools

Nitrogen check yields and net returns in Nitrogen check yields and net returns in university corn studies in Iowa and Illinois university corn studies in Iowa and Illinois Previous Region No. of N check, % Net return crop sites of opt. yd to N, $/A Soybean IA 147 71 188 Soybean Central IL 148 58 281 Corn IA 73 44 326 Corn Central IL 53 49 315 http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/soilfertility/nrate.aspx; $5/bu; $0.50/lb N At risk: • $60 to $90/A of input costs • 30% to 55% of total yield • $200 to $300/A net income from one input

Decision support and risk Decision support and risk management tools management tools Variable Rate Applicator with GreenSeeker

A user friendly simulation model A user friendly simulation model developed for on- -farm use farm use … … site site developed for on specific attainable yields & N needs specific attainable yields & N needs t t n n e e m m p p o o l l e e v v e e d d r r e e d d n n U U http://www.hybridmaize.unl.edu/ http://www.hybridmaize.unl.edu/

Corn grain produced in the U.S. per Corn grain produced in the U.S. per unit of fertilizer N used, 1964 to 2005. unit of fertilizer N used, 1964 to 2005. 75 64 64 Grain N recovery efficiency 70 usually remains < 50% … * Kg grain per kg N . 65 room for improvement. 60 55 43 43 50 45 40 35 *Application rate for 2004 estimated as avg of 2003 & 2005. 30 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 51% increase in N efficiency Since 1975: 12% increase in N fertilizer use Data sources: USDA Ag Chem Use Survey & Annual Crop Production.

Snyder, in press

Do today’ ’s elevated prices enable s elevated prices enable Do today farmers to continue to improve their farmers to continue to improve their resource stewardship? resource stewardship? • To evaluate adoption of higher cost but more efficient technologies; • To experiment with alternative approaches to N management; • To break tradition and attempt improvements in cropping systems.

2. Agricultural productivity must increase and environmental N policy will be more effective if it facilitates that increase. Not doing so will contribute to the global expansion of land in agriculture.

1,800 Domestic consumption 1,700 Million metric tons y = 16.47x - 31,445 1,600 R ² = 0.98 1,500 1,400 World wheat plus coarse World wheat plus coarse Production 1,300 y = 15.03x - 28,575 grains, 1978- -2007 2007 grains, 1978 1,200 R ² = 0.87 1,100 1,000 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Y ear (2007 =2007/08) 40 Ending stocks 35 Ending stocks 500 % of consumption 30 Million metric tons 400 25 20 300 1998-2007 15 200 1998-2007 y = -23.57x + 47,563 10 R ² = 0.89 y = -1.89x + 3816 100 5 R ² = 0.93 0 0 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Y ear (2007 =2007/08) Y ear (2007 =2007/08) USDA-FAS, 12/2007

U.S. corn exports at record high in 2007 U.S. corn exports at record high in 2007 with 25% of crop used for ethanol with 25% of crop used for ethanol Continuation of this accomplishment will be challenging. USDA-FAS, 12/2007.

U.S. corn yields, 1964 to 2006. U.S. corn yields, 1964 to 2006. 180 Transgenic Transgenic y = 1.829x - 3522 160 traits traits r 2 = 0.84 M M Cons. P Cons. P I I 140 n n i tillage tillage i e e s s a a e e r r c c n n n n o I o I i Corn yield, bu/A t i t a a z z i i 120 l i l t i t r r e e f f N N c c i t i t e e n n e e G G t t n n e e 100 m m e e v v o o Soil testing & balanced Soil testing & balanced r r p p m m i i 80 NPK fertilization NPK fertilization Expansion of Expansion of 60 irrigation irrigation 40 20 43 years of 1.8 bu/A/yr 43 years of 1.8 bu/A/yr 0 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Concept by Cassman, 2006

Genetic improvement in corn yields Genetic improvement in corn yields promised by the seed industry promised by the seed industry 250 y = 1.829x - 3522 225 r r r 2 = 0.84 y y / / % % 200 3 3 175 Corn yield, bu/A 43 years of 1.8 bu/A/yr 43 years of 1.8 bu/A/yr 150 125 100 75 50 25 0 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 Breaking the 1.8 barrier without causing negative environmental Breaking the 1.8 barrier without causing negative environmental impacts will require more than genetics … … and involve research & and involve research & impacts will require more than genetics educational efforts focused on the entire agro- -ecosystem. ecosystem. educational efforts focused on the entire agro

The U.S. is blessed with some of the world’ ’s s The U.S. is blessed with some of the world most productive soils most productive soils Along with this blessing comes responsibility to sustainably manage them to contribute to society’s global needs.

3. Nitrogen is managed as an integral component of a cropping system based on system objectives with performance assessed at a system level.

Some key best management practices to Some key best management practices to ensure the right N source is applied at the right N source is applied at the ensure the right rate, time, and place right rate, time, and place • Crediting previous crops and applied manure. • Determining yield goals from reliable information. • Maintaining non-limiting levels of other nutrients. • Crop management and hybrid selection for maximum economic yield. • Timing supply to match plant need, by either controlling release or split application. • Placement below soil surface, or incorporated where possible. • Maintaining and calibrating application equipment. • Designing the crop rotation to capture surplus N. • Evaluating success using on-farm trials & soil & stalk nitrate tests.

Global Framework Global Framework for Fertilizer for Fertilizer ECONOMIC BMPs ECONOMIC BMPs Net profit Quality Return on Resource Energy Profitability investment use Adoption Labor efficiencies: Nutrient Rate Soil productivity Source Water Yield Cropping System Yield Productivity Place Sustainability stability Time Nutrient balance Farm income Nutrient loss Biological & Social Working conditions Soil erosion Environment Biodiversity Water & air quality Ecosystem services ECOLOGICAL SOCIAL ECOLOGICAL SOCIAL

N management N management effects are effects are complex complex

Policy should recognize the Policy should recognize the linkage between N and C linkage between N and C C C N N Soil OM Molecule Soil OM Molecule Schulten & Schnitzer, 1997 Schulten & Schnitzer, 1997

4. Average is the enemy of efficient and effective N management … and policy.