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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, 19 July 2001 NEW NITROGEN TEST IMPROVES CROPS, SAVES MONEY AND PROTECTS WATER SUPPLIES A new test is allowing Massachusetts farmers to better monitor fertilizer use, and to protect water supplies that can be damaged by fertilizer runoff. Nitrogen is one of the most common elements on Earth. As a basic component of proteins, it is essential for plant and animal growth. Farmers rely on nitrogen fertilizer to produce their crops. But, in some forms, such as nitrate, it becomes an environmental pollutant and a potential health hazard, especially in drinking water. Soil tests taken in the fall measure the needs of next year’s crop for organic matter, pH (or acidity), phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen levels, however, change over the winter and into the following spring. Leftover nitrogen leaches and runs off in the winter. As the soil warms up in the spring, bacteria break down plant residue and make more nitrogen available. "If we know how much nitrate is available, we know how much fertilizer to add and in some cases, no additional fertilizer is needed," says John Howell, Vegetable Specialist with UMass Extension at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. "It is important to provide what the plant needs," adds Howell, "but excess nitrogen leaches into the groundwater or runs off into surface waters. Traditional practices assumed that fertilizer was the only source of nitrogen; now we can use a test to determine the soil’s ability to supply nitrogen." Howell works with organic and conventional farmers to assess the nitrogen contributions of compost and other organic sources, as well as fertilizer. A small amount of nitrogen fertilizer is applied at planting and additional nitrogen can be added, if needed, to meet increasing plant needs. The test, called the "pre-sidedress soil nitrate test" (PSNT), determines whether and how much fertilizer to add. The PSNT was originally developed for dairy farms and Howell has been adapting it for use in vegetable crops. Howell has found that about one third of the time, no additional fertilizer is needed. This saves farmers time and money and can improve crop quality and yield. Says Howell, "Too much nitrogen increases the foliage of many crops, including tomatoes, peppers, and squash, but actually reduces the number of fruit produced. By testing nitrate levels, we can produce better crops and minimize risk to water quality." Photo: Contact: ARCHIVE: |
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