Nutrient Management Strategies                                  

            Components of Integrated Crop Management for Field Crops

Management Practice                                                                                                                 

Quantify nutrient source - soil reserve, manure, crop residue.

Soil test - pH, lime requirement, phosphorous, potassium         

                             (calcium and magnesium optional).

Manure analysis - nitrogen (ammonium N, total N), phosphorus, potassium.

Calibration manure and fertilizer spreaders - tons, 1000's gallons, lbs. per acre.

Fertilization plan - manure application rate, supplemental fertilizer.

                               - utilize excess manure on alternative crops (hay crops).

                               - avoid applying large amounts of manure on fields with excessive P soil tests

                               - do not over apply nitrogen from manure or fertilizer.

Nitrogen soil test - side- or top-dressing supplemental nitrogen fertilizer.

Cover crop - to reduce soil loss and nitrate leaching; optimal cover when planted by

                     September 15, little value after September 30.

                  - consider a legume based cover crop on vegetable farms and on distant

                    fields on dairy farms where manure is not spread.

Planting plan - to ensure early harvest of corn to allow early cover crop planting on

                        most erosion prone fields.

 Minimum tillage - to reduce nutrient loss through soil erosion.

Stephen J. Herbert

Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Crops, Dairy, Livestock News. Vol. 3:2, Winter 1998-99