Soil and Nutrient Management

One of our primary goals has been to revise and prepare robust fertility recommendations for crops grown in the Nebraska Panhandle since recommendations for many crops were developed long ago or are non-existent.

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Dryland winter wheat

A predictive N algorithm for dryland winter wheat production in Nebraska was last prepared in the 1970s by Professor Emeriti Jurg M. Blumenthal and Donald H. Sander. Considering the progress made in traits and management, and changing climatic conditions, the need to reassess N recommendations, particularly in dryland wheat, is warranted. In addition, low protein levels in grain have caused Nebraska producers to lose significantly in recent years (2016-2019) despite high yields. For these reasons, our ongoing wheat fertility experiment across the state is very timely and imperative to revisit the current UNL nutrient recommendation for winter wheat.

Effects of cultivars and nitrogen management on wheat grain yield and protein, Ghimire et al

Sugar beet

Nitrogen management in sugar beet production can be challenging as both under- and over-application of N can affect yield and quality. Under-application of N reduces root and sucrose yield, while over-application results in decreased sucrose content and increased root impurities, further reducing sucrose extraction. While attempting to optimize N management, recommendations must adapt to improved cultivars and other management practices. As beet yields and crop production efficiencies increase over the years, the periodic evaluation of sugar beet response to N is required.

Our lab determined a more sustainable and economical way of managing N in sugar beet by accounting for beet quality, not just the beet root yield. This beet quality-based N model is being tested out on a farm scale in collaboration with Western Sugar Cooperative.

Another critical detail in sugar beet production is that most growers in the Intermountain West production area of the Western Sugar Cooperative do not apply manure for beet production. However, at times of economic uncertainties and decline, all production costs, including chemical fertilizer, require re-evaluation.

Composted Cattle Manure as a Nitrogen Source for Sugar Beet Production, Maharjan and Hergert

Dry edible bean

Nitrogen management is essential for profitable dry bean production. Although dry beans are a leguminous crop, adding N fertilizer can increase bean yield when residual soil N is low. However, the management challenge is gaining the added yield without applying too much N since over-application can lead to excessive vegetative growth, foliar disease, delayed maturity, and inhibition of root nodule formations. Besides N, dry beans suffer from Fe deficiency-induced chlorosis in the high pH calcareous soil of the Nebraska Panhandle. Our lab has ongoing field experiments to optimize Fe and N management in dry edible beans.

Effectiveness of Different Iron Treatments in Enhancing Dry Edible Bean Yield and Quality, De Silva and Maharjan

Evaluating Different Management Strategies for Iron Deficiency Chlorosis in Dry Edible Beans, Pathirage and Maharjan

Other Crops

Our team collaborates with alternate crop breeder on fertility management for crops such as field pea, millet, and mint. These crops are not farmed on a large number of acres, but our team intends to serve all our constituents.

Effects of Fertilizer Nitrogen Management on Peppermint Yield, Oil, and Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Western Nebraska, De Silva and Maharjan

Manure Management

Integrated crop-livestock systems offer a tremendous potential to optimize the use of finite resources such as water, nutrients, and energy and diversify farm ecosystems. Such integrated systems can be more economically competitive and environmentally sustainable than prevailing specialized production systems. In manure management, depending on the method and duration of storage, there is a potential risk of significant loss of valuable nutrients such as nitrogen. Feedlot manure removed from pens in the spring and summer is often stored until crops are harvested in the fall before field application can occur. Methods of handling and storing manure have an impact on nutrient recoveries and manure characteristics.

The recommended C:N ratio for feedlot and dairy manure is between 25 and 40:1. At lower C:N ratios, ammonia losses are increased because the energy substrate for microbial growth is limiting. Between 60% and 75% of the N consumed by the animal is lost to volatilization after being excreted until it is applied to fields. Increasing the C:N ratio of feedlot manure has been successful in reducing the amount of N lost from the feedlot. Since the char from Western Sugar contains around 30% C, it might shift the microbial process towards N conservation in manure when mixed in with manure. The char might also physically retain N by electrostatic adsorption to its exchange sites. Considering this assumption, an experiment was conducted from 2019 to 2022 to evaluate the effect of adding char on feedlot manure’s properties and stability and the interacting effect of manure-char on crop yield in a corn-dry edible bean rotation. This study underscores the synergy between char and manure or chemical fertilizers to improve nutrient balance and supply, ultimately enhancing crop production.