April 24, 2003

LINCOLN, Neb. — High fuel and fertilizer prices coupled with continued drought make no-till and proper fertilizer application important this year, according to University of Nebraska specialists.

No-till or ridge-till can save fuel, labor and equipment costs, said Paul Jasa, NU Cooperative Extension engineer. And factoring in residual soil nutrients remaining from the 2002 growing season can reduce fertilizer costs, said Charles Shapiro, soils specialist at NU's Haskell Agricultural Laboratory near Concord, Neb.

"Saving soil moisture is important when precipitation is limited, irrigation is costly and water supplies are limited," Jasa said. "Also, fuel prices will be high this drought year, raising the cost of production when it is already high and risky."

Not tilling leaves crop residue on the soil surface, which keeps the soil cooler and reduces erosion, crusting and evaporation, Jasa said.

"Every time we cultivate or till we lose soil moisture and destroy more residue," said Bob Klein, cropping systems specialist at NU's West Central Research and Extension Center at North Platte, Neb. "That residue helps break up rainfall and irrigation droplets, allowing more moisture to get in the soil and reduce evaporation."

That residue can save center pivot irrigators up to 4 inches of water compared with traditional farming methods, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources specialist said.

Fuel costs, which are about 30 percent higher this year than last, also are a tillage consideration, Jasa said. The diesel fuel requirement for the typical disk, disk and then field-cultivate tillage system is about 3.77 gallons per acre including knifing in fertilizer, planting and one row-crop cultivation.

No-till decreases fuel use to about 1.43 gallons per acre including knifing in fertilizer, planting and two sprayings.

By eliminating preplant tillage, labor requirements decrease, farmers spend less time in the field and crops get planted faster, he said.

Careful fertilizer use also can cut costs.

Klein recommended that growers, as always, limit the amount of starter fertilizer applied with the seed. Applying starter fertilizer with the seed can injure the seed or seedling.

Adequate weed control and timely application of herbicides also are important this year to keep weeds from sapping soil moisture from crops, Klein said.

Tilling is not recommended to incorporate herbicide for better weed control, Jasa said. While very shallow tillage with good soil mixing may help weed control, it also dries the soil and encourages weed seed growth. Deeper tillage dilutes the herbicide with more soil and dries soil even more.

Knowing how much nitrogen is in the soil and irrigation water is especially important this year, Shapiro said. Growers need to factor available nutrients into their fertilizer management plans and adjust applications accordingly, especially in areas where there was little snow or rain to move the nitrogen out of the root zone.

Nitrogen fertilizer management is always a balancing act. Over-application adds costs and excess nitrogen can leach into groundwater. However, not applying enough can hurt yields.

Soil samples taken last fall or earlier this spring will be particularly helpful this year to ensure growers apply enough nitrogen to economically maximize yields without using more than is needed, Shapiro said.

For more information on fertilizer issues in a dry year, consult NU Cooperative Extension Circular EC737, Calibrating Anhydrous Ammonia Applicators, on the Web or NebGuide G77-361-A, Using Starter Fertilizers for Corn, Grain Sorghum and Soybeans, on the Web. Both are available at local extension offices.

4/24/03-SA

Bob Klein
Agronomy
Professor
(308) 696-6705

Charles Shapiro - Ph.D.
Agronomy and Horticulture
Professor
(402) 584-3803

Paul Jasa
Biological Systems Engineering
Extension Engineer
(402) 472-6715

Sandi Alswager Karstens
IANR News and Photography
(402) 472-3030

Department: Agronomy & Horticulture|Biological Systems Engineering