May 2016 Nitrogen Use Efficiency
Project Update
In 2016, the UW Discovery Farms® Program started its second year of the Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) Project, which
works with farmers to evaluate their current N management practices. Evaluating NUE is a great way to help fine-tune
a cropping system, making sure that farmers get the best returns on their N investments. The project continues to
evaluate how soil N levels and crop growth are impacted by the placement, rate, and timing of N from commercial
(fertilizer) and non-commercial sources (livestock manure and rotated legume crops).
This year the project is working in four new counties and with 23 new farmers on farms with a variety of cropping
systems. See what has been accomplished so far in the second year and what is planned for the year:
11 Counties
43 Farmers
101 Fields
Cropping Systems
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Corn silage without manure for several years
Corn silage with liquid dairy manure following a rye cover crop
Corn grain with either solid or liquid manure applications
Corn following alfalfa with dairy manure surface applied
Corn following soybeans with and without manure applications
Corn grain or silage following a cover crop
Work Completed
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Measured soil fertility including pH, % organic matter, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) levels
Estimated the amount of N available for crop growth in the root zone before planting
Collected soil samples to evaluate and characterize soil health
Next Steps
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Record all N applications and field operations
Collect pre-sidedress nitrate test (PSNT) soil samples in June and return data to farmers
Collect plant samples for N testing in the fall
Launch NUE online farmer network to connect farmers across Wisconsin
Offer field days in project areas to share results
To learn more visit www.uwdiscoveryfarms.org or contact Megan Chawner
at (608) 262-0383 or [email protected].