Project title: Irrigated pasture nitrogen uptake compared to row crops
Bill Kranz
Duration: 2001 to 2003
Funding: Ralph H. Bainbridge Memorial Fund
#3373
Contact:
Charles Shapiro Northeast Research and Extension Center, Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, UNL, 57905 866 Road, Concord, NE 68728-2828, (402) 584-2803, cshapiro1@unl.edu
Project
description:
Problem Identified: The Bazile Triangle, an area of about 50 square miles, is located in three counties (Knox, Pierce and Antelope). The ground water is well documented to be significantly polluted with nitrates. The base year for the Bazile Triangle was 1991. Best management practices have been recommended and farmer implemented on much of the area over the past ten years. However, during this ten year period the nitrates have continued to increase. The primary source of the nitrates has been determined as commercial fertilizer. The underground water flow is moving to the northwest. There is a large concentration of nitrates that will likely contaminate the Creighton City wells within ten years. Much of the land in the Bazile Triangle is high value, irrigated cropland. Best management cropping practices are not correcting the problem fast enough. Irrigated pasture has the potential to use more water and nitrogen than row crops.
Specific Objectives:
• To determine if irrigated pasture can reduce ground water nitrate contamination.
• To determine if irrigated pasture can capture significant ground water nitrate.
Experimental Approach: The cropland selected will have ground water within 50 feet of the surface. An 80 acre ½ pivot area was selected. A grass-legume pasture, alfalfa hayland, and a crop rotation of corn and soybeans are compared. Two nitrate factors will be evaluated: movement of nitrate and harvesting of nitrate. Yields and economics of each practice will be evaluated. The project will be conducted over a five year period. The first year, 2002 cropping season is the establishment year. Baseline soil data will be collected and soil moisture monitoring equipment installed. Fences and water lines are being installed. During the following four years nitrate, yield and economic data will be collected.
Key
results: To be added later
Publications: To be added later