Conserving

Conserving

Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District

Droughty conditions during the summer reduced corn yields in many areas of the Northern Piedmont. Significant amounts of residual nitrogen from pervious fertilizer applications should be available in the upper soil horizons for small grain crops.

Fields that are likely candidates are the ones that received high levels of fertilizer, manure, or sludge nitrogen and have produced low yields.

Small grain crops can be used to conserve soil and utilize residual soil nitrogen. If corn is to be planted in the same fields in 1994 the small grain can take up the residual nitrogen and store it for the next years corn crop. The nitrogen will be released once the cover crop in incorporated in the soil or killed for crop residue use. Small grains should be planted as soon as possible after the corn is harvested to ensure the maximum amount of residual nitrogen is utilized by the small grain.

Small grains grown for cash can also effectively utilized residual nitrogen. Pre-plant nitrogen may be omitted if significant levels of residual nitrogen are available in the surface horizons. Fields should be tested for nitrogen levels with nitrogen testing kits to determine the amount of available nitrogen. Since nitrogen can quickly move out of surface soil horizons with rainfall, the test should be conducted just before planting.

Significant levels of residual soil nitrogen exist in many fields. Careful management using small grain crops and soil nitrate testing can help growers to effectively utilize this resource and protect water quality. The Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District offers a BMP Cost Share Program which enables farmers to receive and incentive payment to plant small grain cover crops for nutrient management. The purpose is to protect the soil from erosion and utilize excess nutrients that were not used by the

For more information call the District Office at 825-8691,

Nitrogen

By KENNER LOVE

previous crops.