Cover Crops can help to retain and cycle nutrients in the soil by scavenging nitrogen left over at the end of a growing season, preventing erosion and building soil organic matter.On average, use of Cornell’s model, Adapt-N, increased grower profits by $26 per acre and reduced simulated environmental N losses by 25 lb/ac (38%). A study evaluating the use of Nitrogen Modeling to guide fertilizer side-dress rates to corn showed that rates were on average 47 lb/ac lower for growers in New York, with no statistically significant difference in yields. Nitrogen Modeling supports decisions that apply the right rate at the right time by estimating the amount of nitrogen available to a growing crop throughout the season, based on site-specific environmental and management information.Each growing season is an opportunity to evaluate the outcome from the previous season and make adjustments that will offer continuous improvement toward the goals of the farm.Ī few examples of the benefits of specific practices include: Financial incentives through nutrient trading or other sustainability marketsĤR practices and their benefits will vary according to each farm, field and growing season, but should line up with the identified objectives.
Having clearly defined performance objectives will help to guide decisions on which new management practices have the potential to fit your operation, the criteria that should be used to evaluate performance, and whether or not the new practice is meeting the desired objective.īenefits of implementing 4R management can include: The “right rate” will differ between objectives to maximize yields or increase profit, for example.
The “right” management system for a given farm should benefit each of these factors by reducing input costs and/or improving yields, reducing nutrient losses and without compromising quality-of-life for farmers, employees or communities.Ī good place to start is to identify the objectives for implementing a 4R management system. Another way to look at these factors is Profit, Planet & People. 4R Nutrient Stewardship looks at decision management in the context of the economic, environmental, and social impacts of a practice.
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