By Andi Anderson
A virtual field day hosted by Iowa Learning Farms and the Iowa Nutrient Research Center will take place on December 4 at 1 p.m. Central time. This free online event will feature a live discussion with Mike Castellano, William T. Frankenberger Professor of soil science at Iowa State University.
The session will focus on the relationship between crop residue and nitrogen fertilizer needs, an important topic for farmers seeking to improve soil health, crop yield, and water quality.
Recent research shows that the amount of residue left from both corn and soybean crops plays a key role in determining the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate for the following corn crop.
When residue is high, the nitrogen requirement for corn tends to rise. However, current nitrogen recommendations do not consider residue levels, leaving a gap in management strategies that could influence both productivity and environmental outcomes.
The virtual field day will highlight a research project examining how adjusting nitrogen rates based on residue levels can strengthen water quality protection efforts. According to Castellano, “The current solution for crop residue management is often intensive tillage in the fall or even in the spring. We believe an alternative to tillage for crop residue management can be partial residue harvest.” He further explained that “Pairing residue harvest with no-tillage or cover crops would benefit soil health. One of the things that we're interested in testing at this field is whether and how partial residue harvest improves water quality outcomes.”
Anyone interested in understanding or improving residue management practices is encouraged to attend the event. Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions during the live session.
To join, individuals can access the Iowa Learning Farms Field Days webpage or call using the provided phone numbers with meeting ID 914 1198 4892. A full recording will later be available in the ILF Virtual Field Day Archive.
Participants may also qualify for a Certified Crop Adviser continuing education unit. Information about applying for the CEU will be shared at the end of the event.
Photo Credit: iowa-state-university
Categories: Iowa, Education