Sunday, November 12, 2006
20-6
Nitrogen Sensors to Fine Tune the Nutrient Management Decision Making Process.
James Schepers, 113 Keim Hall, Univ of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0915 and William Raun, Oklahoma State Univ, Dept of Plant & Soil Sciences, 044 N Ag Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078-0507.
Nitrogen management decisions are frequently made before the crop is planted or early in the growing season because of limitations imposed by conventional field equipment used for making nutrient applications. Soil information used to make N management decisions is usually generated during the fallow period or when the plants are young. As such, many things can happen chemically and physically between the time of N application and crop utilization. Models such as NLEAP and related management tools can provide real-time estimates of N availability and losses via the various processes in soil. These tools can also predict N utilization by the crop based on weather conditions; however, producers can be rightfully suspicious of such predictions without some type of field verification. Sensors can provide a unique level of verification of crop vigor throughout major portions of the growing season. Data generated by the sensors can also be used to help make in-season N recommendations. In combination, information developed from sensor data and predicted by models has the potential to improve N management practices.