Nebraska's Central Platte River Valley: Producer Adoption of Nitrogen Management Practices.

Nitrate contamination of groundwater has been an issue in Nebraska's Central Platte River Valley for the past 40 years. Research has shown that much of this nitrate-N, which can exceed 40 mg/L, has resulted from excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers and irrigation water. Since 1984 the University of Nebraska and the Central Platte Natural Resources District have conducted an educational program to encourage the adoption of improved fertilizer and irrigation management practices. For N fertilizer, these practices have included delayed or split application, use of nitrification inhibitors, and careful matching of N source and placement. Careful fertilizer management must be accompanied with careful irrigation water management In recent years, these practices have included the use of controlled & slow release fertilizers and active crop canopy sensors. Information will be presented on the use of field demonstrations and on-farm research, coupled with economic impacts of practice adoption, on the extent of grower adoption of recommended practices over time.