Nutrient management involves applying fertilizers at the right time and in the right amount to maximize crop yield while minimizing contamination of local and surrounding areas. Improper management can lead to groundwater and runoff contamination. Soil testing is important to determine the most efficient and beneficial amount of nutrients for each crop. Nutrient management plans are required by law in some jurisdictions, and can also apply to animal feeding operations.
Nutrient management is the practice of applying nutrients, also known as fertilizers, when crops need them most while minimizing the effect on both local and surrounding areas. Applying the right amount of fertilizer to a crop at the right time can maximize yield. Improperly fertilized crops can lead to groundwater contamination or runoff contamination of nearby bodies of water, such as a lake or ocean. Some farmers do not practice nutrient management due to cost.
Potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus are important nutrients for plants. Crops need these nutrients most during their growing season, which is usually around spring, but varies by crop. Timing is especially critical when it comes to applying nitrogen and phosphorus. However, an application is not always timed properly, as equipment and equipment operators are available on a large scale at other times.
In nutrient management, the amount of nutrients is also taken into consideration. The most efficient and beneficial amount differs from crop to crop. To determine this amount, a soil test is usually performed by a local testing laboratory. Soil testing tells the farmer what nutrients are currently in the soil and how that affects the crops that are grown there. Many farmers skip this nutrient management step in favor of applying the standard amount suggested by crop advisors or fertilizer retailers.
When crop nutrition is not managed properly, both people and animals can be adversely affected. Some nutrients do not bind to soil and runoff during rainstorms. Excessive amounts of some nutrients can cause rapid algae growth that eventually consumes enough oxygen to suffocate water-dwelling animals. For humans, groundwater contamination poses a serious danger to the health of newborns.
In some jurisdictions, a nutrient management plan is required by law. For example, the Mississippi region of the United States requires nutrient management planning under certain circumstances. Such plans must adhere to Mississippi Natural Resources Conservation Service standards of practice and may be developed with the assistance of a local agent or other pre-approved provider of conservation planning services.
Nutrient management can also occur in an animal feeding operation (AFO). Some countries require anyone keeping a certain number of farm animals to properly manage their waste and prevent contamination of nearby surface waters. Proper manure management can also maximize its nutrients as a crop fertilizer. Nutrient management that involves collecting manure rather than applying it is more commonly called manure management.
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