NUTRIENTMANAGEMENT

Nutrient management plans are writtento optimize nutrient use by plants andreduce nonpoint source pollution. A plan issite-specific; it identifies how the majornutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potas-sium) are managed for optimum cropproduction and water quality protection.

The goal of nutrient management plan-ning is to minimize adverse environmentaleffects of nutrient applications by maxi-mizing the efficient use of those nutrientsby crops. This is accomplished throughcareful evaluation of many criteria. Therate of nutrients needed is determined byevaluating the yield potential of the fieldbased on farmer yield records or the soilsin the field. The soil’s ability to store andsupply nutrients and the demand for nutri-ents based on the crop’s stage of growthare considered in determining the besttime for application.

FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Financial and technical assistance for rotational grazing is available throughyour local soil and water conservation district and Natural Resources Conser-vation Service.

F O R P A S T U R E S

NUTRIENTMANAGEMENT

PLANS

UTILIZE ROTATIONAL GRAZINGGrass is managed to maintain optimum growth

and nutrition through rotational grazing. Undercontinuous grazing, animals graze selectively,eventually eliminating the most desirable plantspecies. This leads to more runoff and erosion inovergrazed areas. Rotational grazing considersplant development, the time animals are on pas-ture and the time pasture is rested betweengrazings. This allows pastures to recover morequickly. Rotational grazing can:

• Increase pasture production by maintaininggrass in its most nutritious stage.

• Improve weed control by reducing selective grazing.• Decrease the need for purchased fertilizer by dis-

tributing animals and their manure more evenly.

The key to good pasture management is using live-stock to manage grass growth. For a pasture to bemost productive, grass needs enough leaf surface tooptimize re-growth, but not so that it is allowed toproduce a seed head. Livestock should be rotatedthrough pastures to maintain this condition.

After a pasture is grazed, it needs a rest periodfor regrowth. The goal should be to graze a pasture down in seven days or less, then allowapproximately 15 days rest in spring and 30 daysrest in summer. Pastures not needed for grazingin the spring can be harvested for hay. Be sure toprovide a reliable water source for each pasture.Even high quality pasture areas will not be usedoften if they are too far from water. Place salt inunder-utilized areas of pasture to encourage live-stock to spend more time there.

SOIL TESTING

Have soil tested to be sure that pH, phosphorus,and potassium are not limiting plant growth.Generally, apply lime to maintain a soil pH of atleast 6.0. Lime can be applied any time of the year.

Cool season grass pastures should be fertilizedin the fall. Low phosphorus is a common fertilityproblem on Virginia's pastures. Applying phospho-rus encourages growth of white clover. Grassgrowth will be stimulated by the nitrogen “fixed” bythe growing clover. Clover is also high in feed valueand improves the intake and digestibility of thepasture. Clover is especially important in tall fes-cue pastures to improve livestock performance.

Since very small amounts of phosphorus andpotassium are actually removed from the pastureby grazing animals, soil fertility levels remain fairlyconstant once they are built up. This is an impor-tant factor when considering the economics ofpasture fertilization. In deciding how much nitrogento apply, the decision should be governed by thepercentage of clover in the stand, the need foradditional grazing, stocking pressure on the pas-ture and type of livestock grazing the pasture.

Feeding areas frequently turn into denudedmud holes during winter. This can lead to ero-sion, nutrient loss and animal healthproblems. To prevent this, feeding locationsshould be moved frequently. Portable feedtroughs can be utilized for loose feed. If youare using hay rings, move them after eachbale. Even better, round hay bales can beunrolled on pasture in different locations eachday. This helps distribute nutrients throughoutthe pasture and can decrease waste.

Winter feeding costs, particularly for beefcattle, can be greatly reduced by utilizing win-ter grazing. Tall fescue is well suited forwinter grazing since it responds well to latesummer fertilization, withstands heavy graz-ing and retains its quality during the winter.

ROTATE FEEDING AREAS

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS - MINIMIZE NUTRIENT LOSS - MAXIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

IMPORTANT STEPS FOR MANAGING PASTURE

NUTRIENTMANAGEMENT

AND BMPs

BMPs and efficient nutrient managementon swine operations allow you to improveprofitability while protecting surface andground water for you and your neighbors.Among other elements, a nutrient manage-ment plan - itself a BMP - includes:

•A detailed site map.•Information about managing manure

application to fields and environmen-tally sensitive areas.

•Soil test details and nutrient applica-tion rate calculations for each field.

•Details about soil types and potentialproductivity.

•An analysis of manure.•Details about manure storage capaci-

ty and land application requirements.•A schedule for manure application.

A nutrient management plan enables youto get the most yield from any nutrientsource you apply. Using manure and supple-mental fertilizer efficiently by consideringproper timing and placement at the correctrate can improve your bottom line while minimizing any negative impacts to the envi-ronment we all depend on.

FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

The Virginia Department of Conservationand Recreation (DCR), soil and waterconservation districts, and the NaturalResources Conservation Service haveprograms to assist swine growers wishingto install BMPs to better manage wasteand protect soil and water resources. Fortechnical and financial assistance thatmay benefit your operation, contact oneof these offices. The Virginia AgriculturalCost-Share Program includes BMPs, such as animal waste control facilities, nutrient management plan writing, implementation and record keeping, andmanagement of organic nutrient applica-tions using a pre-sidedress nitrate test.

F O R S W I N E

BMPs

MANURE TESTING

Manure testing is vital to any nutrientmanagement system and is required onswine farms that are required to have a Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) permit. Manure’s nutrient content varieswidely from farm to farm depending onthe type and age of your swine facilities,feed rations and manure handling-storage system. To encourage manuretesting, DCR funds this program inVirginia, so there is no cost to the farmer.

Manure should be tested at least once ayear, and large operations (2,500 or moreswine, each weighing at least 55 pounds)must be sampled twice annually.

THE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN (NMP)

Nutrient management plans detail the mostefficient use of manure and fertilizer for yourfarm. Plans are customized and site-specific.Soil types and productivity potential are iden-tified for each field, and an inventory ofnutrients from the soil, crop residues, manureand commercial fertilizer is conducted.

This information is combined into a flexi-ble, easily understood document in whichthe proper rate, timing and placement ofnutrients are specified. Environmentally sensitive areas are identified and recom-mendations are provided to ensure efficientnutrient use. Best management practices(BMPs), such as splitting nitrogen applica-tions, banding starter fertilizers,sidedressing applications per soil nitratetest results, and soil sampling, are pre-scribed to guide nutrient usage decisions.

In addition, potential phosphorus lossmust be evaluated. Potential phosphorusrunoff relates directly to slope and soil ero-sion, existing nutrient levels in soils andnutrient application rates. Also, potentialphosphorus loss through subsurface or tiledrainage impacts shallow ground water.

Calibrating application equipment is alsovital to efficient nutrient use and planimplementation. Applying the correct rateof manure assures compliance with yournutrient management plan and, if appli-cable, a VPA permit. A DCR nutrientmanagement specialist has the equip-ment and expertise to calibrate yourapplication equipment and assist you inimplementing your NMP.

CALIBRATION

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS - MINIMIZE NUTRIENT LOSS - MAXIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

PRE-SIDEDRESSNITRATE TESTWHO OFFERS NITRATE

TESTING SERVICES?The Virginia Department of Conservation

and Recreation (DCR), through its NutrientManagement Program, has approved soiltesting laboratories that can provide soilnitrate test analysis. Your planner mayhave access to a field test kit, which isused to analyze soil samples and deter-mine nitrate test results in a timelymanner. In either case, use this procedureto get the most out of all organic nitrogensources applied to your crop.

DCR has field nitrate test kits in itsregional watershed offices. DCR staff canalso provide you with results to use inadjusting sidedress rates recommended inyour nutrient management plan.

PSNT

Estimating available nitrogen from past manure

and biosolids applications can increase

your bottom line.

P S N T

What is a Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test (PSNT) and when is it conducted?

This test is used to measure how muchsoil nitrate-nitrogen is available to a corncrop at nitrogen sidedress time. It is asoil sample taken when corn is from 10to 15 inches at the whorl as it stands,not to the tallest part of the plant. This iswhen corn begins its most rapid growth.

What benefits does soil nitrate testing provide?

Nitrate testing verifies the availablenitrogen from previous manure orbiosolids applications. Nutrient manage-ment planners use this information tosave you money by reducing the side-dress rate of commercial nitrogen recommended in your plan.

Where should you consider nitrate testing?

Perform PSNT on corn fields that receivedsignificant manure or sludge applicationsprior to planting. Additionally, for bestresults, fields should have received nomore than a starter rate of nitrogen (25-30lbs per acre) at or before planting.

NO3-NPPM Nitrogen application

>20 No sidedress nitrogen needed

11-2025-50 percent reduction possiblein sidedress nitrogen rates,depending on field history

<11Apply sidedress nitrogen rate asrecommended in the nutrientmanagement plan

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS - MINIMIZE NUTRIENT LOSS - MAXIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

How is the nitrate test conducted? Nitrate-nitrogen levels in the soil are deter-

mined with a portable soil nitrate test kit orby an approved soil testing laboratory. Soilsamples for a PSNT should include 10-20soil cores from each field taken to a depthof 12 inches. Samples should be takenbetween the rows to avoid starter bands andareas where roots have depleted nitrogen.

How are PSNT results used?Sidedress nitrogen recommendations

are based on a set of guidelines developedthrough extensive research.

The guidelines are:

THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

PROGRAMThe use of nutrient management plans opti-

mizes plant nutrient usage and reducesnonpoint source pollution. A nutrient manage-ment plan is a written, site-specific planidentifying how major plant nutrients (nitrogen,phosphorus, and potassium) are managed foroptimum crop production and for the protectionof water quality. The goal of this planning is tominimize adverse environmental effects andavoid unnecessary nutrient applications.

The Virginia Department of Conservation andRecreation oversees programs that addressnonpoint source pollution. When farm fieldsand urban lands lose nutrients and sedimentthey can enter our ground and surface waters,causing nonpoint source pollution.

DCR has a professional staff of nutrient man-agement specialists located throughout theCommonwealth who can develop a nutrientmanagement plan that will help you efficientlymanage nutrient applications. Call a specialistin your area to discuss how you and the envi-ronment will benefit by implementing a nutrientmanagement plan.

BUSINESS CARD

DCR Regional Offices

Upper Tennessee and Big Sandy Watersheds

Abingdon (276) 676-5529

Roanoke WatershedClarksville (434) 374-3648

New River WatershedDublin (540) 643-2590

James WatershedRichmond (804) 225-4468

Shenandoah WatershedStaunton (540) 332-9991

York/Rappahannock WatershedTappahannock (804) 443-6752

Albemarle, Chowan and Coastal WatershedsSuffolk (757) 925-2468

Potomac WatershedWarrenton (540) 347-6420

Your local DCR nutrient management specialist is: