E VOLUTION OF N ITROGEN R EFERENCE S TRIPS

1. EVOLUTION OF NITROGEN REFERENCE STRIPS Sensors for Crop Management Conference January 17, 2008 Stillwater, OK Daniel E. Edmonds Graduate Research Assistant Plant & Soil Sciences

2. HISTORY • 1563 • Huganote Bernard Palissy advocates the use of fertilizers in agriculture to stimulate plant growth • Did so after noticing that crops tended to have better production where manure had been applied

3. HISTORY • 1772 • Daniel Rutherford discovers nitrogen • 1790 • French chemist Jean-Antoine-Claude Chaptal coins the name ‘nitrogen’ using a combination of Greek and French words meaning “to engender, bring forth”

4. HISTORY • 1827 • Justus Liebig’s famous Mineral Theory. • The Mineral Theory states that plant growth is limited by the most limited available mineral in the soil. The application of this theory led to the development of mineral fertilizer.

5. HISTORY • 1913 • The process that would become known as the Haber-Bosch process was developed by Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch. • The process was the first industrial chemical process to use high pressure for a chemical reaction. • This process is the most economical for the fixation of nitrogen and continues to this day • This process would help usher in the Green Revolution

6. FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS • Since the introduction of synthetic fertilizers, inaccurate fertilizer rates (either too much or too little) have been applied. • This is the result of failing to recognize temporal variability.

9. RESULT Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) in the world for cereal grain production ~ 33% Crop production directly related to availability of N Need methodologies that consider: Crop production practices Every Farmer is different Aesthetic qualities The crop has to look good Economical analysis The bottom line is what counts Environmental stewardship Pollution costs everyone

10. EXAMPLE • Fueling a Tractor • John Deere 7810 • 90 gal. Fuel Tank • ~ $270 30gal 60gal 90gal

11. EXAMPLE • Only Needed 45 gal • Over-filled 45 gal (lost) • Cost ~ $270 • Money lost ~ $135 • Fueling a Tractor • John Deere 7810 • 90 gal. Fuel Tank • ~ $270 30 gal 60 gal 90 gal

12. EXAMPLE • Needed 0 gal • Over-filled 90 gal (lost) • Cost ~ $270 • Money lost ~ $270 • Fueling a Tractor • John Deere 7810 • 90 gal. Fuel Tank • ~ $270 30gal 60gal 90gal • The Fuel Gauge is our reference to how much fuel is in the tank. We can add accordingly.

13. GAUGE FOR NITROGEN IN OUR FIELDS? • Can there be such a thing? • If so, how? • THE ANSWER…….. • Nitrogen Reference Strips • N-Stamp, N-Rich Strip, N-Ramp

14. NITROGEN REFERENCE STRIP • An indicator that orients the producer to the nitrogen levels within the field to aid in making a better mid-season nitrogen rate recommendation. • Superimposed on existing farmer pre-plant practices • Provides a measure of how much additional N is needed, if any • Minimizes risk

15. NITROGEN RICH STRIP – 2002 – Present • 1 N rate – In excess of what is required by the plant for the entire growing season. • Answers the question – Do I need to apply any additional N fertilizer? • YES or NO • With GreenSeeker sensor and SBNRC can obtain RI, predict yield potential, and determine optimum N rate for maximum yield

16. NITROGEN CALIBRATION STAMP – 2004-2005

17. NITROGEN RAMP CALIBRATION STRIP–2006 – Present

18. Ramp Calibration Strip Fertilization Strategy – 2006 – Present Concept of visually evaluating plots with incremental rates of pre-plant N Identify minimum N rate required for maximum production

20. March 2007, The Furrow, Larry Reichenberger

21. N-Reference Strip methodologies consider: • Crop production practices • Every Farmer is different • Aesthetic qualities • The crop has to look good • Economical analysis • The bottom line is what counts • Environmental stewardship • Pollution costs everyone

22. CONCLUSIONS Current practices for making mid-season fertilizer N recommendations in most crops are not consistent from one region to the next The N-Reference Strip Approach: Uses 1 rate or a gradient of pre-plant N fertilizer to determine mid-season N rates based on plant response Applied methodology integrating farmer input and insight in the decision making process Provides visual mid-season alternative approach for N fertilization

23. When Empty: 90 gal • Over-filled 0 gal ( 0 gal lost) • Cost ~ $270 • Money lost ~ $0 • ONLY PUT IN WHAT IS NEEDED! EXAMPLE • Fueling a Tractor • John Deere 7810 • 90 gal. Fuel Tank • ~ $270 30gal 60gal 90gal

24. EXAMPLE • When Half-Full: 45 gal • Over-filled 0 gal ( 0 gal lost) • Cost ~ $135 • Money lost ~ $0 • ONLY PUT IN WHAT IS NEEDED! • Fueling a Tractor • John Deere 7810 • 90 gal. Fuel Tank • ~ $270 30 gal 45 gal

25. EXAMPLE • When Full: 0 gal • Over-filled 0 gal (0 gal lost) • Cost ~ $0 • Money lost ~ $0 • ONLY PUT IN WHAT IS NEEDED! • Fueling a Tractor • John Deere 7810 • 90 gal. Fuel Tank • ~ $270 0gal • The Fuel Gauge is our reference to how much fuel is in the tank. We can add accordingly.

26. LIKEWISE… • N-REFERENCE STRIPS • OUR GAUGE TO THE NITROGEN LEVEL IN THE FIELD • OUR GAUGE TO IDENTIFY HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL NITROGEN, IF ANY, IS NEEDED BY THE CROP TO PRODUCE MAXIMUM YIELDS.

27. EVOLUTION OF NITROGEN REFERENCE STRIPS QUESTIONS or COMMENTS www.nue.okstate.edu/ DANIEL E. EDMONDS