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Nitrogen fertilizer being applied to growing corn in a contoured, no-tilled field in Iowa.. Nutrient management is the science and practice directed to link soil, crop, weather, and hydrologic factors with cultural, irrigation, and soil and water conservation practices to achieve optimal nutrient use efficiency, crop yields, crop quality, and economic returns, while reducing off-site transport ...
Even though nitrogen is a necessary element for life, too much of it in water can have negative effects on aquatic ecosystems and endanger human health. Agricultural runoff, where fertilizers containing nitrogen compounds can seep into rivers, lakes, and groundwater, is one of the main sources of nitrogen in water.
Rhizobium: Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by Rhizobium with legumes contributes substantially to total nitrogen fixation. Rhizobium inoculation is a well-known agronomic practice to ensure adequate nitrogen. [5] [6] One of the most widespread species is R. leguminosarum. Bradyrhizobium spp. (in particular Bradyrhizobium japonicum). [7]
Phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers can affect soil, surface water, and groundwater due to the dispersion of minerals [48] into waterways due to high rainfall, [66] [67] snowmelt and can leaching into groundwater over time. [68] Agricultural run-off is a major contributor to the eutrophication of freshwater bodies.
Energy efficiency is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. The general term "energy efficiency in agriculture" reflects changes in technology, government policies, weather patterns, and farming management practices. There is not a single measure to describe, ensure, and improve energy ...
For example, a nitrogen-fixing crop, like a legume, should always precede a nitrogen depleting one; similarly, a low residue crop (i.e. a crop with low biomass) should be offset with a high biomass cover crop, like a mixture of grasses and legumes.
Together with anaerobic condition, increases in soil water saturation can increase denitrification processes in the soil. Possible consequences are an increase in N 2 O emission, decreases in available nitrogen in soil and reduced efficiency of nitrogen usage by crops. [29] This may cause in an increase of fertilizer use. [9]
Nitrogen deficiency is a deficiency of nitrogen in plants. This can occur when organic matter with high carbon content, such as sawdust, is added to soil. [1] Soil organisms use any nitrogen available to break down carbon sources, making nitrogen unavailable to plants. [1] This is known as "robbing" the soil of nitrogen.