The role of on-farm nutrient balance assessments in an integrated approach to nutrient management

ABSTRACT:

Increased livestock densities, elimination of nutrient deficiencies in many cropland soils, and concerns about the environmental impacts of nutrient losses from farms require a shift in emphasis from plant response to nutrient deficiency corrections to the consequences of nutrient loading and the demands of on-farm nutrient flow control. A farm-specific nutrient management process that integrates farmers and farming activities with research, extension, and industry input personnel can address these new requirements. The proposed process relies on tools for information management and an understanding of the organization of farm resources and operations. The process includes nutrient management planning for the farm, tracking actual nutrient management activities during plan implementation, and assessing those activities. Calculating input and output nutrient balances can provide a basis for nutrient management assessment. The balances then can be determined for any or all of the farm components.