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LESSONS FROM THE FIELD R PA
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PHOTOGRAPH LINDSAY MORRIS
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Using Best Management Practices to Improve Soil Health & Protect Water Quality
Farmer and CCE staff viewing zone-tilled crop.
The BMP Challenge involves conducting side-by-side field trials comparing a BMP next to a farmer’s standard practice.
PROJECT PARTNERS CCE SUFFOLK COUNTY LONG ISLAND FARM BUREAU PECONIC LAND TRUST USDA NRCS SUFFOLK COUNTY SWCD
Best Management Practices Best Management Practices (BMPs) are conservation practices that farmers voluntarily use to protect water quality from nonpoint sources of pollution while maintaining or boosting farm income. American Farmland Trust (AFT) and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Suffolk County have been collaborating for more than 5 years to accelerate farmers’ use of targeted conservation practices, in concert with AFT’s BMP Challenge. The BMP Challenge involves conducting side-by-side field trials comparing a BMP next to a farmer’s standard practice. On Long Island, we have focused on the use of controlled release nitrogen fertilizer, conservation tillage and cover cropping. The decision to adopt BMPs is not always an easy one for farmers. Implementing them may increase production costs, or require different
management skills, new types of equipment or the prospect of possible increased risk of loss in crop yield and quality. AFT and CCE of Suffolk County have worked to educate farmers on the benefits and challenges of using BMPs while supporting farmers in testing and adopting these conservation practices to improve soil health while protecting water quality. BMPs can improve soil health and protect water quality while increasing crop resiliency to both extreme precipitation and drought.
When Less Can Grow More—Controlled Release Nitrogen Fertilizer Controlled Release Nitrogen Fertilizer (CRNF) is a coated granular fertilizer that slowly releases nitrogen to a crop over a period of time. University and industry studies show this product improves fertilizer performance, meaning that often less fertilizer is
PHOTOGRAPH LINDSAY MORRIS
yields at the end of the growing season and conduct an analysis to compare the yields and net financial return of CRNF use over traditional fertilizer. Benefits of Using Controlled Release Nitrogen Fertilizer
Grower checking CRNF rates.
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In wet to normal spring weather conditions, CRNF generally performs better than standard fertilizer application practices
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In dry spring conditions, CRNF performance is generally comparable to traditional fertilizer
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CRNF releases nitrogen slowly over time coinciding more efficiently with the needs of the plant and can save time, fuel and wear and tear on farm equipment
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Applying CRNF generally increases the efficiency of fertilizer use and reduces nitrogen entering ground and/or surface water
Controlled Release Nitrogen Fertilizer Results on Long Island Nitrogen Reduction
Positive Net Returns
Average Financial Return
Sweet Corn
20%
63%
$101/acre
Potato
24%
86%
$505/acre
Growers
Results based on 2013 to 2015 BMPC Data
Use of CRNF can also eliminate the need for “top dressing” fertilizer
needed to maintain or improve yields, and that less nitrogen fertilizer is lost into groundwater and surface waterbodies like Long Island Sound or the Peconic Estuary. Use of CRNF can also eliminate the need for “top dressing” fertilizer— saving farmers time, money and wear and tear on equipment. Long Island sweet corn growers using CRNF have been able to reduce nitrogen application rates by an average of 20 percent while increasing overall net returns by $101 per acre. Potato growers reduced their nitrogen application rates by 24 percent while gaining $505 per acre. CCE staff have worked directly with farmers to calibrate their fertilizer application equipment and recommend fertilizer rates. They also check crop
Challenges of Using Controlled release Nitrogen Fertilizer E
CRNF typically costs more than traditional fertilizer
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In varying circumstances—such as dry weather conditions—yields may not improve and farmers may not achieve financial benefits compared with other years
Building Healthy Soil with Conservation Tillage and Cover Crops More recently, CCE and AFT have expanded work with farmers to compare other BMPs such as conservation tillage and cover cropping against their standard practices. Conservation Tillage Conservation tillage involves a reduction in disturbance of the field surface during preparation of the seed bed for
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Increase biological diversity in soil
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Reduce soil borne diseases and parasitic nematodes and improve decomposition for healthier plants
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Enhance fertilizer and pesticide use efficiencies
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Boost erosion control and water holding capacity of the field
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planting—often leaving significant crop residue of the surface of the field. Conservation tillage builds organic matter and can:
In 2015, four farmers from Suffolk County established side by side comparison plots in squash fields where they utilized zone tillage, a popular form of conservation tillage, next to their standard tillage practices. USDA-NRCS PHOTO BY RON NICHOLS
Zone tillage only disturbs a six inch wide row where the crop is to be planted and leaves the soil between the rows undisturbed and under a layer of crop residue. In each case, the zone tillage plots yielded more than the standard tillage plots. Typically, it takes two to four growing seasons for soils to respond to conservation tillage with improved yields. The fact that all of the conservation tillage trial plots yielded more than standard tillage plots is likely due to dry weather experienced in 2015 on Long Island. A dry spring and the use of conservation tillage by these farmers combined with cover crop residue left on the field surface likely conserved moisture in the soil and resulted in increased yields.
Zone tillage can cool the soil, conserve moisture, prevent erosion and reduce trips over the field saving time, fuel, and equipment wear and tear.
Benefits of Conservation Tillage E
Improves overall health of soil and diversity of soil organisms
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Enables fertilizers and pesticides to work more efficiently
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Helps control erosion
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Increases soil’s capacity to retain water
A diverse cover crop mixture protecting and feeding the soil for the next cropping season.
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Clean water and viable agriculture starts with healthy soil.
Expanding the diversity and extent of cover
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Conserves moisture in the soil
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Reduces number of trips over the field to prepare a seed bed
Challenges of Conservation Tillage
Benefits of Cover Cropping
crops used can
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build and retain
Cost of purchasing zone tillage equipment
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It can take two to four crop seasons for soils to respond by providing improved yields
nutrients in the soil, control erosion, suppress weeds, improve soil’s water-holding capacity and add organic matter.
using cover crops, as waiting too long to terminate it can make the cover crop difficult to kill or plant through.
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Enables fertilizers and pesticides to work more efficiently
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Helps control erosion
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Increases soil’s capacity to hold water
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Conserves moisture in the soil
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Can help control weeds and other pests
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Can help provide nitrogen to crops
Cover Crops Many farmers on Long Island use cover crops, particularly rye. Expanding the diversity and extent of cover crops used can build and retain nutrients in the soil, control erosion, suppress weeds, improve soil’s water-holding capacity and add organic matter. Farmers should give special attention to timing when
Challenges of Cover Cropping E
Can increase costs for seeds and time spent planting
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Waiting too long to terminate crop can be problematic
This publication and work in Suffolk County has been made possible with the generous support of Long Island Sound Study, William E. & Maude S. Pritchard Charitable Trust and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. American Farmland Trust New York State Office 112 Spring Street, Suite 207 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 581-0078
[email protected] www.farmland.org/newyork
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Agricultural Stewardship Program 423 Griffing Avenue, Suite 100 Riverhead, NY 11901-3071 (631) 727-7850 www.ccesuffolk.org
