Soils have the capacity to store carbon, but agricultural practices that disturb soil, such as tilling, growing gmo-crops, excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides and removing crop residue, releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere. Nutrient management can help reduce these greenhouse gases by minimising the overuse of nitrogen-based fertilisers and maximising the amount of available nitrogen that can be taken up by crops.
A nutrient management plan identifies what nutrients are in the soil, how they can be accessed by a growing crop, and what needs to be added for optimum yield. It also considers environmental concerns such as nitrate levels in ground and surface waters, the transport of nutrients by runoff to water bodies, algae scums and other water quality issues. For further details on Nutrient Management Planning, consider a site like https://4rreassurance.co.uk/nutrient-management-planning
A key part of the nutrient management process is the development of fertiliser recommendations. The exact methods used can vary from farmer to farm, and they are dependent on a range of factors including soil conditions, economics, crop responses, climate, manager decisions, and the availability of alternative nutrient sources.
Using good management practices such as site-specific nutrient management can help reduce ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions while providing farmers with economic savings through better utilisation of their nitrogen-based fertilisers. Outreach campaigns can highlight the economic benefits of these best management practices, which can save money per acre of land currently receiving excess nitrates.
