ORIGIN
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - 2009. The concept of N-TRACKER was first conceived in 2009 when farmers in Southern Illinois were told they needed to re-apply nitrogen for their crop following a wet 2-week period. They had applied anhydrous ammonia within seven days of the rains and were ready to re-apply N once the soil dried (close to 3 weeks later). A way to quantify the amount of plant-available N in the upper soil profile was created by Dr. Howard Brown, Manager of Agronomy Services for GROWMARK, Inc. The new testing tool identified the injection band and estimated there was still plenty of plant-available N in the upper soil profile at the site tested, giving farmers some comfort that their N was not lost. Some farmers applied supplemental N strips to check the outcome of the test and no yield difference was detected. Dr. Brown thought that if farmers could use a test to estimate the amount of plant-available N at a point-in-time with confidence, why not use the test to detect the behavior of plant-available N at a point over time. The new tool could provide a window into the soil to watch the behavior of plant-available N.and a new tool to help make N management decisions…. the birth of tracking plant-available N.
PLANT-AVAILABLE N DETECTED. The graphic (left) shows the concentration of nitrate and ammonium-N detected in the upper foot of the soil profile every three inches for 30 inches. The tests detected 36 ppm of Plant-Available N (PAN), more than enough N to optimize corn yield according to the Late Spring Nitrate Test (LSNT). The primary form of PAN was ammonium-N, a stable form of N that resists leaching and denitrification. The distribution of N across the 30-inch width was also evident with most of the detected N within 3 inches of the injection point. If N can be characterized at a point-in-time, why not use the tool to monitor the dynamics (behavior) of PAN over time, the birth of N-TRACKER.
TO-DATE
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305 N-TRACKER SITES were established in 2018 by crop specialists from Illini FS (blue), Evergreen FS (green), Inc., Heritage FS, Inc. (purple) and Piatt County Service Company (yellow). Plant-available N in the upper two feet was detected by soil analysis at specific sampling dates and reports were provided to participants showing the estimated amount of plant-available N detected over time. Several additional soil tests were performed on the first sample collected from each site. As a result of what was learned sulfur and boron will be tracked along with plant-available N and reported in 2019.
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HIGH SCHOOL NITROGEN EDUCATION. Learning about the Nitrogen Cycle was part of a High School Outreach Program in 2018. Five high school ag teachers (Hoopeston, Fisher, Unity, Shiloh, and Paris) allowed students to listen to six Nitrogen Cycle lectures. Students completed a quiz following each lecture to determine comprehension. Students listening to all six lectures and successfully taking each quiz (passing grade) achieved Honorary Nitrogen Ninja status and received a T-shirt in recognition of their effort.
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ORIGIN OF "NITROGEN NINJA"
Dr. Willam Raun is a Professor of Plant and Soil Science at Oklahoma State University. He granted the title of "Nitrogen Ninja", to his students successfully memorizing a version of The Nitrogen Cycle created by he and his graduate students. His effort has inspired students to "climb inside the Nitrogen Cycle" and visualize nitrogen from a soil's perspective. It is not difficult to discover who has taken Dr. Raun's soil fertility course. Just ask to see their Nitrogen Ninja card. A sincere thank you is extended to Dr. Raun for his contributions to production agriculture and serving as a source of inspiration to further expand education and outreach related to nitrogen management. Illini FS hopes to grow the number of Nitrogen Ninjas with our high school outreach and stewardship efforts.
ORIGIN OF TRACKING PLANT-AVAILABLE N
Dr. Howard Brown originated the concept of tracking plant-available N while working with GROWMARK, Inc. and has continued his work at Illini FS to modify and improve nitrogen tracking as a new tool in our effort to improve nutrient stewardship. "It is about focusing on what is important. It is about focusing on M.O.M.: Minimize environmental impact by Optimizing farm profitability, and Maximizing nutrient utilization. To make sustainable improvements with nutrient management we must also improve farm profitability. N-TRACKER is a tool designed to do both... the reason I am excited about continued development and improvement of the tool. It is truly all about M.O.M."
Dr. Brown and Illini FS are also engaged with outreach N educational programs with some local area high schools. Check out www.nu-tracker.com to learn about the 2017-18 program and what the 2018-19 program will be.
Dr. Brown and Illini FS are also engaged with outreach N educational programs with some local area high schools. Check out www.nu-tracker.com to learn about the 2017-18 program and what the 2018-19 program will be.