Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.
Impact Report
| For plan | Nutrient Management for Sustainable Soil Productivity |
| Date | March 29, 2012, 3:09 am |
| For Objective | Medium-term Show medium-term objectives |
| Impact Report | NMED permitted dairy farms with fields with excessive levels of nitrogen in the top three feet of soil were reduced by switching from corn/wheat rotation to perennial alfalfa. The use of improved, salt tolerant varieties of alfalfa also had an impact on crop yield which further improved nitrogen removal from fields and prevented movement of nitrate into groundwater resources by reducing surface soil nitrate concentrations. The NMSU Soil Test Interpretation Workbook now includes alfalfa with nitrogen removal rate when using dairy manure or effluent water. Organic recommendations also helped reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers as the nutrients in the organic amendments are accounted for and credited toward the nutrients needed for good plant growth. By giving credit where credit is due the impact is in both better yields and reduced source material for potential contamination of groundwater resources. |