Nitrogen Workshop

Heartland Region Nitrogen Best Management Practices Workshop

June 7-9, 2005 - Nebraska City, NE

The Heartland Water Quality Coordination Initiative's Nutrient and Pesticide Management (NPM) Team hosted a Nitrogen Best Management Practices (BMPs) Workshop at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center, located at the Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, NE. The Nitrogen BMP Workshop was held June 7-9, 2005.

The objective of the June workshop was to compile and evaluate nitrogen BMP information. A regional roundtable addressing nitrogen issues was held for university faculty, ARS researchers, and EPA staff in January 2005 to report on the latest research findings, current projects, and future research.  The June workshop was a follow-up of the January roundtable.

The NPM team hosted a workshop regarding phosphorus BMPs in June 2004, in which approximately 63 individuals attended. The Nitrogen Workshop in 2005 had a total of 64 individuals participate and the team plans to address pesticide issues in 2006.

Workshop Information and Presentations:

Workshop Agenda

Workshop Participants

Workshop Speakers and Presentations:

Nitrogen BMPS - Day 1:

• Dan Devlin, Kansas State University - Nutrient and Pesticide Management Team.
• Don Huggins, Central Palins center for BioAssessment, KU - Regional and National N Issues. Power Point Presentation.
• Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Iowa State University - Understanding the Impact of Agricultural Management Practices on N Utilization: Interaction of Tillage, N Sources, and N Rates.
• Mark Tomer, USDA-ARS - Assessing Agricultural Losses of N to Water and Air. Power Point Presentation.
• Roy Spalding, University of Nebraska - N Movement to Groundwater: The Problem and Problem Areas in the Region; Vadose Properties, Opportunities. Power Point Presentation.
• John Holz, University of Nebrasaka - The Effects of Nitrogen on Aquatic Environments. Power Point Presentation
• Amanda Schielke, Kansas State University - Nutrient & Pesticide Management Website. PDF File. Website Handout.

Soil Testing and Nitrogen Recommendations - Day 2:

• Dale Leikam, Kansas State University - Soil Sampling, Soil Property Mapping, and Crop N Need and N Credits; Variations in N Recommendations. Power Point Presentation.
• Charles Wortmann, University of Nebraska - Manure N, Ammonium-N, Organic-N, Estimating N Availability. Power Point Presentation.
• Dennis Francis, USDA-ARS - Monitoring of Crop N Needs and In-Season Application. Power Point Presentation.
• Peter Scharf, University of Missouri - Time and Method of N Application and Remote and On-The-Go Sensing. Power Point Presenation.

Irrigation Management and Nitrate Movement to Groundwater - Day 2 Continued:

• Bill Kranz, University of Nebraska - Irrigation Management for Reduced N Leaching, Irrigation for Limited Water Situations. Power Point Presentation.
• Matt Helmers, Iowa State University - Sub-Surface Drainage and Treatment of Drainage Water to Reduce nitrate-N. Power Point Presenation.

Break-Out Sessions for Specialized Topics - Day 2 Continued:

• Matt Helmers, Iowa State University - Design of Drainage Water Treatment Facilities.
• Bill Kranz, University of Nebraska - Irrigation and Soil Water Monitoring Technology. Power Point Presentation

Additional Nitrogen BMPs - Day 3:

• Charles Barden, Kansas State University - The Effectiveness of Filter Strips and Riparian Buffers. Power Point Presentation.
• Kent McVay, Kansas State University - Conservation Structures and Tillage. Power Point Presentation.
• Rick Koelsch, University of Nebraska - CNMP: Need and Components; Animal Rations and Manure N Excretion. Power Point Presentation.

Setting Nitrogen Nutrient Criteria In EPA Region 7 - Day 3 Continued

• Amy Parker, U.S. EPA Headquarters - EPA Rules and Need for Nutrient Standards for Surface Waters. Power Point Presenation.
• Scott Sattherwaite, Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment - State Perspective on Nutrient Criteria in Kansas. Surface Water Nutrient Reduction Plan. PDF File.
• John Bender, Nebraska Dept. of Environmental Quality - State Perspective on Nutrient Criteria in Nebraska. Power Point Presentation.

N Workshop Photo Gallery:

• Conference 1- Discussion among the group during a presentation session.
• Conference 2 - Presentations made during the workshop.
• Soil 1 - The Workshop Group prepares to take a soil sample.
• Soil 2 - What we're going to use to obtain the sample.
• Soil 3 - What we're going to do to get the sample.
• Soil 4 - The research behind the sample.
• Soil 5 - The result of the sampling.
• Tour 1 - Group 1 on the Arbor Day Farm Perimeter tour...it's hot!
• Tour 2 - Group 2 on the tour...it's hotter!
• Tour 3 - These guys never quit working!
• Tour 4 - Get on the Research Wagon!