Adaptive Nutrient Management

1. Adaptive Nutrient Management Tom Morris, Associate Professor University of Connecticut thomas.morris@uconn.edu 860-486-0637 VTC Conference Call NRCS Adaptive Nutrient Management Work Team October 24, 2011

2. Adaptive management Adaptive management is a process to better manage our natural resourcesConcept developed by ecologists starting in mid-1970s and is ongoingNot commonly used in agriculture, but has great benefit and value for ag

3. Two short definitions of adaptive management • Process of dealing with uncertaintyin the management of renewable resources(Adapted from Walters, 1986) • An approach to natural resource policy that states: “policies are experiments; learn from them” (Lee, 1993)

4. Adaptive Management in Agriculture Plan Implement Adjust (Adoption) Learn Evaluate Best results when process involves farmer from the beginning and time for learning is build in to the process

5. Draft definition for agriculture developed by scientists from the Multistate Coordinating Committee: “Adaptive Management for Improved NutrientManagement” (NEERA 1002 and ASA Adaptive Nutrient Management Community) An on-going process of developing improved management practices for efficient production and resource conservation by use of participatory learning through continuous systematic assessment. Participants include producers, agricultural service providers, policy makers, regulators, scientists, and other interested stakeholders.

6. Learning is one of the key processes Without learning policies (better practices) have low adoption rates (NMPs) Adaptive Management greatly enhances learning and hence greatly enhances adoption of better practices

7. Adaptive Nutrient Management (ANM) and Nutrient Management Plans (NMPs) ANM enhances NMPs by adding a learning process to the plans ANM also adds a process to document improvements in nutrient management using results fromobjective evaluations of nutrient practices at the field level

8. Four key principles in adult learning that led to improved practices Adults are more likely to adopt new practices when: • They are involved in the planning and evaluation of their instruction (Farmer developed NMPs vs NMPs developed by a TSP) • Their learning is based on experience (including mistakes) (Evaluations provide a new experience to learn from that includes finding mistakes)

9. Four key principles in adult learning that led to improved practices Adults are more likely to adopt new practices when: 3. The topics are about subjects that have immediate relevance to their job or personal life (NMPs are part of their farm operations) 4. Discussions about improving a practice are problem-centered and not content-oriented (Content-oriented lectures aren’t nearly as effective as problem-centered discussions at allowing farmers to integrate new information into their existing experiences and to make improvements in practices

10. Why adaptive nutrient management needed? Good example is nitrogen management Much uncertainty in what rate of nitrogen to apply to corn Uncertainty has economic and environmental consequences Adaptive nutrient management provides additional information to reduce uncertainty

11. N response trials in Corn Belt Scientists in Corn Belt pooled their N fertilizer response trials for corn; Created large data base of N fertilizer response trials Calculated economic optimum N rate for trials Created interactive web site using economic optimum N rates for trials Data from 7 states, IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, WI, OH 1366 N response trials in data base

13. On average the N rate calculator provides a reasonable value for N rate Based on 188 N fertilizer response trials for corn after beans in Central Illinois: Economic N rate 176 lbs N/acre Range: 163-189 lbs N/acre

14. Frequency distribution of N rates makes it difficult for farmer to chose what rate to apply 188 trials in Central Illinois Economic N rate 176 lbs N/acre Range: 163-189 Percent of sites in optimum range: ~20% No manure history

15. N Recommendations from Land Grant Universities using Yield Goal Probably Less Accurate N recommendations from University of Connecticut Soil Test Lab are based on yield goal Having my name on those recommendations makes me uneasy

16. Adaptive nutrient management process to manage uncertainty of N rate Three main concepts: 1. Objective evaluation of N at field level 2. Use results in a participatory education program 3. Keep environmental community informed about process and changes in practices to garner support for process

17. Components of one ANM program for improved nitrogen management at field level 1. Corn stalk nitrate test to evaluate rate of current practice 2. Aerial images of corn fields to evaluate uniformity of N application and uniformity of N in field 3. Replicated strip trials to evaluate: a. rate of current practice; b. alternative form, timing, placement of N; c. potential for spatial management 4. Process to collect, analyze, summarize and send to farmers important field management data and results of evaluations 5. Group meetings in winter to discuss individual farm, group, county, multi-county, and state results by practice

18. Corn Stalk Nitrate Test • Postmortem assessment of N management • Procedure: • Sample between ¼ milkline and • 3 weeks after black layer • 8” piece of stalk 6” above the • ground • Optimum 700-2000 ppm NO3-N

19. 1. Evaluate Rate of Current Practice What fert rate apply next year? What manure rate next year?

20. 1. Rate evaluations 2007 One farm - 41 fields – Lancaster, PA Manure 2/4 years Stalk Nitrate (ppm) Optimum range (700-2000) No Manure Poultry Steer Hog Field Number

21. 2. Evaluate uniformity of application Manure application

22. 2. Evaluate field uniformity

23. 2. Evaluate field uniformity

24. 3. Replicated strip trials 80-acre field in Iowa Numbers show sampling locations for corn stalk nitrate test Yields collected by combine with yield monitor and GPS

25. Strip Trial in PA in 30-acre field

26. Results from ANM Programs Iowa: 80% of farmers improved N practices Reduced N 36 kg ha-1 Chesapeake Bay: Net reduction of 31 kg N ha-1 Small % of fields N increased Other On-Farm programs only 1-2 years old; requires 2-3 years for farmers to improve 90-95% attendance at winter meetings

27. Summary Adaptive nutrient management programs will result in more efficient management of nutrients Our task I think is to develop guidelines for integration of adaptive nutrient management into Nutrient Management Plans

28. References Gunderson, L. H., C. S. Holling, and S. S. Light, editors. 1995. Barriers and Bridges to the Renewal of Ecosystems and Institutions. Columbia University Press, New York. Holling, C.S., editor. 1978. Adaptive Environmental Assessment and Management. John Wiley & Sons., New York. Lee, K. N. 1993. Compass and Gyroscope. Integrating science and politics for the environment. Island Press, Washington, D.C. Lee, K. N. 1999. Appraising adaptive management. Conservation Ecology 3(2):3. http://www.consecol.org/vol3/iss2/art3/ Northwest Oregon State Forests Management Plan FINAL PLAN Jan. 2001. http://www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/management/state_forests/sfplan/nwfmp01-final/17-5-Implement.prn.pdf Peterman, R.M. 1990. Statistical power analysis can improve fisheries research and management. Can J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 47:2-15. Salafsky, N., R. Margoluis, and K. H. Redford. 2001. Adaptive Management: A Tool for Conservation Practitioners. http://fosonline.org/resources/Publications/AdapManHTML/adman_1.html Walters, C. 1986. Adaptive Management of Renewable Resources. Macmillan, New York. Walters, C., and R. Green. 1997. Valuation of Experimental Management Options for Ecological Systems. Journal of Wildlife Management 61:987-1006.