Nutrient Management Policy

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HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT? THE NRCS NUTRIENT

MANAGEMENT POLICY
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Nutrient Management

• Managing the amount, source, placement, form,
  and timing of nutrients and soil amendments to
  ensure adequate soil fertility for plant
  production and to minimize the potential for
  environmental degradation, particularly water
  quality impairment.

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Nutrient Management
Considers Commercial Fertilizer, Animal Waste and
other sources!
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Nutrient Management
Considers Crops Grown!
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Nutrient Management Plan
Considers the Harvest Methods!
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NRCSNutrient Management Policy

• In response to the growing body of evidence of
  the relationship between soil nutrient loadings,
  nutrient transport off-site, and surface and
  ground water quality impairment, NRCS has revised
  its policy and technical guidance for delivering
  nutrient management related technical assistance.

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Nutrient Management Policy

• National policy effective April 1999.
• Will be implemented over a two-year period
  throughout NRCS.
• Kentucky NRCS is in the process of revising the
  current state standard for Nutrient Management.

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Nutrient Management Policy

• The policy requires that procedures be
  established in each state to determine acceptable
  nutrient application rates for nitrogen and
  phosphorus which consider both production and
  environmental protection goals.

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Nutrient Management Policy

• SIGNIFICANT IN KENTUCKY!
• In particular, a Phosphorus standard and/or
  assessment tool will be developed to facilitate
  nutrient management plans that involve the land
  application of animal manure and by-products.

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Nutrient Management Policy

• Phosphorus application rates shall be in
  accordance with these options
• Phosphorus Index
• Phosphorus Threshold
• Soil Test Phosphorus
• Combination?

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Phosphorus Index Rating Using Site Specific Risk
Considerations

• RISK ID. WASTE APPLICATION
• Low Nitrogen Based
• Medium Nitrogen Based
• High Phosphorus Based
• Risk considers soil type, slope, watershed,
  application method, and conservation practices
  implemented.

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Phosphorus Threshold
Example

• Threshold Level (TH) - Waste Application
• Below 3/4 (N) Based
• Above 3/4 and Below 1-1/2 (P) Crop Removal
• Above 1-1/2 and Below 2 (P) 1/2 Crop Removal
• Above 2 No
  Application

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Soil Test Phosphorus Level Using State Developed
Limitations

• Soil Test (P) WASTE APPLICATION
• Low (N) Based
• Medium (N) Based
• High (P) Based (1-1/2 Removal)
• Very High (P) Based (Crop Removal)
• Excessive (P) Based(No Application)

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Phosphorus Index

• ITEMS BEING DISCUSSED
• Soil Test (P)
• Benchmark Soils (clustered soil types)
• Best Management Practices (BMPs)
• Watershed Impairments (State Listed)
• Coordination With State Boundaries

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University of Kentucky (P) Soil Test Data
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University of Kentucky (P) Soil Test Data
Soil Samples gt 600 lbs/acre ('97)
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Benchmark Soil CriteriaPhosphorus Index

• Soil Type, Established Series In Major Land
  Resource Area (MLRA).
• Kentucky has 6 MLRAS.
• States overlap in consideration of benchmark
  soils.

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Benchmark Soil GroupingsPhosphorus Index

• Representative of Animal Enterprises
• Waterbodies Represented In Landscape
• Soil Properties Effect Nutrient Cycling

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Benchmark Soil CriteriaPhosphorus Index

• Soil Series Represents Land Cover,
  Land
  Use and Geology as Related to
  Surface and Groundwater.
• Aggregate Soil Types Represent Range of
  Properties that Affect Nutrient Cycling,
  Fertility and Landscape Hydrology.

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Phosphorus Indexs Could Be Developed By MLRA?
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Site Specific Adjustments To Phosphorus Index

• Are Best Management Practices (BMPs) Present and
  Fully Applied?
• Is there a Stream Impairment Designation?
• What will be the Method of Land (Waste)
  Application?

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Important BMPs Being Applied In Kentucky

• NUTRIENT MGT - Soil/Waste Sampling
• Will Consider Established State
  Procedures/Recommendations
• University of Kentucky Guidelines Apply
• (AGR-1) Compatibility
• Crop Uptake/Removal Potential
• Sampling Methods/Timing of Sample

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Soil Sampling Is Key To
Nutrient Management
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Nutrient Management Involves Manure Analysis
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Conservation Buffers Effective BMPs For Kentucky
Filter Strip
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Conservation Buffers Part of Nutrient Management
Planning!
Riparian Forest Buffer
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Nutrient Management Policy VERY IMPORTANT !

• EPA is rewriting guidance for Confined Animal
  Feeding Operations (CAFOs).
• EPA will consider NRCS guidance for waste
  application as available.
• Otherwise EPA will establish land application
  requirements independently of NRCS and this could
  become the national standard.

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Nutrient Management PolicyCurrent Issues

• NRCS/UK-CES Phosphorous Workgroup Established.
• GOAL Determine Feasibility of Nutrient
  Management Options for Implementation in
  Kentucky.

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Nutrient Management PolicyCurrent Issues

• UK-Lexington Princeton Labs are conducting
  additional soil test Phosphorous for background
  data.
• UK-Princeton Lab soil test P greater than 600
  lbs/acre now being measured.

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Nutrient Management PolicyCurrent Issues

• Identified landowners (confidentially) with
  phosphorous soil test data geographically
  dispersed across state for use as phosphorus
  option case studies.
• Use case studies to determine pros cons of
  implementation of each phosphorus option.

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Nutrient Management PolicyCurrent Issues

• Invite all interested groups to provide comments
  and feedback on information that workgroup
  generates.
• Publish Kentucky Nutrient Management Standard
  (Practice Code 590) in Federal Register in Fall
  2000.

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QUESTIONS ?
David Sawyer
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NRCS
Natural Resources Conservation Service in
Kentucky