A New Fulcrum for Nutrient A New Fulcrum for Nutrient Management … Management …

Balancing on the Old Won’t DoBalancing on the Old Won’t Do

Western Nutrient Management ConferenceWestern Nutrient Management Conference

March 3-4, 2005 Salt Lake City, UTMarch 3-4, 2005 Salt Lake City, UT

Paul FixenPaul Fixen

Potash & Phosphate InstitutePotash & Phosphate Institute

The Balance ParadigmThe Balance Paradigm

Productivity Environment

NutrientNutrientManagementManagement

The Balance ParadigmThe Balance Paradigm

Productivity

Environment

NutrientNutrientManagementManagement

If one goes up … the other goes downIf one goes up … the other goes downEnvironmental progress is associated with productivity lossesEnvironmental progress is associated with productivity losses

Progress with one shifts resources away from the other Progress with one shifts resources away from the other

Productivity

Environment

Environmental Considerationsfor nutrient management

Global reactive N Hypoxia Surface and ground water quality Air quality Soil quality (metals, pathogens, etc.) Climate change Biodiversity

Source: FAO

• Production must increaseProduction must increase• Brown quoteBrown quote

25x2525x25

Vision:Vision: Agriculture will provide 25% of the total energy consumed in the U.S. by 2025 while continuing to produce abundant, safe and affordable food and fiber. Ag Energy Working Group

Role of agriculture: Produce liquid fuels for

tranportation’s needs Harness wind and solar

energy Process biogases for

the production of electricity

Produce biomass for energy production

Utilize crop residues and ag wastes to generate heat and power

Capture C, sequester GH gases and improve air, water and soil quality

Clearly beyond the traditionalClearly beyond the traditionalrole of food and fiber productionrole of food and fiber production

Soil Test P Frequency Distribution for Soil Test P Frequency Distribution for North America in 2001North America in 2001

2.0 million samples

Median P = 28 ppm Median P = 28 ppm

45%45%

Median Soil Test P Levels in 2001Median Soil Test P Levels in 2001

NDND

SKSKMBMB

ONON

BCBCABAB

WAWA

OROR

MTMT

IDID

SDSD

MNMN

PQPQ

NYNY

PAPAOHOHININILIL

IAIA

WIWIMIMI

WYWY

UTUT

NVNV

CACA

AZAZ NMNM

NBNB

NSNS

PEIPEI

MEME

NHNH

VTVT

MAMA

CTCTRIRI

NENE

KSKSMOMO

KYKY

WVWVVAVA

MDMDDEDE

NJNJ

NCNCTNTN

ARAROKOK

TXTX LALA

MSMS ALAL GAGA

SCSC

FLFL

COCO

North AmericaNorth America28 ppm P28 ppm P

NCNC3030

NGPNGP1212

SGPSGP2121

WW2121

SESE3636

NENE>50>50

Bray P-1 Equivalent, ppmBray P-1 Equivalent, ppm

Data not available for: Data not available for: AL, BC, NC, ON, SC, VA, WVAL, BC, NC, ON, SC, VA, WV

A critical need for the (re)integration of A critical need for the (re)integration of nutrient management and agronomynutrient management and agronomy

Answering the “simple” question:

What level of nutrient X does this crop need on this soil … considering system yield, product considering system yield, product

quality, and soil, water and air impacts?quality, and soil, water and air impacts?

Haven’t the important agronomic questions Haven’t the important agronomic questions related to nutrient management been answered?related to nutrient management been answered?

Recent K Recommendation Changes in IowaRecent K Recommendation Changes in Iowa

Soil test % of IA soils*

category Old New

Very low 3 12

Low 9 24

Optimum (Medium) 24 24

High 24 13

Very high 40 27

36 60

*Based on PPI 2001 summary of 327,000 samples using low subsoil interpretation for all soils. Number in red is % medium or below.

K recommendedin Iowa

(1000 tons K2O)

Old recs 260New recs 572572

K response of cotton varieties has K response of cotton varieties has changedchanged

19981998 19811981

Camberato and Jones, Clemson U.

““Based on these recent results, new, higher-yielding, fast-Based on these recent results, new, higher-yielding, fast-fruiting cotton varieties may respond favorably to higher rates fruiting cotton varieties may respond favorably to higher rates of applied K than older varieties.”of applied K than older varieties.”

Response to P, K and S beyond recommended Response to P, K and S beyond recommended levels for irrigated ridge-till corn in Kansaslevels for irrigated ridge-till corn in Kansas

1 Plus 230 lb N/A with 2 splits (preplant, V4). 2 KSU recommendation.

P2O5+K2O+S, lb/A1

Population 30+0+02 100+80+40 Response

PPA grain yield, bu/A

Carr sandy loam, avg of 2000-2002

28,000 162 205 43

42,000 159 223 64

Crete silt loam, 2003

28,000 176 203 27

42,000 174 247 72

Gordon (KSU), 2004

ppmCarr 20 240 Crete 25 180

Bray P1 KSite

Potassium and soybean rust incidence on sandy soil

- K, +

fungicide

Border of the field

+ K, +

fungicide

+ K, -

fungicide

- K, -

fungicide

Eng. Agr. Leandro Zancanaro

Pesquisador Fundação MT/PMABrazil

Nutrient X Disease Interactions

Nutrient – Disease Interaction Tour GroupNutrient – Disease Interaction Tour GroupSouthern Brazil, Feb. 2005Southern Brazil, Feb. 2005

Don Huber,Purdue U.

T. Yamada,Potafos

Bob Kremer,USDA-ARS & U. of Missouri

Volker Romheld,Hohenheim U.

(Germany)

Ismail Cakmak,Sabanci U.(Istanbul)

Paulo Castro,U. Sao Paulo

Farming and the Fate of Wild NatureFarming and the Fate of Wild Nature

Science, January 28, 2005 Authors: Green, Cornell, Scharlemann and

Balmford (Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of Cambridge) Wildlife friendly farming vs land sparing “Empirical data on such density-yield functions

are sparse, but evidence from a range of taxa in developing countries suggests that high-yield farming may allow more species to persist.”

Zoologists & ecologists seeing improving Zoologists & ecologists seeing improving productivity as a solution to conservation of productivity as a solution to conservation of

biodiversitybiodiversity

Production of U.S. field crops: $62 billion$62 billion

Are we confident of the yield and quality implications of nutrient management for these crops?

Production of horticultural crops: $41 billion$41 billion

Ross Welch, 2004 … Farming for Health: the Future of Agriculture

Water & Energy (2)

Protein

(AAs) (9)

Lipids-Fat

(FAs) (2)

Macros (7)

Micros (17)

Vitamins

(13)

Water

Carbs

Histidine

Isoleucine

Leucine

Lysine

Methionine

Phenylalanine

Threonine

Tryptophan

Valine

Linoleic acid

Linolenic acid

Na

K

Ca

Mg

S

P

Cl

Fe,Zn

Cu,Mn

I, F

B, Se

Mo, Ni

Cr, V

Si, As

Li, Sn

Co (in B12)

A, D, E, K

C (Ascorbic acid)

B1 (Thiamin)

B2 (Riboflavin)

B3 (Pantothenic acid)

Niacin

B6 (Pyridoxal)

Folate

Biotin

B12 (Cobalamin)

The Known 50 Essential Nutrients for The Known 50 Essential Nutrients for Sustaining Human LifeSustaining Human Life**

*Numerous other beneficial substances in foods are also known to contribute to good health.

Welch, 2004

Vegetable N1 N2 N3

Swiss chard 67.8 56.1 47.6

Kale, collards 113.0 112.0 66.0

Brussels-sprouts 112.0 101.0 93.0

Effects of N & K Fertilizers on Vitamin CEffects of N & K Fertilizers on Vitamin C

Vegetable K1 K2 K3

Swiss chard 49.9 56.1 59.3

Kale, collards 98.0 112.0 118.0

Brussels-sprouts 88.0 101.0 100.0

Data from Salunkhe and Deshpande,1991 assummarized by Welch, 2004.

(mg/100g fr. wt.)(mg/100g fr. wt.)

Fertilizing Crops for Fertilizing Crops for Functional Foods,Functional Foods,

2002 ASA Symposium2002 ASA Symposium(isoflavones, lycopene, etc.)(isoflavones, lycopene, etc.)

Apples — PCitrus — N, K

Cole crops — S, SeEchinacea — N, P

Flax — N, P, KSoybeans — K

Tomatoes — P, KWatermelons — K

Productivity considerationsfor nutrient management

Yield, profitability, competitiveness Basic calibration & optimization for

today’s systems Nutrients in holistic crop management

Crop/food quality for specific use Meeting global food needs Energy/biofuels Sparing land for nature

A new fulcrum with greater potential to A new fulcrum with greater potential to advance and apply knowledge and technology advance and apply knowledge and technology

for nutrient management for nutrient management

Productivity/Environment

NutrientNutrientManagementManagement

How do we build How do we build a bigger fulcrum?a bigger fulcrum?

Building a bigger fulcrum for nutrient Building a bigger fulcrum for nutrient management management

1. Sell the need internally Within departments, colleges Within companies

2. Sell the need externally To other departments, colleges, states,

legislatures, agencies, companies To potential partners in development and

financial support

Non-western examplesNon-western examples

Commodity GroupCommodity Group

United Soybean Board by Foundation for Agronomic Research (FAR)

“Coordination Of Management Practices Enhancing Total Efficiency (COMPETE)”

Improved nutrient management as a means for U.S. growers to compete with South American growers.

$620,000 over two years Eaten up in 2005 by Asian soybean rust

Foundation for Agronomic Research/PPINebraska Corn Board

Fluid Fertilizer FoundationIMC Global

Nebraska Soybean BoardUNL Department of Agronomy

P Fellowship ProgramP Fellowship Program

Kansas State UniversityInitiated Summer 2004

$40,000/yr; 10 yrsSupporters: Agrium, Cargill,

IMC Global, Potash Corp, Simplot

Note: IMC Global and Cargill Crop Nutrition are now Mosaic

Building a bigger fulcrum for nutrient Building a bigger fulcrum for nutrient management management

1. Sell the need internally2. Sell the need externally3. Set as our objectives:

Improvement of mechanistic understanding that can address both production and environmental issues

Integration of existing knowledge bits into usable management tools – a growing need driven by technology and consolidation of farms and agribusiness

Nutrient management today needs solutions Nutrient management today needs solutions that simultaneously allow for improvement that simultaneously allow for improvement

of productivity & environmental impactof productivity & environmental impact

Productivity/Environment

Nutrient ManagementNutrient Management