Nutrient Management Planning

Nutrient management planning involves the careful attention to meeting crop nutrient needs, using cost-effective and environmentally responsible management practices.

To produce a plan, you need to:

• understand the principles of nutrient management
• know your soil and landscape features
• know your soil fertility reserves
• know what you should be applying
• calibrate application equipment to know how much you're applying
• implement best management practices for application of nutrients
• adopt best management practices for soil management and soil and water conservation
• implement best management practices for monitoring and emergencies.

There are at least 3 good reasons why you should develop a nutrient management plan. A good plan will help you: achieve optimal crop yields and product quality; manage input costs and protect soil and water resources.

Manure testing will help you determine how much to apply.

An integral part of Nutrient Management Planning - calibration of application equipment - works in combination with soil and manure testing to ensure proper application rates of manure and commercial fertilizers.

To expedite control measures and minimize environmental risk, farmers should have written contingency plans for manure spills and other emergencies.

Best Management Practices: A First Look