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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #363019
Research Project: Assessing and Managing Antibiotic Resistance, Nutrients, and Pathogens In Animal-Impacted Agroecosystems

Location: Agroecosystem Management Research

Title: How can nitrogen budgeting estimate nitrate-N loading to groundwater?

Author
item Miller, Daniel
item SNOW, DANIEL - University Of Nebraska
item KRIENKE, BRIAN - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2019
Publication Date: 3/29/2019
Citation: Miller, D.N., Snow, D.N., Krienke, B.T. 2019. How can nitrogen budgeting estimate nitrate-N loading to groundwater?. Popular publication.Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Univeristy of Nebraska Water Column Newsletter. Available: https://water.unl.edu/article/groundwater/how-can-nitrogen-budgeting-estimate-nitrate-n-loading-groundwater

Interpretive Summary: Increasing nitrate-N concentrations in groundwater is a serious national issue. This complex problem has emerged gradually over many decades of intensive crop production, and it can be difficult to understand how to resolve it. Nitrogen (N) budgeting, where accounting principles are applied to summarize individual N sources, is one tool for understanding how long-term applications of nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation have led to this problem. N budgeting may also be used to help develop a framework for managing N sources so that crop production can continue without impacting water quality.

Technical Abstract: Increasing nitrate-N concentrations in groundwater has become a national issue. This serious problem has emerged very gradually over many decades of intensive crop production and, because of the complexity and scale of land use, it can be difficult to understand what can be done to resolve this issue. Nitrogen (N) budgeting, where accounting principles are applied to show how the quantity of individual N sources can be measured, is one tool for understanding how long-term applications of nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation have led to this problem. N budgeting may also be used to help develop a framework for managing N sources so that crop production can continue without impacting water quality. We would like to explore this tool by going through commonly-used conversions and calculations in the context of nitrate-N leaching.