Endure Program: 4R Principles of Nutrient Stewardship

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Through better overall management of crop nutrients utilizing the 4Rs, we can enhance nutrient efficiency by minimizing losses while promoting optimum yields. Better management of nutrients helps to ensure that nutrients remain in the root zone and available for plant uptake and utilization.

4R Nutrient Stewardship takes into consideration environmental factors, nutrient cycles, and crop needs utilizing and incorporating the four Principles of Nutrient Stewardship:

• Right Source: matching fertilizer type to crop needs
• Right Rate: matching fertilizer rates to crop needs
• Right Time: allowing nutrients to be available when crops need them
• Right Place: keeping nutrients where crops can use them

Weather is the most unpredictable factor that farmers deal with throughout their careers and is a primary influencer to both yield and nutrient loss potential. In formulating a nutrient management plan, farmers can increase the odds of optimizing crop nutrient utilization, while maximizing crop yield and minimizing environmental impact.

Here are a few additional considerations related to nutrient stewardship:

• Following the 4R principles increases the chance that nutrients will be available to the crop during critical growth and yield development stages
• Nutrients must move into the plant through soil solution. During periods of ample rainfall, we can expect crop nutrient uptake within the shallow portion of the soil profile. Conversely, with little or no rain, crop nutrient uptake occurs deeper in the soil profile, making nutrient placement a key factor
• When soil mobile crop nutrients are applied too early, the length of time until uptake occurs increases the risk of nutrient loss
• When crop nutrients are applied too late, the risk of nutrient deficiencies increases, and yields may be decreased