2019 NREC Annual report
The Annual Report provides a comprehensive overview of project results and in-process outcomes for ongoing projects.
NREC-funded Research in Peer-Reviewed Journal
Thanks to the ongoing work of NREC funded researchers at the University of Illinois and cooperators from the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association, the results of “Soil and crop response to phosphorus and potassium management under conservation tillage” have been published in the Agronomy Journal.
Core Ideas from the published research are:
- No-till reduced yield relative to strip-till
- Deep banding P and K with strip-till resulted in no yield advantage over broadcast applications
- Although there is no agronomic advantage, deep banding effectively reduced soil P and K levels in soil surface layers
- Critical soil test K levels were greater than current recommendations
You can read the full journal article here: Strip-till paper 2020 and a summary here: Investment Insight March_3-20
Missed the Spring Nitrogen Webinar? You can view the archived version here
On Friday March 20, 2020 Dr. Emerson held a webinar helping farmers and retailers prepare for nitrogen fertilizer decisions as we inch closer to Spring field work and the planting of the 2020 crop.
The pdf’s from the presentation are available here: Spring N Mgt webinar March 2020 and you can also view/hear the archived webinar at this link: March 20 2020 Spring N Webinar Archive . Those needing CEU’s can self-report 1 CEU in Nutrient Management.
Four Students Recognized for their Research Posters
SPRINGFIELD, IL. February 20, 2020. The Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) recognized four students for outstanding presentation of their nutrient management research. The awards, voted on by professionals and by attendees, were decided on Thursday, February 13 at NREC’s annual research forum – NREC Investment Insight LIVE. Each student will receive an NREC portable charger for their recognition.
“Each graduate student’s poster was evaluated on its presentation quality, originality, interpretation of results, and how well the student communicated their results,” Shani Golovay said. Dr. Golovay is NREC’s research manager. Evaluators were drawn from the attendees who have a history of reviewing posters. “We also decided a People’s Choice award for one student’s effort,” she added.
The three students receiving professionally-juried awards were:
- First place: Taylor Berkshire for “Removing Dissolved Phosphorus with P-Sorbing Materials.” Berkshire is a student at the University of Illinois.
- Second place (tie): Corey Lacey for “Investigation of Fate of Cereal Rye Residue and Fertilizer N within a Corn and Soybean Rotation.” Lacey is a student at Illinois State University.
- Second place (tie): Allan Hertzberger for “Struvite” a Slow Release Phosphorus Source of Illinois Corn and Soybeans.” Hertzberger is a student at the University of Illinois.
Richard Roth, a student at Purdue University, received the People’s Choice award for his “A Long-Term Evaluation of Nitrogen Application Timing and Cover Crops Impacts on the Fate and Availability of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Crop Production on Tile Drained Fields.”
Copies of the posters from the 27 student who participated will be on the NREC web site at www.illinoisnrec.org in the coming days.
The Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council (NREC) was created by state statute in 2012. Funded by a 75-cent per ton assessment on bulk fertilizer sold in Illinois, NREC provides financial support for nutrient research and education programs to ensure the discovery and adoption of practices that address environmental concerns, optimize nutrient use efficiency, and ensure soil fertility. A 13-member NREC Council annually solicits, reviews and funds projects that fulfill the organization’s mission.
Sharing knowledge, sharing research
It just takes a research meeting in San Antonio to bring the NREC-funded research to the forefront of the agronomy world.
Cover Crop Guide 2.0
We have worked closely with Cover Crop experts and our partners at the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association to publish an updated Cover Crop Guide. Our original Cover Crop Guide was widely distributed and helped farmers make informed decisions about getting started with Cover Crops. This guide is updated with the latest science and includes links to other resources which can help make the best decisions.
Additional copies can be requested by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/wryR4Cf7T6PFZUbi6
N-15 – Why it’s important and how NREC is utilizing this important research tool
Illinois NREC works closely with our funded researchers to identify the most advanced tools available to help us better understand the fate of nitrogen fertilizers. Learn more about this important tool and see preliminary results.
Cover crops and water quality
In a field-size study area, Dr. Williard and his team are in the middle of a multi-year project at Southern Illinois University farms to look at relationships between cover crops and N availability to corn. What they have learned so far is that cereal rye is an effective scavenger of nitrogen, reducing the amount of nitrate that leached via soil water. Click here for the latest. Cover Crops and Water Quality – Williard