4R Nutrient Stewardship Basics Prepared by Nutrients for Life Canada Teacher Resource for 4R Case Study 1 An Introduction to 4R Nutrient Stewardship

GLOBAL POPULATION 9 BILLION BY 2050 MORE FOOD FROM EXISTING LAND Q: HOW DO WE SUSTAINABLY FEED 9 BILLION PEOPLE? DRAMATIC GROWTH IN MIDDLE CLASS A:

What is Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture?

ECONOMIC - SOCIAL - ENVIRONMENTAL

Nutrients & Crops Needs Plants require 17 different nutrients to grow: – Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O). – Nutrients found in the soil: 6 Macronutrients including: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S 8 Micronutrients including: Cu, Cl, B, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Zn Maximum plant growth is determined by the most limiting nutrient (Liebig’s Law of the Minimum). 7

Weather (moisture and temperature) Soil physical and chemical properties  Soil Texture, Aeration, Soil pH, Organic Matter, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) Best Management Practices(BMP’s) of 4R’s  Source, Rate, Time, and Placement of your site specific information for your situation 8 Nutrient Uptake & Loss

Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place Right Source - What is the best source to obtain balanced fertilization? Right Rate - How much fertilizer to apply in typical Canadian conditions? Right Time – What is the optimum time to apply nutrients under local conditions? Right Place – What is the best place to put the nutrients under local conditions?

4R Strategies for Limiting Phosphorous Losses Test soils to prevent over- fertilization. Minimize erosion to limit particulate P losses. Use incorporation/banding Establish buffer strips to catch and use P from spring and summer rainfall. 10 P

Putting Together P Fertilizer 11 Right Source P: Highly available and easy to control (phosphate ion H 2 P0 4 and HP ). Right Rate of P: To match crop requirements. Right Time of P: Timed to coincide with period of greatest demand and /or lowest risk of environmental loss. Right Place of P: Where it is easily accessible when required. Land Management: Grow high yielding/high input crops on productive land. Granular or liquid ammonium phosphate fertilizers both convert rapidly to phosphate ions. Based on soil test recommendations and fertility guidelines. Apply in spring at or near time of seeding to meet early growth demands of young plants. In soil near or with the seed depending on crop sensitivity or placed in a side band. Adjust P fertilization practices for any limitations related to growing conditions and land capability.

4Rs Use Adaptive Management Five Steps to Adaptive Management: 1.Goal Setting 2.Assessing production information 3.Formulating a plan 4.Implementing practice change 5.Monitor effectiveness

Why Use 4R Nutrient Stewardship Planning? farmers already implement various forms of sustainable agriculture & 4R Nutrient Stewardship provides a framework to improve their operations through:  nutrient management, NUE and revenue.  environmental risk as nutrient loss is reduced.

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