Nutrient Stewardship
Maximize fertilizer use efficiency and ROI by using the 4R+ nutrient management system.
Save Money on Fertilizer Costs
We don’t need to tell you this. Fertilizer is expensive. And it’s critical to growing a healthy crop. You want a high yield, but you also don’t want to waste money on fertilizer your crop won’t use. No farmer wants to flush liquid gold down their local streams to the Gulf of Mexico. Yet…
89 million acres of US cropland are exceeding the nitrogen loss threshold – AKA losing valuable nitrogen.
Iowa loses 5 tons of soil per acre every year (the weight of two Chevy Silverados) – carrying phosphorus with it.
The Solution: 4R+ Nutrient Management
4R+ uses precise nutrient management and conservation practices to provide nutrients when the crop needs them, which will enhance soil health and improve water quality.
Did You Know?
Unused fertilizer from the previous year’s growing season may still be in your soil. Using soil health practices can help unlock nutrients trapped in your soil.
Benefits at a Glance
We don’t need to tell you this. Fertilizer is expensive. And it’s critical to growing a healthy crop. You want a high yield, but you also don’t want to waste money on fertilizer your crop won’t use. No farmer wants to flush liquid gold down their local streams to the Gulf of Mexico. Yet…
Maximized fertilizer ROI – farmers can save an average of $30/acre on fertilizer
Reduced runoff
Increased nutrient storage and recycling of carbon in soil
Improved water quality downstream
How it’s Done
General nutrient management best practices:
General nutrient management best practices:
GOOD: Regularly sample soil to determine the amount of nutrients you need.
BETTER: Also use GPS-guided variable-rate application based on soil and grid samples.
BEST: Add soil health practices like cover crops or reduced tillage to increase nutrient availability.
Nitrogen management best practices:
Nitrogen management best practices:
GOOD: Use an N Inhibitor. Use controlled, slow-release, or stabilized blends.
BETTER: Apply fall nitrogen when soil temperatures are consistently below 50 degrees at a 4-inch depth.
BEST: Split-apply pre-plant and after-plant when your crop needs it most.
Manure and phosphorus management best practices:
Manure & phosphorus management best practices:
GOOD: Use manure as a primary source of phosphorous instead of commercial fertilizer.
BETTER: Avoid unincorporated surface application of manure where it’s vulnerable to runoff.
BEST: Also utilize practices like prairie strips, cover crops, and reduced tillage to minimize soil erosion.
Partner Spotlight: Iowa Pork
Manure is money
Did you know that manure naturally fertilizes crops, but there’s not enough of it in the state to cover all row crop acres? Using proper manure management to fertilize nearby rowcrops can be a conservation practice when done right. Learn about manure management at iowapork.org.
Cost-Share Options
State, federal, and private financial assistance programs can help you implement 4R+ nutrient management practices:
Check with your Soil and Water Conservation District office for more cost share opportunities in your area.
Getting Started
To learn more about the 4R+ system of nutrient management, visit 4RPlus.org and talk with your agronomic advisor about getting started.
The Iowa Nitrogen Initiative
Did you know there are billions of combinations of factors that can impact nitrogen uptake? Yes. Billions.
Iowa State University’s INI is conducting on-farm trials to determine the ideal application rate of nitrogen fertilizer needed for corn crops in each unique area of the state. The data is now available in a tool called N-FACT.
More Resources
Here are more helpful resources on nutrient stewardship:
Nutrients in farming: What are they and why do we need them? provides in-depth information on nitrogen and phosphorous.
This Practical Farmers of Iowa video explains how nitrates get into our water and ways we can safeguard this important natural resource.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides information using their SMART acronym and offers free support services
Too Much Manure? Can Iowa use all its manure for fertilizer? is a report by ISU that looks at manure concentrations in Iowa.
Manure: A Valuable Commodity is a report by ISU that looks at manure fertilizer value.
Pairs Well With:
Soil conservation practices are an important part of the 4R+ system. Healthy soil helps retain nutrients and deliver them to plants, resulting in a more productive crop and increased profitability. It also keeps your land in good condition for the next generation. Consider: