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How a CCA approaches nitrogen management plans By Eryn Wingate
to each crop’s nitrogen requirements and adjust fertilizer application recommenda- tions according to unique field conditions. Before writing the INMP, CCAs take soil and water samples to measure available nitrogen levels before planting. CCAs then calculate the amount of nitrogen fertilizer required
Nitrogen sources in the soil include ni- trate and ammonium, as well as organic nitrogen locked in organic matter, previ- ous crop residue and amendments like compost. Soil microbial activity trans- forms organic nitrogen into plant available forms at predictable rates that vary according to the type of organic matter and envi-
crop’s growth and nitrogen uptake pat- tern, so that we apply the right amount at the right time. Most crops require very little nitrogen during establishment but absorb it at increasing rates during veg- etative growth until a peak is reached prior to flowering and fruiting or har- vest. Growers can further optimize ni- trogen-use efficiency by adjusting fertil- izer placement and selecting the types of nitrogen best suited to the crop, growth stage and soil type. Always remember, when it comes to nu- trient management, it is important to apply the right rate, at the right time, at the right place using the right type of fertilizer. Contact your Certified Crop Adviser for more information on INMPs and proper nitrogen management. Visit www.wrcca.org. Access California Fertilization Guidelines at www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/frep/ FertilizationGuidelines/. Eryn Wingate is an executive board member of the Western Region Certified Crop Advisers and Lead Agronomist for Tri-Tech Ag Products Inc. She may be reached at info@wrcca.org.
Growers throughout California are im- proving fertilizer use efficiency in response to heightened regulatory pressure and ris- ing production costs. The California State Water Resources Control Board requires growers throughout the state to complete Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plans, or INMPs, to protect surface and groundwater resources from nitrogen runoff and leaching. While specific INMP requirements vary between regions, most growers must report planned and applied nitrogen fertilizer use, irrigation and har- vest quantity. Mandated reporting, along with high fertilizer and water prices, mo- tivates growers to manage nitrogen as effi- ciently as possible. Certified Crop Advisers with Nitrogen Management Specialty training can write and certify INMPs to help growers meet regulatory requirements, while sustaining or improving crop production and ROI. University of California researchers have established nitrogen uptake requirements for most crops, providing a baseline for nitrogen budgeting. CCAs tailor INMPs
by subtracting the quan- tity of nitrogen already available in the soil and irrigation wa- ter from the crop’s
ronmental factors like soil temperature and
moisture. CCAs es- timate the quantity of organic nitro- gen that will likely become available over the course of the season and account for it in the fertilizer budget. State mandated INMPs require growers to report the total amount of nitrogen planned and ap-
total nitrogen up- take requirement. Some irrigation
sources contain high nitrate levels, significantly contrib- uting to the nitrogen budget. CCAs quantify pounds of nitrogen ap- plied per acre-foot of water and reduce fertilizer application rates accordingly. Residual soil nitrogen similar- ly contributes to the nitrogen budget, but availability is more difficult to predict.
Certified Crop Advisers help growers improve crop production and ROI.
plied throughout the season, but many CCAs will provide additional guidance on split application rates and timing, as well as nitrogen type and placement in the bed. Fertilization should match the
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8 Ag Alert May 21, 2025
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