The change in nitrate loading in runoff from conventional tillage to no-till ranged from a slight increase to as much as a 35% reduction. Loading from leaching, though, was shown to increase with no-till by a range of about 3 to 22%.[1]
Given these of pros and cons, some farmers implement solutions to reduce no-till nitrate leaching and loss such as cover crops, crop rotations or split nitrogen applications. One additional solution is the use of a nitrogen stabilizer. According to research from Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, comparing nitrate loads in no-till and conventionally tilled fields, practices focused on nitrogen use efficiency (such as use of a nitrogen stabilizer) can offer the best of both worlds to no-till fields: soil conservation benefits and protection from nitrate loss.
Research from Iowa State University also highlights that farmers can see additional yield benefits in no-till farming practices that are paired with nitrogen stabilizer use. 82 percent of the studied fields with no-till soil saw an increase in yield, 13 percent on average.[2]
As your farmers weigh the benefits of no-till farming against the possibility for nitrate losses, ask them to consider the addition of a nitrogen stabilizer like Instinct® or N-Serve®. Not only can it help protect from the high nitrate leaching in no-till operations, but it can also help maximize yield potential by keeping nitrogen in the root zone where plants need it most.
