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<br />N
<br />Co'.) COLD WEATHER NITROGEN APPLICATIONS
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<br />,-..:i We've received a number of calls recently from
<br />producers wondering about the feaSibility of applying
<br />nitrogen fertilizers during the late winter or early spring
<br />months and allowing them to remain on the soil lor
<br />snow) surface until the ground can be worked, This is
<br />a risky practice, and can result in very significant losses
<br />of nitrogen to the air, However, if good management is
<br />practiced with an eye to the weather, this addition may
<br />work to the producer's benefit,
<br />
<br />The danger, of course, is the possibility of the ambient
<br />air temperature rising to above 50 degrees F, When
<br />this happens, a portion of the ammonia from the
<br />nitrogen fertilizer may be lost through volatilization to
<br />the atmosphere, If the fertilizer is in contact with bare
<br />unfrozen moist soil, this loss may be accelerated if the
<br />soil and air temperature rise to above 45-50 degrees F,
<br />
<br />Commonly used fertilizers which are susceptible to
<br />ammonia loss are ammonium sulfate (21-0-01,
<br />ammonium nitrate (34-0-01, ammonium phosphate (18-
<br />46-0) and urea (45-0-01. Ammonia from manure may
<br />be lost quite rapidly if left on the surface of the soil as
<br />well, If we take a look at the rate of loss of ammonia
<br />from fertilizers under optimum conditions for loss, we
<br />find that 40% of the applied ammonia may be lost from
<br />ammonium sulfate, 38% from ammonium phosphate
<br />and 8 % from ammonium nitrate only 24 hours after
<br />application II These rates are presented only to illustrate
<br />the rapid loss of nitrogen which may occur, The rate at
<br />which loss may occur under winter conditions is
<br />considerably lower.
<br />
<br />Therefore, if you want to get a jump on fertilizer
<br />applications in the cold of winter, listen to the weather
<br />reports and use caution, Be prepared to work the
<br />material into the soil as soon as possible after
<br />conditions allow, If you don't, the potential fertilizer
<br />loss represents money and time gone with the wind,
<br />
<br />Call your local NRCS or Cooperative Extension office for
<br />more information.
<br />
<br />Dan Champion, Extension Agent, Irrigation
<br />Grand Junction (3031 242-4511
<br />
<br />d_~
<br />
<br />UPDATE ON THE McElMO CREEK UNIT _'
<br />
<br />
<br />as een a busy one for the Me Elmo
<br />Creek Unit, Thirty nine new plans were approved
<br />during the year, These plans allocated $791,053 worth
<br />of cost-share dollars, About a third of these plans were
<br />group plans,
<br />
<br />Water users are coming in and signing up for a CRSCP
<br />plan at the rate of about 40 per year, Currently there
<br />are 160 water users on a waiting list to receive a
<br />Salinity Plan,
<br />
<br />Since the project was first started in 1990 Over 77
<br />miles of pipeline have been installed and over 166
<br />sprinkler, systems, This has amounted to a salt savings
<br />of 9.419 tons annually, The average cost-share dollar
<br />spent for ton of salt saved comes to twlll1t'Ydollars per
<br />ton.
<br />
<br />We have been busy with wildlife replacement and
<br />enhancement also, This part of the program has
<br />amounted to 8 percent of the budget, It has gone for
<br />enhancing wetlands by livestock exclusion, pot hole
<br />blasting, pond building, and wildlife plantings,
<br />
<br />This coming year will also be a busy one, There are a
<br />lot of salinity reducing practices to install yet, We will
<br />also be working hard on irrigation water management.
<br />Funding for new contracts does not look good, due to
<br />budget cuts,
<br />
<br />Mike Rich
<br />Planning Team leader
<br />Cortez Colorado
<br />
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<br />Y E; ^ R S
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<br />~do
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<br />Unr.\:rsJt)'
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<br />It's
<br />Working
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<br />~ .,.,.
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