February 14, 2023

Nitrogen Impacts on Annual Forage Nitrate Content

Chris Augustin Director/Soil Scientist Dickinson Research Extension Center 701-456-1100 chris.augustin@ndsu.edu

I hope we have adequate moisture this growing season, but we get what we get. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?ND 16% of North Dakota is abnormally dry, 70% is experiencing a moderate drought and 4% is in a severe drought. When droughts occur, forage and pasture are lacking and crops are stunted. Some may try to remedy the forage shortage by bailing their small grains. However, nitrates may be in the grain and can be detrimental to livestock. The Dickinson Research Extension Center along with collaboration from Central Grasslands (Streeter) and North Central (Minot) Research Extension Centers are looking at urea application impacts on forage quality. We haven’t received all the data back yet. But do have some numbers from Dickinson. Natural Resources Management student, Mariah McLaughlin presented some of her data a week or so ago at the Manitoba Soil Science Society annual meetings. Below is her poster. Essentially, nitrogen did not impact small grains (spring wheat, 2-row barley, 6-row barley, and oat) nitrate content. Feeding these crops can help you get through a forage shortage, but it’s important to test the forage to ensure animal health. These results are preliminary as we’re waiting for the rest of this year’s data and will conduct the project this coming year. Stay tuned for the final findings.

‌

‌

‌

The NDSU Extension does not endorse commercial products or companies even though reference may be made to tradenames, trademarks or service names. NDSU encourages you to use and share this content, but please do so under the conditions of our Creative Commons license. You may copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this work as long as you give full attribution, don’t use the work for commercial purposes and share your resulting work similarly. For more information, visit www.ag.ndsu.edu/agcomm/creative-commons. County commissions, North Dakota State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. NDSU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable. Direct inquiries to Vice Provost for Title IX/ADA Coordinator, Old Main 201, NDSU Main Campus, 701-231-7708, ndsu.eoaa@ndsu.edu. This publication will be made available in alternative formats for people with disabilities upon request, 701-231-7881.