Guides to Resources

Others have compiled multiple resources for nutrient management. Several webpages provide extensive guidance to resources for nutrient needs and addition for different crops and topics. Conservation professionals have compiled resource guidance links.

FREP Database
Source: CDFA | The database includes summaries of more than 130 projects that received FREP-funding since 1992. The data base can be searched based on keyword, crop type, county and date range.

CCRWQCB Grower Resources
Source: CCRWQCB | The irrigated lands regulatory program resources for helping growers comply with the ag order in Region 3. This includes Total Nitrogen Applied and Annual Compliance Forms and guidance documents, information on where to get help with managing nitrogen application, and other Tier requirements.

USDA nutrient management webinars
Source: NRCS | These webinars cover an array of practices to manage nutrients on farms, including adaptive management, no-till cropping, organic systems, soil health, etc.

Nutrient Management Resources
Source: CA Ag Water Stewardship Initiative | This website describes the 4 Rs of nutrient management (right time, right amount, right place, right type) and provides links to useful resources and case studies.

Solution Center for Nutrient Management
Source: UC ANR | The Solution Center website contains information on nutrient management for farmers, consultants and researchers: Online Discussion Forums, Science, Research, Best Management Practices, Monitoring and Budgeting.

UC Nutrient Management for Vegetable, Fruit & Nut Crops
Source: UCCE | A collection of links to research reports about nutrient management. Research information displayed by crop and topic.

UC Agronomy Research & Information Center
Source: UC ANR | The site contains links to web pages with information about the management of alfalfa, beans, cotton, rice, grains and includes contact information of people associated with the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis.

Inspection services, laws and regulations
Source: CDFA | Inspection services, laws and regulations for feed, fertilizer and livestock drugs. This website contains links to California Codes.

Learning Modules for Nutrient Management for Vegetable, Fruit and Nut Crops
Source: UCCE | Learning modules designed to provide in-depth training on topics related to soil fertlity and irrigation management.

Central Sierra Grapevine Nutrition
Source: UCCE | A collection of links to sites and publications focusing on grapevine nutrition.

Nutrient Management Resources
Source: UC Davis | Find a list of references on nutrient management including online resources, electronic journals, books and people.

Links to Resources to Inform Nutrient Management Planning
Source: NRCS | Links to resources for informed nutrient management planning.

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On-line Fertilizer Application Calculations & Guidance

CDFA Fertilizer Guidelines for Major Crops grown in California
Source: CDFA | Information about application rates, time of application, fertilizer placement and types of fertilizers is included. In addition, deficiency symptoms are described.

CropManage
Source: UCCE | This is an online database-driven tool that assists growers and farm managers in determining water and nitrogen fertilizer applications on a field-by-field basis.

Recommended Fertilizer Calculator for Avocados
Source: Hofshi Foundation | This website has a wealth of information on Avocados, including journals, educational materials, disease alerts, events and more. The “Tools” link on this page contains links to the recommended fertilizer calculator for avocados.

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Tracking, Budgeting, Calculating

Nutrient Management Questionnaires:

• Pre-Assessment
• Post-Assessment
• Summary and Action Plan

Source: NRCS | Questions to survey clients before and after aiding with them with nutrient management consultations and to see how they incorporated knowledge into their final plan.

Nutrient Budget Worksheet and Guidance Document

• Excel Worksheet
• Guidance Document

Source: NRCS | A nutrient budget worksheet and instructions for document information needed to make nutrient management decisions.

Nutrient Budget Worksheet
Source: NRCS | Displays a worksheet for Nutrient Budgeting and provides information on crop needs for basic nutrients (N,K,P).

NRCS Crop Nutrient Tool/ Calculator
Source: NRCS | A tool for calculating the approximate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is removed by the harvest of agricultural crops.

Crop Nutrient Removal Calculator
Source: IPNI | This tool provides crop nutrient removal estimates for a broad, and continually expanding, list of field crops. Results are calculated based on user-selected yield goals.

Nutrient Budgeting for Nitrate in Irrigation Water
Source: Unknown | This gives the quick formulas needed for calculating lbs. of N per acre plants are receiving from irrigation water based on the amount of NO3-N in your water.

Fertilizer Use Tracking Sheet for Growers
Source: RCD Santa Cruz County | A sheet for growers to use to track fertilizer application in terms of date, application amount, and composition.

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Procedures

Nutrient Management Procedures

Guide for Planners and Clients to Complete Nutrient Management
Source: NRCS | A guide for the six steps so a complete nutrient management assessment.

Nutrient assessment of cool season vegetable production
Source: UCCE | SOP for tracking N through the growing period in soil, applied, plant tissue and post harvest residue.

Performance Based Incentives for N and water use efficiency in strawberries
Source: UCCE | PICA Project protocol for measuring efficiency of water and N use.

Plant Tissue Procedures

Plant Tissue Sampling
Source: FREP | Instructions for how to sample plant tissue including how many samples, selection, storage, shipment and labeling.

Plant Tissue tests and analysis of nitrogen
Source: NRCS | NRCS documentation of plant tissue tests.

Soil Nitrate Procedures

Soil Nitrogen – Guides for Educators
Source: NRCS | Information on the nitrogen cycle, factors affecting soil nitrogen, nitrogen management and how to measure soil nitrate using quick tests.

Soil Test Sampling
Source: FREP | Instructions for how to sample soil for sending to a laboratory for analysis of pH, phosphorus and potassium. Includes when to sample, how many samples, where in the field, how frequently to test and other guidance.

Sampling for Soil Nitrate Determination
Source: FREP | Instructions for how to sample soil for sending to a laboratory or using test strips for analysis of nitrate. Includes when to sample, how many samples, where in the field, how frequently to test and other guidance.

Soil Nitrate Test (using Quick Strips)
Source: NRCS | Instructions for how to perform a quick strip soil nitrate test.

Nitrate Test Strips
Source: UCCE | Three brands of nitrogen quick test strips were evaluated and the methods and results comparing all three are articulated.

Soil Nitrate-Nitrogen Quick Test
Source: NRCS | Procedure for doing a soil nitrate quick test includes needed supplies, procedure and interpretation.

Soil Nitrate Sampling SOP
Source: RCD Santa Cruz County | An SOP describing the purpose of soil nitrate quick tests, how to collect soil samples, a detailed procedure including interpreting results, and suppliers of test strips and other materials needed.

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Information

Nutrient Source Specifics
Source: IPNI | A larger collection of one-page fact sheets highlighting the basics of various fertilizers and nutrient sources. Information about the production, agricultural use, management practices, and chemical properties of common fertilizer materials.

Nitrogen Notes
Source: IPNI | Fact sheets cover the major nitrogen fertilizer transformations that occur in crop production.

The Value of Presidedress Soil Nitrate Testing
Source: NRCS | A graphic display of how presidedress soil nitrate testing can save up to $100 per acre per year.

The development of this toolkit was funded by a grant from the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. Programs and projects supported by Western SARE are equally open to all people.

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