Brian Arnall, associate professor of soil and food crop nutrition at Oklahoma State University, recently presented at the Oklahoma Ag Expo on the importance of protecting the amount of nutrients in soil profiles, to farmers’ bottom lines. He touched on some of the main topics from his presentation, in speaking with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays. You can hear their complete conversation from that day, by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR at the bottom of the page.
“When it comes to monitoring or reducing nutrient losses, as far as the producer goes, it’s two-fold,” Arnall said. “One, you’re investing in that nutrient. So, there’s already that input cost that you have. But, you also have the cost of application.”
Another point he makes, is that applied nutrients can sometimes get lost in the environment, and goes wasted having not been utilized by the crop. Not only are you losing out on what you’ve paid into it, he says, but you are also losing out on potential profits in the long run. In addition, Arnall emphasized the importance of proper environmental stewardship as well.
“Nutrient management and making sure that we as an agricultural sector do our best to keep the nutrients we apply where we apply them, is really important to the sustainability of our system,” he remarked, and suggested ways in which we can improve. “What you have to look at, is a multifaceted approach.”
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