Sustainable Practices
Source: Adobe Stock Роман Булатов
Sustainable farming practices conserve soil, build long term soil tilth, protect surface
and groundwater resources and reduce input costs for the producer. Some of these practices
include preventing soil erosion and compaction, building soil organic matter content,
monitoring soil nutrient levels and adjusting fertilizer timing and rate applications
for maximum plant use. All of these affect the quality and quantity of crop production
which can result in greater farm profits. These publications explain new research
and Best Management Practices (BMPs) in sustainable nutrient management.
Look through Clain's presentations for information on sustainable practices.
Presentations/Podcasts:
- Growing Pulse Crops: Fertility for yield and N fixation Aug 2024 podcast
- Adding pulse grains to wheat rotations can increase economic returns Jan 2025 MSU Press release
- Inoculation and Nitrogen Management to Optimize Pulse Crop Yield and Protein. Open-access to all readers and available for 1 CEU in Nutrient Management for CCAs.
- Using organic materials as a source of P nutrition for crops. Presentation by Dr. Joan Davenport, Washington State Univ. July 2018
MSU Extension MontGuides/Bulletins/Other Resources:
- Cover Crops as Partial Replacement of Summer Fallow (MT202203AG)
- Cover Crops: Management for Organic Matter and Nitrogen (EB0237)
- Cover Crops: Soil Health (EB0238)
- Crop and Fertilizer Management Practices to Minimize Nitrate Leaching (MT201103AG)
- From Conventional to Organic Cropping: What to Expect During the Transition Years (MT200901AG)
- Montana Cool-Season Pulse Production Guide (EB0120)
- Management to Minimize Nitrogen Fertilizer Volatilization (EB0209)
- Minimizing Nitrate Leaching from Croplands (EB0226)
- Soil Nutrient Management on Organic Grain Farms in MT (EB0200)
- From Conventional to Organic Cropping: What to Expect During the Transition Years (MT200901AG)
- Sustainable Agriculture, Nutrient Focus (Nutrient Management Module 15)
- Nitrates in Soil and Ground Water Under Irrigated Crops (Fertilizer Facts No. 9)
- Soil Scoop: Evaluating Soil Quality and Health
- Soil Scoop: Soil Health Gap between Cropland and Uncultivated Soil
- Soil Scoop: Reducing N Fertilizer Loss to Air
Visit the Judith Basin Nitrogen Project webpage to understand and mitigate surface and groundwater nitrate sources.