Nitrogen Residue Analyses
a crucial issue for sustainable agriculture
Adapting Agricultural Practices
Modern agriculture is based on a precise understanding of plant needs and the soil’s ability to provide the necessary nutrients. In this context, nitrogen residue analysis is crucial for optimizing agricultural practices.
The Agronomic Laboratory LILANO, through its LANO branch, plays a vital role in conducting nitrogen residue analyses to help farmers adapt their practices effectively.
Nitrogen residues
Measurements of mineral nitrogen residue
The key role of nitrogen in crops
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants and plays an important role in vegetative growth and protein formation. Farmers must therefore ensure that they supply crops with the necessary quantities of nitrogen, without excess or deficiency, in order to reconcile economic performance and respect for the environment.
The measurement of mineral nitrogen
The mineral nitrogen residue is the amount of nitrogen that is potentially usable by plants and remains in the soil after a crop or during winter. The analysis of this surplus allows to estimate the possible needs for nitrogen fertilizers and to adapt the inputs according to the demand of crops and the potential of the soil to provide nitrogen.
Soil sampling and analytical techniques
Soil sampling is a critical step in obtaining reliable and representative results. Soil sampling should be done at different depths (30 cm, 60 cm or 90 cm), depending on the crops and the objectives.
Continuous flow measurement of nitrates and ammonium extracted with potassium chloride solution
nitrogen surplus
Winter Exit Nitrogen Residue Analysis:
a key indicator for managing spring crops
Agronomic and environmental issues related to nitrogen
Promoting a rational use of nitrogen means taking into account the soil’s capacity to provide this element to plants during the crop cycle. This approach reduces the risk of nitrogen losses from leaching and groundwater pollution, while improving the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers used.
Nitrogen inputs as a function of winter residues
The precise measurement of nitrogen residues after winter allows us to estimate the real needs of spring crops in terms of nitrogen inputs and select the most suitable sources of nitrogen improvers (mineral fertilizers, organic materials…).
Adaptation of crop methods to nitrogen residues
Taking into account the level of nitrogen residue can also have an impact on the choice of associated crop techniques: implantation of backcrops trapping available nitrogen, fractionation of nitrogen inputs or adjustment of tillage intensity.
