Combining 4R Nutrient Management and Ecological Intensification to Advance Corn Production.

Jeff Coulter & Jeffrey A Vetsch Univ. of Minnesota

The goal of ecological intensification (EI) in crop production is to accelerate yield gains in a sustainable and environmentally conscious manner by utilizing the best science and management available. There is great potential to link EI and 4R nutrient stewardship to lead agriculture to a more productive, profitable, and sustainable future. Many management practices have been shown to increase yield of corn (maize), including hybrid selection, planting rate, residue management, tillage system, water management, pesticides, and nutrient management. Some of these yield-enhancing practices have seen widespread adoption while others have not. Research and extension are needed to demonstrate the potential gains in yield and economic net return that could be attained by corn producers who adopt these and other practices.
The Global Maize Project (GMP) is a research project initiated by the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI). It compares the typical farmer practice (FP) to EI as determined by local agronomists and scientists. Combining the concepts of EI and 4R nutrient stewardship is essential for advancing sustainable intensification of corn production.
The goal of this research is to address the following questions that have been repeatedly asked by farmers and the ag industries they support:
1. What yield levels are possible in Minnesota?
2. How far is current production from that which is possible?
3. Is our current scientific knowledge, when properly integrated, capable of creating marked improvements in system performance over current farmer practices?
4. Can current university nutrient recommendations attain and maintain the high yields that are possible?

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