A34—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 12,1980 Delaware researchers work to reduce nitrogen losses GEORGETOWN, Del. - Nitrogen is the most ex pensive element in crop production, both in terms of its cash cost and the energy required for its production. It’s also the element most likely to be lost. Researchers at the University of Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station are always looking for ways to help farmers cut their production costs. They’re also concerned with helping them work within the constraints of en vironmental controls. So they’ve devoted a lot of tune in recent years to figuring out how this crop nutrient can be used most effectively. Since nitrogen moves Farm Calendar (Continued from Page AlO) PA Dairy Princess training seminary begins; 6 p.m.; St Francis College, Loretta; continues through July 16. Monday, July 14 Jefferson County town and country fair; Sykesville, contmues thru July 19 Kimberton Fair, Phoemxville; contmues thru July 19. Middletown Community Fair; Middletown; continues thru July 19 Farmers-Keystone trail meeting, Embeis Inn, Carlisle, Bpm PVATA convention, Penn State; thru the 16th Tuesday, July 15 Baltimore County 4-H Fair, State Fairgrounds, Timomum, Maryland, contmues thru July 19 Farm safety seminar, Messicks Farm Equip ment; Rheems exit, Route2B3 ; 7pm Wednesday, July 16 Chester County 4-H clothing review Cecil County Maryland Johnsongrass tour, Rose Hill Farm, Route 213, 10 a m , Earleville York County 4-H dress revue, 4-H Center, 9 a m -3 p m Friday, July 18 PA Seedsmen’s Association, Bishop’s Restaurant, Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, 9 30-2 30 p m Delaware State Fair, freely with soil water sup plied by rainfall or irrigation, there’s always the chance that it may leach from the root zone This may result in crop losses. It may also result in contamination of drinking water, if nitrates penetrate deeper mto the subsoil. Station scientists like agronomists William Mit chell and Merle Teel, and crops specialist William Liebhardt have studied closely die nitrogen leaching patterns of several sandy soils, including the loamy sands of lower Delaware. They’ve found most of the nitrogen that appears in drainage water is nitrate nitrogen. As much as half contmues through July 26 at Harrington Annual Registered Holstein promotion sale; New Holland Sales Stables; 7 p.m Saturday, July 19 Shippensburg Community Fair; Shippensburg, contmues thru July 26. Lancaster County 4-H Horse Roundup; Lower Hopewell Horse Center Lancaster County FFA picnic, 12 30, Pequea Valley High School ASSOCIATION OR DIESEL SPECIALISTS Diesel fuel injection and turbo charger specialists. Locally owned and operated with over 22 years in business. Authorized Sales & Service For: • American Bosch • CAV • Robert Bosch • Simms • Roosa Master • RotoMaster • Airesearch We Also Service: • IHC • Caterpillar • Cummins • General Motors injectors • Allis Chalmers • Blowers, governors etc • Bacharach Tools Daily shipments by UPS, Parcel Post, or our representative who is in area regularly. the nitrate nitrogen applied to these soils may disappear from the root zone of plants within a few days, reports Mitchell. Soluble fertilizer nitrogen contributes most to the leaching process. But during the growing season when microorganism activity m the sod is high, large amounts of soluble mtrogen are released from mineralized organic matter and also become subject to leaching. It’s hard to tell, says Mitchell, which are the natural occurring nitrates and those supplied by syn thetic nitrogen fertilizers. The researchers have found that losses of nitrogen due to leaching can be minimized by restricting irrigation and by using slow release ureaform type nitrogen. Slowing the nitrification process through use of a nitrification inhibitor has delayed the leaching process for about two weeks. By comparmg activated sewage sludge, slow release, and readily soluble nitrogen sources, scientists have concluded that slow release nitrogen either natural or synthetic is least subject to leaching. For this reason, they say, its use should be encouraged. MILLER DIESEL INC. 6030 Jonestown Rd. Harrisburg, Pa. 17112 717-545-5931 Interstate 81 Exit 26 Research of this type shows farmers how to make more efficient use of fer tilizer nitrogen and thus reduce their production costs. It also helps protect water quality by showing them how to reduce potentially polluting runoff from their fields. Such so-called “nonpomt” pollution is one of the problem areas covered under Section 208 of the federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended in 1972. Two general goals of the law are (1) wherever possible to achieve by July 1, 1983, water clean enough for swimming and other recreational uses and clean 25* YEAR Ig^teit^ijFarming J LANCASTER FORD TRACTOR 1 70 HP FORD 6 TRAC REDUC TO SE Suggested List Price Ford Factory Rebate (expires 7/31/80) July No Trade Discount ONE ONLY SPECIAL - TOTAL COST $ 11,460 Take advantage off rebates financing with no payments or March 1, 1981 on all tractors. NOW. Take advantage off rebates on all industrial tractors in stock. REBATES FROM *650 to *4OOO ir 1. 1 enough for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and wddhfe; and (2) to have no discharges of pollutants into the nation’s waters by 1985. Scientists at the Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station have been working to OFFERS ONLY 1 Expires July 31, 1980 LANCASTER FORD TRACTOR, INC. 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