Page 13 - Nutrient Management Planning Guide

10

About This Guide

Drawing from theory, critical procedures and Alberta-specific considerations, the Nutrient Management Planning Guide is a resource for developing field-scale nutrient management plans. These plans will ensure the responsible use of plant nutrients, from livestock manure or commercial fertilizers, to protect surface water resources.

Objectives of this Guide

The primary objective of this guide is to facilitate nutrient management planning in Alberta. It will:

Provide a basic understanding of interactions among 1.

soil, nutrients, plants and the environment, Identify and describe key nutrient management 2.

planning procedures, Describe management practices and site-specific 3.

controls to reduce the risk of nutrient loss to air and water, and Communicate legislated standards on nutrient 4.

management in Alberta.

Target Audience for this Guide

This guide is intended as a train-the-trainer resource for extension personnel and service providers. However, it is also a useful resource for crop and livestock producers and students.

How this Guide is Structured

The guide is organized into eight modules. Each module consists of specific activities and topics.

Module 1 Introduction

Module 2 Nutrient Cycling and Interactions

Module 3 Field and Soil Evaluation

Module 4 Manure Inventory and Application

Module 5 Fertilizer Application

Module 6 Determining Nutrient Requirements

Module 7 Record Keeping

Module 8 Land and Production Management

Is There a Recommended Format for a NMP in Alberta?

For NMPs in Alberta, content is more important than form. NMPs must meet specific information requirements (see Chapter 1.2); however, there are no standard formatting requirements.

Resources

Service providers and producers can use several sources of information to complete a NMP, including:

Government and non-government resource •

personnel, Print and online publications, • Internet-available tools and calculators. •

People

Extension Specialists and Agricultural Fieldmen »

Extension Specialists and Agricultural Fieldmen work for local municipalities throughout the province. Contacting your municipality is a good first step in obtaining information related to nutrient management planning.

Ag-Info Centre »

The Ag-Info Centre (Alberta Agriculture and Food) is an excellent resource for production-related inquiries. The Centre has specialists with extensive expertise in crop and soil fertility issues.

tip

See the Association of Alberta Agricultural Fieldmen website, www.aaaf.ab.ca, for a list of Agricultural Fieldmen.