N max limits
How do you measure and record N max limits in EnCompass?
The new NVZ modules, scheduled for release late April, will provide a comprehensive solution but in the meantime the existing recommendation report may be adapted. Here is how:
Use the "Nitrogen Required" box to enter the N max limit (in this case 280 kg for a 9 t milling crop of wheat) and the "Soil Nitrogen Reserve" for the soil assessment (preferably from GrowHow N-Min & N-Calc). (These two boxes were originally put in for a different reason but who says you cannot adapt to your own needs).
In the example above the Nitrogen from manufactured fertiliser and organic manure is added together and clearly under the N max figure*. This ticks the box for checking against N max. If the crop recommendations are under the N Max limit there is no need to complete a specific report as you cannot break the limit. Some recommendations may justifiably exceed the N max and then the farm totals need to be checked and recorded.
The Soil Nitrogen Reserve is not included in the N max calculation (280 N Max & 198 Applied N in the example above). It may be that the "Nitrogen available" will appear in red and still be correct because of the soil Nitrogen.
A simple calculator for crop N max limits and farm total is available from the GrowHow Advice Centre.
Link to: leaflet 3 NVZ Guidance - standard values.
Finally, if you adopt this process use it across all the recommendations for the farm. Keep it simple and do not try to show N Max sometimes and total Nitrogen required in others.
* Avoid fertilising to the N max figure itself, as it is a limit rather than a target and is not based on individual fields.
Link to Leaflet 7 - NVZ Guidance, the N max limit.
