The Story of Nitrogen Episode 4- The Soil Bank Account

Abstract

In the Midwest, most of the nitrogen our crops use comes from organic matter in the soil rather than the fertilizers we apply. The amount of nitrogen the soil provides can change dramatically from year to year, leading to added complication for farmers. Are there ways to help us predict how our soil management, and other factors like the weather, influence the nitrogen that's available to crops? To learn more: Nitrogen, organic matter decomposition, and corn yields (https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1206&context=agron_pubs); Earthworm invasion into previously earthworm-free forests (https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/175603/Frelich%20et%20al%202006.pdf?sequence=1).