Northeast Region Certified Crop Adviser (NRCCA) Study Resources

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In This Section

• Introduction
• PO 44 Setting a realistic goal
• PO 45 Determining crop nutrient needs
• PO 46 Environmental effects of nutrient loss
• PO 47 NRCS 590 nutrient management standard
• PO 48 Mass nutrient balance
• PO 49 P-based vs. N-based manure application
• PO 50 Surface application and immediate incorporation of manure
• PO 51 Precision feeding
• PO 52 Environmentally sensitive areas
• PO 53 Nutrient management plans
• PO 54 Calculate total manure production
• PO 55 Capacity factors in manure storage
• PO 56 Three option for P management
• PO 57 The P index
• PO 58 Impacts of practice on P index
• PO 59 Calculate crop P removal
• PO 60 Nitrate leaching index (LI)
• PO 61 Practices to reduce nitrate leaching
• PO 62 Manure odor issues
• PO 63 Agricultural air quality
• PO 64 Reducing pathogen concerns from manure
• Summary

Competency Area 6: Nutrient Management and Planning

PO 57. Explain the concept and purpose of the P index and list the four score management categories of the P index.

The P index is an indicator of potential P loss, designed to identify fields at high risk for P runoff by combining sources of P (soil, fertilizer, manure) with factors contributing to runoff (distance to streams, erosion, flooding frequency, drainage, etc).

The four score management categories are: low, medium, high, and very high.  Actual scores will differ for states in the Northeast (and nationally), but management guidance in each for the four categories will be the same.  State-specific P index calculations can be obtained from the local Land Grant University.

For example: NY P index scores, vulnerability rankings, and management implications