ADOPTION OF NITROGEN AND WATER MANAGEMENT-PRACTICES TO IMPROVE WATER-QUALITY

The nitrogen management practices of irrigated corn producers in the C entral Platte Valley of Nebraska were analyzed to explain why many pro ducers apply more then recommended levels of nitrogen. The factors con sidered included environmental attitudes, demographic characteristics, economic circumstances, and farm location parameters. Recommended nit rogen level was the dominant explanatory factor, because extremely low recommendations were not followed by most producers. However, environ mentally concerned, well educated, well informed, and younger producer s who farmed smaller acreages were more likely to apply nitrogen near recommended levels. These findings imply that educational efforts to c hange behavior should address the linkages between nitrogen management practices and deteriorating water quality. Educational programs shoul d also explain how fertilizer recommendations are developed, with emph asis on explanations for seemingly low recommendations.