A new resource from Iowa State University will help farmers and landowners test nitrate levels.
To help farmers and landowners better understand and monitor nitrate levels in surface and tile drainage water, the Iowa State University Iowa Nutrient Research Center has released a new publication, Guide to Water Quality Testing for Nitrate. The publication is available for download at no cost from the ISU Extension Store.
This free resource outlines the importance of nitrate monitoring and provides basic instructions for testing water using nitrate test strips or test kits. The guide also explains how to interpret results, including the difference between nitrate and nitrate-nitrogen, and highlights average nitrate concentrations commonly observed in Iowa.
The publication also includes recommendations on when and how often to sample, tips for collecting accurate water samples and guidance on sending samples to a laboratory, such as the State Hygienic Laboratory, for precise analysis.
A link to the guide can be found with this news story at KCIIRadio.com