Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have found a way to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizers needed to grow cereal crops. The discovery could save farmers in the United States billions of dollars annually in fertilizer costs while also benefiting the environment.

Manured fields are good candidates for the pre-sidedress soil nitrate test, but nitrogen credit following legume crops is unpredictable and will likely depend on the stand density and timely termination.