Kansas State University’s 2024 Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) competition revealed that more inputs don’t always mean better results. The most efficient farm balanced water and nitrogen use to produce competitive yields without excess, challenging conventional high-input practices and offering insights for maximizing efficiency and profit.

Organizers used the Water-Nitrogen Intensification Performance Index (WNIPI), developed by Lo et al. (2019) to evaluate efficiency. This metric measures yield increases over non-irrigated controls relative to applied irrigation and nitrogen.

“The WNIPI score tells us how well a crop converts additional water and nitrogen into yield gains,” said Daran Rudnick, Kansas State University director of sustainable irrigation. “Among TAPS farms, WNIPI values ranged from -0.012 to 0.346. Lower scores indicate inefficiency, while higher positive scores show better resource use.”

The control plot, receiving only starter fertilizer and pre-season irrigation for herbicide activation, served as the baseline. Farm 30 more than doubled the control plot’s yield (207 bushels per acre vs. 89.7) applying 129 lbs of N per acre. Comparing the differences in ET, Farm 30 used over 7 inches more water (I.e., also commonly referred to as consumptive use).

The winning team—Garret Smith, Kel Grafel, Nick Higgason, and Mike Barton of Barton County—achieved top efficiency on Farm 30 by timing irrigation based on soil moisture data and crop development. Their approach demonstrated that irrigation decisions should be guided by real-time field conditions rather than fixed schedules.

“Efficiency isn’t just about cutting back on inputs—it’s about maximizing what you apply,” Nick Higgason, agronomist at ILS Farms, said. “With our aquifer struggling, we must be as efficient and sustainable as possible. Sustainability means being progressive and profitable, not just chasing yield.”

By focusing irrigation on critical growth stages, particularly grain fill, they ensured water directly supported kernel development instead of being wasted earlier in the season when plants might benefit from delayed irrigation, encouraging root growth. Precision irrigation strategies, including sensor-driven scheduling and timely application, played a significant role in their success.

Nitrogen availability is tied to soil moisture—too much fertilizer without sufficient water leads to loss, while too little limits plant uptake. Farm 30 matched nitrogen applications to their irrigation strategy, “spoon-feeding” the crop through the growing season. This method minimizes leaching and volatilization, reducing environmental impact while optimizing crop performance.

“We specifically aimed for the Efficiency Award. As farmers, if the market continues to be more challenging every year, we need to focus on what we can control—input costs,” Higgalson said. “One of our key goals is to ensure our nitrogen use efficiency is as high as possible. We have several wells that are short on water, so we need to get as much yield as possible from every inch of water we’re given.”

Their results highlight the importance of balancing resource application with agronomic needs. As water resources decline, efficiency will define the future of irrigated farming. Farms that learn to do more with less will be the ones that thrive.

The 2024 TAPS results reinforce that more inputs don’t always mean better outcomes. High-input strategies may generate strong yields, but efficiency matters for long-term sustainability. Learn more about how TAPS and farmers work together to rethink irrigation strategies at https://www.k-state.edu/taps/.