True or False? Very late applications of slow release nitrogen may increase the potential for nitrogen leaching.

Very late applications of slow-release nitrogen can indeed increase the potential for nitrogen leaching. This occurs because when nitrogen is applied late in the growing season, particularly in late fall or winter, the plant may not be able to utilize it effectively. As temperatures drop and plant growth slows, the nitrogen can become excessively available in the soil without being absorbed by the plants.

During periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt, this excess nitrogen can be transported through the soil into groundwater or run off into surface waterways, leading to environmental concerns such as water quality degradation. Slow-release fertilizers are designed to release nutrients over time, which can mitigate some leaching risks, but when applied late, the timing can cause a mismatch between nutrient release and plant uptake, ultimately increasing the likelihood that nitrogen will leach away rather than be used effectively by crops.

The other choices suggest scenarios that either downplay or incorrectly assess the timing and conditions under which nitrogen leaching could occur, failing to recognize the critical role that application timing has in nutrient management practices.