Micronutrients and Biostimulants.

Micronutrients and Biostimulants.

bio-stimulants soil fertility

I seldom recommend micronutrients.  The reason is that many producers have other issues to correct such as macro nutrient levels and pH. Those issues need to be taken car e of first.  When are to the point of fine tuning then you can look at micronutrients and bio-stimulants.  Karen Corrigan and Terry Gerken offered really good advice in the May Issue of Prairie Farmer.

Potassium is Critical

Potassium is Critical

soil fertility

Often, the first time I sample for a client, potassium is below critical levels.  Potassium is one of the three macro-nutrients we apply regularly in fertilizer.  Several years ago, University of Illinois Professor Mulvaney came out with the notion that we do not need potassium fertilizer.  It has been my experience that crops do respond to potassium when soil test levels are below 230 pounds per acres.  Ideal levels are considered to be 300 to 400 pounds per acre in Illinois. Potassium is critical to help weather a drought.  Levels need to be high because availability goes down when soil is dry.

No-Till Farmer published an article out of Michigan that calls Potassium the overlooked nutrient.  You better not overlook it if you are going for high alfalfa yields.  Potassium is not currently an environmental concern, but over application can be lost on soil exchange sites.  Most people say that there is no need to apply over 300 pounds per acre unless you are growing a high demand crop.

How Little Fertilizer Can You Get by With

How Little Fertilizer Can You Get by With

soil fertility

I read a recent article in No-Till Farmer talking about Postponing P and K applications to save as much as $52 in production cost.  university of Nebraska suggests that perhaps producers can lower costs by fertilizing to sufficiency rather that shooting for ideal levels.  Critical levels tend to be much lower than what we consider to be ideal levels.  What does that mean?  Until your soil test levels reach the critical point your chances of reducing yields are fairly slim.  So does that mean you can cut back?  I have no idea what your current soil test levels are.  If they are already low, then maybe.  Keep in mind that in dry years, potassium availability decreases as soil moisture drops, so keeping K levels right at that critical point may not be a great idea.  Yes your financial situation can come into play, but mining your soil may not be the best idea ever.

Should You use Starter Fertilizer?

Should You use Starter Fertilizer?

soil fertility

I have this discussion with clients regularly.  They want to know if they should use starter fertilizer. They have tried starter and it looks like the corn is getting head start on corn without starter.  The question is and always has been whether or not pretty corn means more money.  I have seen studies on both sides of the issue.  A recent study out of Minnesota Finds that In-Furrow Starter Fertilizer May Not Pay Off. They found what I have seen often in starter fertilizer studies.  It helps sometimes under very specific circumstances.  One of those circumstances is where soil test P levels are very low.  In most other circumstances, the extra green in the spring just pays for itself or costs money.  Another consderation in my opinion is whether or not the producer has the time to mess with starter.  I have seen that those who mess with starter can get a payoff in maintaining over all fertility.  If it works on your operation, go for it, but if not, don't sweat it

Thinking of Applying Sugar?

Thinking of Applying Sugar?

corn soil fertility Soybeans

A practice that has been getting some discussion in th past few years is applying sugar to the crop.  The idea is that sugar will stimulate microbes and speed up release of nutrients from soil minerals.  Producers may be looking at this practice as a way to cut back on fertilizer costs.  Ohio researchers have looked at the practice along with others around the Midwest.  According to an article in No-Till Farmer, they found no yield increase from sugar applications.

Fertilizer Prices

Fertilizer Prices

fertilizer soil fertility

Current fertilizer prices are lower than they  have been in some time, but now is not the time to use your soil as a bank.  Low crop prices mean that over and under fertilization is still not  a good idea.  No_Till Farmer gives projected fertilizer prices for 2016 crop year.

Thinking of Cutting Out Soil Testing?

Thinking of Cutting Out Soil Testing?

Crop Production soil fertility soil testing

With crop prices low, some people are thinking that soil testing is one of the things they could cut out or cut back on.  Kansas State University researchers have studied the issue and found that trying to apply fertilizer without proper data can cost money whether fertilizer is over or under applied. There article on the Economic Return of Soil Testing documents the issue very well.  With lower crop prices, the value of soil testing increases.