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Don’t overlook the valuable opportunity for action on soil fertility management and crop production practices this fall season. While harvesting takes priority in many cropping systems, fall is also prime time for evaluation and taking positive steps toward the next crop cycle. A series of five new, seasonal topics from the Potash & Phosphate Institute/Potash & Phosphate Institute of Canada (PPI/PPIC) provides perspectives on soil, crop, tillage, and fertilization questions. Prepared by PPI/PPIC Regional Directors and cooperators in North America, these topics are offered as PDF files which can be printed or adapted for further use. Here’s a summary of what’s available.
Fall Strip Tillage and Fertilization for Corn
Dr. Tom Bruulsema, Dr. Mike Stewart, Dr. Ray Lamond, Dr. Bill Deen, and Mr. Greg Stewart (Multi-regional)
From east to west, north and south, more and more farmers are adapting strip and zone tillage methods. Researchers are also taking a closer look at the nutrient management decisions associated with this approach. Conditions vary with soils, climate, and other factors. This article includes information from a broad geographic range.
Fall Nitrogen Application—Factors to Consider
Dr. Adrian M. Johnston, Northern Great Plains Region Director
Fall nitrogen (N) application is a widely used practice in much of the Great Plains. Understanding how fields fit into the upper and lower landscape systems, and the impact that fall moisture can have on N losses, are both critical to rating the crop to fall-applied N. While fall N application can be very effective, it has limits which must be observed to optimize crop response.
The Amazing and Humble Alfalfa Plant
Dr. Rob Mikkelsen, West Region Director
Alfalfa is one of the world’s most versatile crops. Fall management and attention to nutrition needs can go a long way toward maximizing yields and maintaining productive stands of the crop. As alfalfa is harvested and removed from fields, it takes large quantities of nutrients which must be replaced.
Nutrient Mining—Soil Abuse that Leads to Profit Abuse
Dr. Cliff Snyder, Southeast Region Director
There ought to be a law against neglect and abuse of soil fertility. At least there are profit penalties for failure to build low fertility levels and to maintain optimum productivity. Continually robbing soil fertility without putting back needed nutrients eventually leads to reduced soil productivity, declining soil quality, and lost profits. Fall is an ideal time to soil test and get back on the right track.
How Important Is Fertilization when Soils Test “Medium”?
Dr. T. Scott Murrell, Northcentral Region Director
With higher crop prices in the picture, the significance of supplying appropriate soil fertility may be even more important. Crops grown on soil with “medium” fertility rely both on soil supplies and fresh P and K applications. Applying fertilizer in this situation improves the chances that positive returns will be seen in the crop season of application.
Other resources on Fall Fertilization:
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