Proper Soil Fertility - More Important Today than Ever

Proper Soil Fertility … More Important Today than Ever!
Dr. Terry Roberts

We don't pay enough attention to plant nutrition and fertility management. Proper soil fertility is more important today than ever and is fundamental to profitable crop production. In today's cropping systems soil fertility is continuously changing. Nutrients are exported from the soil in harvested crops and lost through leaching and runoff or fixed in less available forms. Nutrient balance is crucial to efficient crop production and environmental protection. Profitability is directly related to high yields that are efficiently produced. But high yields require more nutrients and better fertility management. Paying attention to the basics ... essential nutrients and plant nutrient removal, soil properties and soil-plant relationships, soil analysis, fertilizer management and economics, soil fertility status ... will help ensure yields are not limiting and profits are maximized while protecting our natural resources.