More in Fertilizer

Ignored for decades, moist sample analysis saves money and boosts yields. Soil labs and scientists alike abandoned field moist soil sampling decades ago. Common until the 1980s, field moist soil sampling was replaced with a faster and easier "dry and grind" procedure....More

As if last year's drought didn't cause enough problems in 2012, now there are some agronomic factors that could impact the 2013 crop if producers don't manage them appropriately. Those factors include potential herbicide carryover and heavy weed pressure in existing crop stands....More

For Jason Sheehan, cutting input costs was the main impetus for moving to variable-rate fertilizer application and N sidedressing. Reducing the potential for any off-site movement was a close second....More

If you didn’t fertilize last fall, soil sampling can be one of the best fertilizer management tools this spring. “If you don’t soil sample every year and you didn’t sample last fall, this is the year to do it, says Gary Hergert, University of Nebraska soil and nutrient management specialist....More

Will the coming "brown" revolution be as big as the green revolution? The challenge is that it's out of sight, out of mind. And that’s an expensive attitude. The invisible world of soil microbes beneath your feet convert sunlight, water, CO2 and crop residue into crop income, courtesy of the “most incredible zoo,” says Diana Wall, soil ecologist at Colorado State University....More

Growers conducting soil tests this fall may be surprised at unexpectedly low potassium (K) levels. It’s likely, however, that fields tested in drought-stricken areas have plenty of nutrients waiting to move back into the soil, according to DuPont Pioneer agronomy experts....More

Farmers are encouraged to wait until soil temperatures remain below 50° F before applying anhydrous ammonia (NH3) fertilizer this fall. With the record early harvest this year, officials with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach say that waiting can help reduce nitrogen loss and better protects the environment....More

This year the crops have matured early and harvest is moving ahead of normal. With a large amount of the soybeans and corn coming out, thoughts are turning to getting fertilizer applied for next year's crop. For phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), there are very few problems with an early fall application. These nutrients are not mobile in most soils. The only big concern with a broadcast application of P and K is getting the fertilizer incorporated into the soil so it is in a place for the plant roots to utilize them next spring. Incorporation also reduces the chances of P and K being lost through erosion....More

If drought hit your fields, no doubt you want to put this season in the rearview mirror fast and plan for a more normal crop in 2013. But before you begin to lock in whatever good seed numbers might be available during a coming year of short supply, take a detailed look at each field's 2012 herbicide and fertilizer applications....More

Nick Constant decided to try foliar micronutrient applications on the family's corn and soybeans five years ago after seeing company field trials near their Williamsville, Ill., farm show that they might pick up a few bushels....More