But what if you did not apply last year? Can you take another year off? According to the University of Missouri Extension’s recommendations, one more year should not be a problem, he said.
Lory suggested several options to reduce fertilizer costs this year. They include:
— Do not apply fertilizer to fields that are at or above optimum soil test levels. Extensive research shows that soils at optimum soil test levels do not see increases in yield from the fertilizer applied that year. A benefit of following soil tests is you have the flexibility to skip a year of application if needed. Why not take advantage of this benefit in a year when P and K prices are high?
— Not comfortable with going to zero? A second option is to cut the fertilizer rate by 50% or less of removal rate. Most yield response to fertilizer is driven by the first 30% to 50% of the fertilizer applied. If you are nervous about going to zero, going halfway will likely provide 100% of the yield benefit this year, even on low-testing soils.
— The most conservative option is to limit the fertilizer rate to removal rate. In a year of high fertilizer prices, there is no reason to apply more than the crop removal rate.
“If your field happens to be responsive to added P and K this year — a big if! — crop removal rate is guaranteed to maximize yield,” he said.
In some cases, however, soil test recommendations don’t fully identify fertilizer needs.
Lory said he has seen potash deficiency symptoms associated with highly compacted areas of the field, because restricted root growth prevents the plant from getting to the potash in the soil. Cool soils also can temporarily limit the availability of phosphorus.
“Often these conditions lead to transient deficiency symptoms that the plant grows out of as soils warm and become less saturated,” he said.
In addition, sandy soils and soils with low organic matter may not have the same capacity to withstand multiple years with no fertilizer application. Using the gas tank analogy, these soils have a smaller gas tank.
Lory said fertilizers help sustain crop production on agricultural soils. Soil testing helps farmers understand the nutrient status of soils.
“When fertilizer prices are high, we can also use soil testing to understand the risks of not applying fertilizer,” he said.
To read the entire release, visit https://extension.missouri.edu/….
Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com
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