Time To Review Nutrient Balances In Fields
NORCROSS, Ga. The 2002 growing season
brought wide variation in yields, so it is important
to review nutrient balances for the 2003 season. Of
course, the best approach is to take soil tests and
plan nutrient applications according to their results.
For most fields, the plan for 2003 should be to
follow what was planned already. But where 2002
yields were unusually high or unusually low, some
adjustments may be appropriate.
If the plan calls for maintenance applications,
then changes needed may be minor. Recalculate
needed application rates based upon the harvested
yields. If build-up nutrient rates are part of the on
going plan, and yields were lower than expected, the
extra nutrients left from the 2002 crop will help
speed up the progress to the build goal. Or 2003 ap
plications can be adjusted downward slightly. If
2002 yields were above expectations, the 2003 nu
trient applications may need to be ratcheted
upward to stay on course.
Very likely, the changes from the plan will be
small. But for some fields that yielded 100 bushels
per acre or more below expected levels, there may be
reason to make adjustments in fertilizer applica-
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tions plans. “Left over” nutrients can be estimated
from the change in expected crop yield multiplied
by the crop removal per unit of yield.
Every field’s nutrient plan should be reviewed
before final decisions are made on fertilizer applica
tion. Go back to the most recent soil tests, then
review crop removals and fertilizer and/or manure
applications since the samples were collected. Cal
culate a net nutrient balance, and the expected
impact on soil tests using the relations above. Make
adjustments to the nutrient plan for fields where the
calculated progress is not meeting expectations.
Collect new soil samples if none have been done
in the last three or four years. It may be helpful to
have tests taken more frequently during a major
build-up period.
A new Excel spreadsheet tool, PKalc, can be
downloaded from the PPI Website; www.ppi
far.org, under the listing, “Toolbox Resources.”
PKalc provides a simple worksheet to compute esti
mated phosphorus and potassium nutrient balances
over a period of up to 10 years. While this “check
book” approach is a crude estimate of nutrient bal
ance, it offers a useful guide to help keep nutrient
management on target.
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