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Wait Until Soil Temps Drop Before Applying Anhydrous Ammonia, John E. Sawyer, Barbara Stewart, William Ehm
Wait Until Soil Temps Drop Before Applying Anhydrous Ammonia, John E. Sawyer, Barbara Stewart, William Ehm
John E. Sawyer
With the early harvest, Iowa’s conservation leaders are encouraging farmers to wait until soil temperatures lower before applying anhydrous ammonia (NH3) this fall. Anhydrous ammonia applied before daily soil temperatures remain below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and continue trending lower can result in the nitrogen loss that can impact crop development and have negative environmental impacts, such as enhanced leaching into groundwater and streams once converted to nitrate.
Wet Conditions And Change In Soil Profile Nitrate, John E. Sawyer
Wet Conditions And Change In Soil Profile Nitrate, John E. Sawyer
John E. Sawyer
I wrote an ICM News article February 21, 2013, that provided a summary of fall soil profile nitrate sampling results following the 2012 corn harvest. As I cautioned in that and other articles, the amount of nitrate-N that might remain for a 2013 corn crop depends on springtime rainfall. Unfortunately, much of Iowa has received considerable precipitation since soils thawed, especially the eastern two-thirds of Iowa. The two maps of the Midwest region show the total precipitation and deviation from normal since March 7, 2013. Tile lines are flowing again, and nitrate in the profile will move with percolating water. …
The Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test: Should It Be Used In Iowa?, John E. Sawyer, Mohammod Ali Tabatabai
The Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test: Should It Be Used In Iowa?, John E. Sawyer, Mohammod Ali Tabatabai
John E. Sawyer
The test was developed several years ago at the University of Illinois by researchers in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. It is a laboratory procedure designed to measure N liberated from soil heated for 5 hours with dilute alkali solution (sodium hydroxide). The test does not measure nitrate, but does measure exchangeable ammonium and a fraction of soil organic N.
Interpreting P And K Soil Test Results, John E. Sawyer, Antonio P. Mallarino
Interpreting P And K Soil Test Results, John E. Sawyer, Antonio P. Mallarino
John E. Sawyer
Soil testing is a key component for determining the need for phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilization. Also, if fertilization is required, test results guide the rate of application recommended to optimize production. Through extensive field research, specific soil tests are calibrated against the expectation of response to applied P and K; that is, they provide both a relative index of the availability of P and K to the crop being grown and an indication of the magnitude of yield increase one might expect when nutrients are applied, thus providing the interpretation of text results.
Drought Impacts On Soil Fertility Management, John E. Sawyer
Drought Impacts On Soil Fertility Management, John E. Sawyer
John E. Sawyer
If crop production was severely reduced because of dry conditions this year, there are a few items you can consider when planning for next year's crop. One, with severely damaged crops and low yields you might credit some of the phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) applied for this year's crop to next year, as much less removal will occur in grain harvest of the lower than expected yield.
Anhydrous Ammonia Application And Dry Soils, John E. Sawyer
Anhydrous Ammonia Application And Dry Soils, John E. Sawyer
John E. Sawyer
It is almost time that anhydrous ammonia (NH3) applications could begin (remember 50 F and cooling 4-inch soil temperature). However, many soils in Iowa are quite dry this fall. So, can anhydrous ammonia be applied to dry soil? Will it be held in dry soil?
45th Annual North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conference, John E. Sawyer
45th Annual North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conference, John E. Sawyer
John E. Sawyer
If you would like to learn more about current soil fertility issues and research being conducted at universities across the North Central region, then consider attending the 45th Annual North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conference on November 4-5, 2015, from 1 p.m. to noon, at the Holiday Inn Airport in Des Moines, Iowa. The conference will include invited presentations from university and industry leaders, research reports from university soil fertility researchers, and posters outlining research by graduate students at universities across the North Central region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, …