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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Use Of Nitrification Inhibitors On Wheat, Lloyd W. Murdock Dec 1985

Use Of Nitrification Inhibitors On Wheat, Lloyd W. Murdock

Soil Science News and Views

Nitrogen is one of the most important inputs 1in wheat production, but sometimes one of the most difficult to manage. Sources of nitrogen commonly used in Kentucky have most or all of their nitrogen in the ammonium (NH+4) form or forms readily converted to NH+4 (anhydrous ammonia 100%, urea 100%, N-solutions 75%, ammonium nitrate 50%), The ammonium form of nitrogen is used by the plant and retained in the soil with little chance 2f loss, In soils with temperatures above 50°F the ammonium is converted to the nitrate (NO3) form of nitrogen. Nitrate …


Fertilizer Use Changes In The U.S. And Kentucky, Monroe Rasnake, Dan Kirkland Nov 1985

Fertilizer Use Changes In The U.S. And Kentucky, Monroe Rasnake, Dan Kirkland

Soil Science News and Views

The use of inorganic fertilizers for crop production is perhaps the most successful educational program ever attempted by Land-Grant Colleges, the Tennessee Valley Authority and other agencies. Not many producers in the United States or the world will attempt to grow a crop without the use of fertilizers. In fact, some producers over fertilize and in recent years, the educational program has been aimed at teaching producers to limit fertilizer applications to what is actually needed based on soil tests and cropping conditions.


Fall Application Of Fertilizer, Kenneth L. Wells Oct 1985

Fall Application Of Fertilizer, Kenneth L. Wells

Soil Science News and Views

Fall application of fertilizer offers the advantages of (1) getting a job done which can delay early spring planting, (2) being able to get over fields when they are usually drier and less likely to compact, and (3) more often getting a price break from fertilizer dealers. Several crop-related advantages also apply and are discussed below. In terms of nutrients which can be fall applied, phosphate and potash are well adapted, Both these nutrients react strongly enough with soil to resist overwinter leaching. and the requirements for next year's production can safely be applied in the fall. Fall use of …


Specialty Vs. Farm Fertilizers For Turf, A. J. Powell Jr. Sep 1985

Specialty Vs. Farm Fertilizers For Turf, A. J. Powell Jr.

Soil Science News and Views

Professional golf course superintendents, lawn care supervisors and groundskeepers often spend 3-5 times more for a slow release, urea based, speciality fertilizer rather than urea or ammonium nitrate. Most speciality fertilizers contain 1/5 to 1/3 of its total N in insoluble or slow release form. This slow release nitrogen is included to Cll decrease the number of applications necessary (2) reduce burn potential (3) give uniform rather than a flush of growth and (4) increase N efficiency by reducing leaching and volatilization loss.


Considerations In No-Till Small Grain Production, David C. Ditsch, John H. Grove, Lloyd W. Murdock, James H. Herbek Aug 1985

Considerations In No-Till Small Grain Production, David C. Ditsch, John H. Grove, Lloyd W. Murdock, James H. Herbek

Soil Science News and Views

Small grains have become an important component of many crop rotations in Kentucky. Seedbed preparation has typically involved various degrees of tillage in which much of the residue from the previous crop is buried. Under such conditions, a field may be vulnerable to severe soil loss during periods of heavy rainfall until the plants have produced enough vegetative growth to cover the soil surface. Eliminating tillage in small grain production would not only reduce soil loss but also reduce labor cost and increase the timeliness of planting. Interest in no-till small grain production is growing. One survey reports that in …


Micronutrients In Kentucky, William O. Thom Jul 1985

Micronutrients In Kentucky, William O. Thom

Soil Science News and Views

Micronutrients required for normal plant development and fruiting include boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc. Unlike the macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S), the quantities of micronutrients needed by agronomic crops is very small. Kentucky soils may contain large amounts of micronutrients in their mineral composition but only small amounts may be available for plant uptake. The soil availability and crop uptake of micronutrients are influenced by soil pH, soil temperatures, crop root growth, soil moisture, crop species and soil organic matter content.


After 15 Years Of No-Tillage Corn, Robert L. Blevins Jun 1985

After 15 Years Of No-Tillage Corn, Robert L. Blevins

Soil Science News and Views

Farmers shifting from a system of agricultural production that includes intensive tillage operations to a reduced or no-tillage system are often concerned about how this change may affect soil properties and productivity. No-tillage leaves the residues and fertilizers on the soil surface with no mechanical incorporation and may result in soil properties greatly different from plowed soils.


Effect Of Soil Additives On Water Infiltration On Kentucky Soils, Lloyd W. Murdock May 1985

Effect Of Soil Additives On Water Infiltration On Kentucky Soils, Lloyd W. Murdock

Soil Science News and Views

Many products are advertised and sold in Kentucky as soil additives to aid the movement of water into and through the soil. Most of these additives contain compounds that reduce the surface tension of water. That means that they change the way water is absorbed onto surfaces that have a tendency to repel water. However, their effectiveness in this regard has been questioned due to the huge volume of soil to be effected and the fact that our Kentucky soils are not hydrophobic. In order to determine the effectiveness of these types of products, an experiment was designed to test …


Efficient Use Of Fertilizer On Tobacco, J. L. Sims Apr 1985

Efficient Use Of Fertilizer On Tobacco, J. L. Sims

Soil Science News and Views

Recent increases in fertilizer prices and other productions costs have stimulated interest in ways to increase the efficiency of fertilizer use while maintaining or increasing yields and quality of tobacco. Growers currently spend about $250 per acre for fertilizer. Although this represents only 15 to 20 percent of the total cash costs per acre, it is one category of cash expenses that can be decreased.


Spring Nitrogen Management For Winter Wheat, John H. Grove Mar 1985

Spring Nitrogen Management For Winter Wheat, John H. Grove

Soil Science News and Views

Wheat producers commonly plan their nitrogen fertilizer management during winter months. The crop begins to break dormancy in many parts of the state in late February and early March and soon begins tillering and growing rapidly if nutrition is adequate. Nitrogen is the nutrient most often required and for which annual costs are the greatest for most wheat growers. Consideration of the following basic principles will help wheat producers improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their nitrogen fertilizer dollars.


Did Combine Traffic On Wet Soils Damage Fields Last Fall?, Lloyd W. Murdock Feb 1985

Did Combine Traffic On Wet Soils Damage Fields Last Fall?, Lloyd W. Murdock

Soil Science News and Views

Fields rutted by wheel tracks during harvest last fall are a common sight in the grain producing areas of Kentucky. And, foremost on many producer's minds now, is whether this damage will lower productivity from those fields during 1985 and beyond. This concern also exists among some leading agronomists in the United States who think that the amount of soil compaction due to machinery traffic is increasing. One of the reasons cited for this is the use of larger and heavier equipment. One such piece of equipment which has increased in size and weight is the combine. A combine with …


Mineralogy Of Kentucky Soils, Anastasios D. Karathanasis Jan 1985

Mineralogy Of Kentucky Soils, Anastasios D. Karathanasis

Soil Science News and Views

Very few mineralogical data have been published for soils in Kentucky. As an initial attempt to classify mineralogy of the subsoil, a general mineralogy map of the state was constructed based on currently available information (Fig. 1). The map suggests that quartz, mica, and feldspars are the dominant minerals of the sqnd and silt size fractions and that illite, smectite, kaolinite and hydroxyinterlayered vermiculite or smectite dominate the clay size soil fraction. Soils of the Western Coalfields, Eastern Coalfields, and Eastern Pennyrile regions generally contain more quartz in the sand and silt fraction than soils of the Purchase, Western Pennyrile, …