Author	[Modern View]
gitrib 08-27-2012 13:23:18 108.203.179.59 Report to Moderator	I have noticed many question on fertlizer posted with many answers, Does anyone pull soil samples and have them tested? to know what will really pay. gitrib [Reply]   [No Email]
James Howell 08-28-2012 06:12:13 75.254.103.27 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to gitrib, 08-27-2012 13:23:18   Nancy takes a soil sample in the Spring and one in the Fall. Samples are sent to the Texas A&M test lab. Test results are always discussed with our local county AG agent for recommendations before application. Test results have been very consistent the last several years; 0-0-60 for the Fall application and 21-7-14 for the Spring application. [Reply]  [No Email]
rufus80 08-27-2012 16:10:26 174.231.153.13 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to gitrib, 08-27-2012 13:23:18   I am in a wheat, bean, corn rotation and I take soil tests from the wheat ground in the summer. So every acre gets done roughly every three years. When I took the farm back after having cash renting it for 10 years I pulled samples from every field for a couple years straight. The renters to my knowledge never pulled samples, just put out fertilizer for corn and hoped there was enough left for the beans next year. [Reply]  [No Email]
Bob Bancroft 08-27-2012 15:09:05 97.73.64.155 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to gitrib, 08-27-2012 13:23:18   The problem I have is I think soil testing should be science, not voodoo. I have known several places who sent their samples out of state. Those tests always recommended K (potassium) for me. One year I told the dealer to split all the samples and send equal amounts out of state, and nearby. The in state lab showed me high in K, low P (phosphorus), directly contradicting the tests on the same samples out of state. So, what do I do? I read down the results papers and looked at their fertilizer recommendations. The out of state was ridiculously high on N. In state was actually a realistic amount. So I went with them, and have had positive results. I had checked a third of my soil every three years. It hasn't changed, so I've skipped a couple years. I'm putting on just a little more P than I need. It apparently would take a lot more to build up the soil for a high test. Last winter a friend gave me a soils book from the state land grant college from about 100 years ago. Guess what?! Nothing has changed. Their experiments all showed the best response was to P! [Reply]  [No Email]
gitrib 08-27-2012 15:43:09 108.203.179.59 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to Bob Bancroft, 08-27-2012 15:09:05   How about trace mineral.Sulfur,boron, zinc? [Reply]  [No Email]
Bob Bancroft 08-27-2012 15:57:32 97.73.64.155 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to gitrib, 08-27-2012 15:43:09   I can use all the sulfur I can get, not because of deficiency, but because of alkaline soil. Only micronutrient I need is zinc. [Reply]  [No Email]
Ken Macfarlane 08-27-2012 18:04:21 184.151.114.123 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to Bob Bancroft, 08-27-2012 15:57:32   Most of my "rented" hayfields need between 2-3.5 tons per acre of lime right now but at 50$+ per ton, I'm not sure I want to risk applying the full amount without a signed lease. [Reply]  [No Email]
paul 08-27-2012 15:52:27 76.77.196.99 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to gitrib, 08-27-2012 15:43:09   Now a days they say tissue tests of the growing crop will tell you what you are lacking, once you get the soil built up close to where it should be. The trouble with tissue tsts is they only probably will show you the one worst problem, so if tyou are short in 3 or 4 items, you'll only know about one from the tissue test.... Always a long way to go to get it right, takes years of working with it if you want the top results, maybe only get closer, never 'there'. We do some sulfur here, if we try for 175 or more corn - used to get it free from the acid rain, but EPA costs us again. ;). Think they added a little zinc too last spring. Soil tests aren't 100%, but they are the best guess wehave to move the soil into a closer guess of where it needs to be. Tissure tests are helpful, but can take years to get all the details narrowed down. --->Paul [Reply]  [No Email]
paul 08-27-2012 14:40:40 76.77.196.99 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to gitrib, 08-27-2012 13:23:18   Last 3 years I've been having the soybean stubble tested in fall, on 2.3 acre grids, to see what each spot needs. They have variable application equipment to blow on the granular heavier or lighter to match trhe maps they get. Most interesting finding for me, my sand hill, very light soil lowest organic matter - isn't actually that light on organic matter, but it has more fertility than my good ground. Seems I fertilize it, plant it, and the crop yields low because of lack of water, so the P & K don't get used up on it. --->Paul [Reply]  [No Email]
Mike Aylward 08-27-2012 16:27:55 216.145.134.145 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to paul, 08-27-2012 14:40:40   Paul, I do the very same thing on grids and have found the same results as you. The clay knobs and thin spots show high fertility but are not being utilized. We now fertilize the better spots more to get a better return. It's been working well. Mike [Reply]  [No Email]
ShadetreeRet 08-27-2012 14:27:44 184.4.22.167 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to gitrib, 08-27-2012 13:23:18   I only plant a garden, but I'm preparing to have the soil tested there, as some of the vegetables haven't been doing well. [Reply]  [No Email]
jbp 08-27-2012 14:11:56 64.57.160.7 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to gitrib, 08-27-2012 13:23:18   I always thought spreading fertilizer without a soil test is comparable to adding oil to your tractor without checking the dipstick first. Buy only what you need. Joe [Reply]  [No Email]
reid1650 08-27-2012 13:55:24 96.29.162.136 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to gitrib, 08-27-2012 13:23:18   Yes for sure. I think if youre in modern agriculture and don't soil test you're being ignorant. You also need to know how to read them and determine what will fit with your operation. [Reply]  [No Email]
David G 08-27-2012 13:46:34 204.29.138.33 Report to Moderator	Re: Fertilizer in reply to gitrib, 08-27-2012 13:23:18   Yes, we do. [Reply]  [No Email]