Site-Specific Fertilizer Recommendation Methods

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Site-Specific Fertilizer Recommendation Methods to Improve Nutrient Utilization
(University of Missouri and USDA-ARS)
Contact: Newell Kitchen, 573.882.1135

The primary objective of this project is to develop and validate an improved method for site-specific fertilizer recommendations that is based on analysis of yield-limiting factors. A second objective is to evaluate electromagnetic induction (EM) sensing of soil electrical conductivity as a means for understanding productivity variations and employing site-specific management of nitrogen.

Variable-rate fertilizer and lime plans have been implemented on three claypan soil fields in central Missouri from 1996-98. To date, no statistical differences in yield between site-specific management and conventional management have been observed.

Nitrogen use can be reduced by about 15-20% over conventional single rate applications.

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