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What is on a Soil Analysis Report?

Tom Bruulsema, PhD, CCA Director, Northeast Region, North America Program. New Brunswick Soil & Crop Association Technical Workshop 24 February 2011 Woodstock , New Brunswick. What is on a Soil Analysis Report?. IPNI Mission. “Better Crops, Better Environment… Through Science.”.

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What is on a Soil Analysis Report?

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  1. Tom Bruulsema, PhD, CCADirector, Northeast Region, North America Program New Brunswick Soil & Crop AssociationTechnical Workshop 24 February 2011 Woodstock , New Brunswick What is on a Soil Analysis Report?

  2. IPNI Mission “Better Crops, Better Environment… Through Science.”

  3. Outline – What is on a Soil Analysis Report? • World Fertilizer Trends • Soil Fertility Status of New Brunswick • Soil Test Summaries • Crop Nutrient Balances • Soil Test Interpretation • Potato Response to P • 4R Nutrient Stewardship

  4. World Fertilizer Consumption Historical and Projected N ----- IFA Statistics 1961-2009 ----- Tenkorang & Lowenberg-DeBoer, 2009. P2O5 K2O

  5. Fertilizer consumption (2005/06 – 2007/08)‏ 11% 38%Mostly China 14% 17% 10%

  6. P World Phosphate Rock Reserves Source: IFDC, 2010

  7. K World Potash Reserves USGS Mineral Commodities Summaries, 2009

  8. Outline • World Fertilizer Trends • Soil Fertility Status of New Brunswick • Soil Test Summaries • Crop Nutrient Balances • Soil Test Interpretation • Potato Response to P • 4R Nutrient Stewardship

  9. Assessing soil fertility status and trends in North America

  10. Soil test equivalency assumptions The above equivalencies were assumed for the purpose of estimating soil test level frequency distributions across wide areas. They are not recommended for use in converting soil test values for individual fields for the purpose of determining appropriate rates to apply.

  11. P http://nane.ipni.net/

  12. K http://nane.ipni.net/

  13. pH

  14. Mg

  15. http://nane.ipni.net/

  16. http://nane.ipni.net/

  17. http://nane.ipni.net/

  18. Outline • World Fertilizer Trends • Soil Fertility Status of New Brunswick • Soil Test Summaries • Crop Nutrient Balances • Soil Test Interpretation • Potato Response to P • 4R Nutrient Stewardship

  19. What is on a soil analysis report? • Carbon • Salt • Nitrogen • OM • pH • CEC • P • K • Ca • Mg • Na • Soil Index • % base saturation K, Mg, Ca, Na • B • Cu • Zn • S • Mn • Fe • Al • Ratings • Field name, size, crop • Recommendations for lime and fertilizer

  20. Amount of nutrient (P, K, Mg, etc.) extracted isan indexof the likelihood of crop response to that nutrient Soil Test Interpretation

  21. Soil Test Calibration • Determines the relationship between soil test level and the rate to apply • Depends on the nature of crop response to the nutrient, as a function of soil test level • Crop responses are smaller and less frequent at higher soil test levels

  22. Quebec P Calibration for Potato Khiari et al., 2000

  23. Quebec P Calibration for Potato Khiari et al., 2000

  24. Relative yield, % Soil test P level Approaches to Soil Test Interpretation • Sufficiency approach:Apply P to maximizenet returns to fertilizationin the year of application • Strategy: fertilize onlywhen there is a goodchance that a profitableyield response will be realized • Soil test levels kept in lower, responsive ranges • Normally adopted on land leased for short periods of time or when cash flow is limited

  25. Relative yield, % Soil test P level Approaches to Soil Test Interpretation • Build and maintenanceapproach:Remove P as ayield-limiting variable • Strategy: apply extra P(more than crop removal) to build soil tests to levelsthat are not yield-limiting • Soil test levels kept in higher, non-responsive ranges • Normally adopted on owned land or land leased for longer periods of time

  26. Some Factors that can Influence Response at a Given Soil Test Level • Tillage system • Placement • Variety • Planting date • Weather • Yield potential • Variability within the field

  27. Factors Influencing Fertilizer Recommended • Farmer financial circumstances • Land tenure • Soil test change expected • Farmer goals

  28. Outline • World Fertilizer Trends • Soil Fertility Status of New Brunswick • Soil Test Summaries • Crop Nutrient Balances • Soil Test Interpretation • Potato Response to P • 4R Nutrient Stewardship

  29. P Needs Research by: Stephen Moorehead & Robert Coffin, Cavendish Farms Brian Sanderson, AAFC Brian Douglas, PEI Soil Test Lab Dave Brubacher, Alpine Plant Foods

  30. Outline • World Fertilizer Trends • Soil Fertility Status of New Brunswick • Soil Test Summaries • Crop Nutrient Balances • Soil Test Interpretation • Potato Response to P • 4R Nutrient Stewardship

  31. 4R Nutrient Stewardship • Right Source @ Right Rate, Right Time & Right Place • Linking practices to science for sustainability performance

  32. Sustainability Issues Related to Fertilizer Recommendations • Food and nutrition security • Employment • Soil fertility • Cadmium in soil • Eutrophication • Non-renewable resources • Greenhouse gas emissions • Stratospheric ozone depletion (N2O) • Air quality: ammonia, smog • Water quality: nitrate, algae • Public perception

  33. Performance indicators 4R Nutrient Stewardship Stakeholder input Individuals working on one indicator remain cognizant of the others Biodiversity Resource use efficiencies: Energy, Labor, Nutrient, Water Nutrient loss Water & air quality Cropping System Objectives Soil erosion Adoption Healthy environment Nutrient balance Soil productivity Yield Ecosystems services Net profit Farm income Productivity Durability Profitability Quality Working conditions Return on investment

  34. Who decides what’s RIGHT? • “a team of farmers, researchers, natural resource managers, extension staff and agribusiness professionals.” - ??? • An ethical question, more than scientific • Input from ALL stakeholders on PERFORMANCE: • Indicators, Benchmarks, Targets • Farmer (land manager) selects the PRACTICE • Dynamic site-specific decision on source, rate, time and place • Decision support for highest probability of performance • Adaptive management

  35. Adaptive Management for Plant Nutrition Policy Level Regulatory, Infrastructural • LOCAL SITE FACTORS • Climate • Policies • Land tenure • Technologies • Financing • Prices • Logistics • Management • Weather • Soil • Crop demand • Potential losses • Ecosystem vulnerability DECISION SUPPORT based on scientific principles Regional LevelAgronomic scientists OUTPUTRecommendation of right source, rate, time, and place (BMPs) Farm LevelProducers, Cropadvisers, Dealers DECISION Accept, revise, or reject ACTIONChange in practice EVALUATION of OUTCOME Cropping System Sustainability Performance

  36. Scientific Principles • General • Physics, chemistry, biology • Soil fertility and plant nutrition • Fundamental processes • System performance • Specific • source, rate, time and place

  37. The basic scientific principles of managing crop nutrients are universal 1. Supply in plant available forms 2. Suit soil properties 3. Recognize synergisms among elements 4. Blend compatibility 1. Appropriately assess soil nutrient supply 2. Assess all available indigenous nutrient sources 3. Assess plant demand 4. Predict fertilizer use efficiency • Recognize root-soil dynamics • Manage spatial variability • Fit needs of tillage system • Limit potential off-field transport 1. Assess timing of crop uptake 2. Assess dynamics of soil nutrient supply 3. Recognize timing of weather factors 4. Evaluate logistics of operations

  38. Right Source Scientific Principle: • Ensure a balanced supply of essential nutrients in plant-available form. Practices: • Credit nutrients from manures and composts • Credit N from previous crops • Assess use of enhanced-efficiency sources

  39. Right Rate Scientific Principle: • Assess soil nutrient supply and plant demand. Practices: • Soil test • Balance crop removal • Determine crop yield potential • Assess price ratios

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