Fall Fortification For Strong Spring Soils
We near the close of another growing season in the Mid-Atlantic region. And for many farmers it has been an exceptional growing season with abundant rainfall and perhaps record yields. Have you stopped to consider the vast amount of nutrients that are being hauled from our fields each year…especially, perhaps, in those ‘extra’ tons of production on a good year.
Nutrients are exported regularly from our farms in the form of plants...fruits and vegetables, as well as livestock products, such as milk, meat, and eggs. It is important that these nutrients are replaced with equal or greater off-farm imported nutrients…manure from various sources, purchased forages or grains, or soil amendments. If not, we may soon discover that we’re ‘mining’ our farms and soils. Crop and livestock yields can dwindle over time. This is one of the factors that fueled the western expansion of our country.
An important tool in monitoring soil nutrient levels is an annual post-harvest soil test in the fall. At Fertrell, we offer half-priced soil tests in September. Our agronomists take a special look at key nutrients that may limit quality crop production.
Calcium – Vital for plant cellular structure. Enhances taste and shelf life in fruits and vegetables. Acts as a catalyst to translocate other macro and trace minerals into the plant.
Phosphorous – Needed for sugar and energy production in the plant.
Potassium – Works in balance with calcium to enhance size and volume in production.
Sulfur – Facilitates the conversion of nitrogen to true usable protein in the plant. Helps to control high potassium levels in forages grown on heavy manure soils. Enhances calcium and other mineral uptake into the plant.
Boron – Adequate soil levels are necessary to make the above minerals available.
These are a few simplistic examples of the interactions that we understand to occur between soils, plants, and those who consume them.
Fall is also a good time to analyze forage and tissue tests of crops produced throughout the year, along with inventory numbers to determine if quality and productions goals were realized. This can help to give a sense of direction on the nutrient needs for next year’s crops.
Our agronomy team is here to assist you in your plan for next year.
Fall-applied livestock manure, when applied with a careful plan, can help to replenish depleted soil nutrients. This is especially suitable on perennial pasture and hay stands, as well as cover crops. Fall application allows time for the soil microbes present in the root zone of these crops to break down the ‘raw’ nutrients over the winter and prepare for strong spring growth. Again, there may be a place for imported manure or compost to help address the ‘extra’ tons that were exported from the farm this year.
A fall-applied dry fertilizer blend can provide nutrients that are minimal or nonexistent in livestock manure. These blends help to produce balance in the soil and to maintain proper ratios between the various soil nutrients. Fertrell’s Soil Mineralizer Plus may be the ticket for your farm and your soil. It includes most of the nutrients mentioned above as well as beneficial biology to help with nutrient breakdown.
Here’s the ‘take home message’… Fall is a valuable time take stock of your soil conditions going into another production year, and Fertrell is here to help. Don’t let this year’s BUM-PER crop lead to a BUM crop next year!
-Rodney Martin
