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March 10, 2010 – Copper
Copper has long been recognized as an effective agent for control of various plant pathogens. Some of the benefit may be due to direct microbial toxicity or through increased plant resistance. One of the earliest fungicides, called Bordeaux mixture, contains copper to inhibit both fungal and bacterial diseases.
March 1, 2010 – Manganese
Manganese is a crucial nutrient in plant resistance of plants. Some of the more important diseases suppressed by manganese include take-all of cereals, various root rots, wilts, and scabs. Maintaining adequate soil manganese in a form that is plant available is one of the challenges in some environments.
February 20, 2010 –Iron
The role of iron in controlling plant diseases has been studied in a variety of plants. It is partly related to the root production of a natural iron-binding chelate called a siderophore. Iron also is essential in producing active root nodules of rhizobia, thereby maintaining vigorous N fixation for legumes.
February 10, 2010 – Sulfur
Sulfur has been used for suppressing plant pathogens for generations. Soil-applied sulfur often triggers a variety of metabolic processes in plants that enhance natural pathogen resistance. Beneficial effects of sulfur are routinely reported from soil-applied sulfur and foliar applications. The mechanisms of sulfur-induced pathogen resistance are varied, but play a very important role in maintaining healthy plants.
February 1, 2010 – Magnesium
The benefits of magnesium on plant health are well documented. In addition to the well-known role of magnesium in the formation of chlorophyll, it has also been shown to play an important role in suppressing diseases such as take-all in wheat. Use soil analysis to keep the concentration of this important nutrient from becoming too low.
January 20, 2010 – Potassium
Eliminating K shortages for crops has been repeatedly shown to increase resistance to a variety of diseases. The mechanisms of resistance are not fully understood, but may be related to thicker epidermal cells, overall vigorous growth, or more robust plant physiology.
January 10, 2010 – Calcium
Calcium plays a vital role in plant nutrition and adequate concentrations are important in suppressing the development of disease symptoms in many plant-pathogen interactions. The role of calcium for controlling disease in postharvest conditions is also well known. Adequate calcium concentrations will stabilize plant cell walls and membranes, increasing resistance to microbial decay.
January 1, 2010 – Balance Plant Nutrition
Mineral nutrients play an essential role in healthy crop production. One key benefit of balanced plant nutrition is its impact on suppressing plant disease. Overwhelming evidence demonstrates that plant health is far superior when proper nutrition is maintained.
December 20, 2009 – Grow safe and healthy food
Sometimes we can forget the importance of crop production for the well being of humanity. Growing a safe and healthy food supply is a noble contribution to society. Use your best skill and knowledge to implement practices that will help you reach this goal. Take time to learn what the latest science and technology can offer you and then implement whatever is appropriate. Work closely with other professionals to stay up-to-date, productive, and profitable.
December 10, 2009 – Reduce weeds with band applications
Some weed problems can be attacked by switching from broadcast fertilizer applications to band applications. This is because fewer nutrients are available to the weeds and more nutrients are available to the crop. Switching to banded fertilizer application will not be sufficient for total weed control on its own, but when combined with other practices, banding can help in a weed-management program.
December 1, 2009 – 4R concept
The 4R concept of nutrient stewardship has been receiving considerable attention recently. Briefly, this refers to applying the right source of nutrients at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place. Using these simple reminders to review your practices can help you be more productive and efficient in meeting your goals.
November 20, 2009 – Soil amendment - gypsum
Gypsum is a common soil amendment, but adding it does not make the soil more acidic. The sulfur (S) in gypsum (CaSO4) is already oxidized and will not further react to lower soil pH. Gypsum is more commonly added to sodic soils as a source of calcium (Ca). The Ca in the gypsum will replace the sodium on the cation exchange sites and help improve the soil chemical and physical properties.
November 10, 2009 – What about soil pH?
Soil pH influences many important factors that will determine the health of the crop. When the pH is too high, many essential nutrients will be chemically converted to insoluble compounds. When the pH is too low, soil acidity and soluble aluminum will damage sensitive root tissue and stunt plant growth. Soil pH is one of the most commonly overlooked properties that can have a large impact on plant productivity.
November 1, 2009 – Nutrient removal budget
One way to track long-term soil fertility trends is to make a nutrient budget. This budget accounts for what is added to the soil and what is removed in the harvested portion. The budget for K for the entire western U.S. shows a large deficit, where many times more K is removed from the soil as is applied in fertilizer or manure. Potassium in soil minerals may supply significant amounts of nutrient in many of these situations. But as nutrients are continually removed with each harvested crop, be mindful that deficiencies are becoming increasingly common.
October 20, 2009 – Denitrification
There is growing interest in the process of denitrification. This is the process where nitrate becomes converted to a gas such as nitrous oxide or nitrogen gas. This microbial process results in the loss of a valuable plant nutrient. Nitrous oxide emissions from denitrification can also trap heat in the atmosphere as an undesirable global greenhouse gas.
October 10, 2009 – Is that nutrient mobile?
Each plant nutrient differs in its reaction and chemistry in soil. This results in some nutrients being more mobile in the soil than others. Fertilizing with any of the mobile nutrients generally needs to be done more frequently than with the immobile elements since the mobile elements are readily taken up or moved from the root zone. Immobile nutrients can generally be stored in the soil for the next cropping season in a nutrient-building program.
October 1, 2009 – Analyzing soil samples
The goal of soil sampling is to characterize the nutrient status of a field as accurately as possible. Getting the most from analyzing soil samples begins with proper sampling in the field. Having a sampling plan helps you get samples from the most important locations and at the best time. Take the sample to the proper depth and handle the samples according to the laboratory recommendations. Delivering a good soil sample to the laboratory is key to obtaining useful information.
September 20, 2009 – Apples Remove Nutrients
Apples are grown across the world in a wide range of conditions. Fresh fruit is graded based on appearance, firmness, and flavor. There are many nutritional and water management practices that can influence these measurements of quality. While many of the nutrients are stored and recycled within the tree, a significant quantity of nutrients (especially K) is removed in the harvested fruit. Not only does K sustain high fruit yield, it also has a major benefit in boosting fruit sugar content.
September 10, 2009 – Maintain Nutrient Supplies
Maintaining an adequate nutrient supply is essential for producing high-quality melons. Potassium is helpful in minimizing cracking by thickening the rind and in boosting sugar accumulation. Calcium plays an important role in strengthening cell walls and minimizing blossom-end rot. Adequate P is important early in the season to stimulate vigorous growth and to support abundant flowering.
September 1, 2009 – Citrus Nutrient Requirements
Nitrogen and K are the nutrients required in the largest amount by citrus. During fruit enlargement, as much as 2 lb N/A/day are taken up. During fruit maturation, the K demand increases up to 2 lb K/A/day. Fertilizer management plans must take these peak uptake periods into consideration to avoid limiting fruit yield and quality.
August 20, 2009 – Grapes and K
Like all fruit crops, table grapes have an essential role for K in producing high yields of premium-quality fruit. Potassium influences the flavor and taste of table grapes by increasing the sugar content and sweetness of the berry. A high level of K helps develop a firm grape with a desirable crunch. It also increases the berry size and the size uniformity in the bunch.
August 10, 2009 – Seedrow Fertilizer Application Dangers
Application of fertilizer in the seedrow is a common practice and generally improves nutrient efficiency. However when the fertilizer dissolves, the salt concentration may be high enough to delay germination or harm the seedling. These problems can be eliminated by selecting the right fertilizer source and using the proper application rate. Check with your local certified crop adviser to avoid seedling damage from seed-placed fertilizer.
August 1, 2009 – Manure and Compost P
Manure and compost can contribute significant quantities of P to a farm nutrient plan. Although these are considered as organic nutrient sources, most of the P in these materials is present as inorganic phosphate. In this form, P is readily available for plant uptake, similar to fertilizer.
July 20, 2009 – Inorganic P vs. Organic P
In many soils, over half of the total P is contained in organic compounds. Since plants primarily utilize inorganic P for nutrition, organic P compounds are not available for plant uptake. The mineralization process to convert organic compounds to inorganic compounds is controlled by microbial enzymes present in the soil. This transformation and accompanying nutrient release is faster in warm and moist soils.
July 10, 2009 – Importance of P
An adequate P supply is required for healthy plant growth. When soybeans run short on P, this shortage impacts the N fixation capacity of the plant. Phosphorus-deficient plants supply less carbohydrate to the nodules and the nodules themselves are less efficient. Don’t overlook the importance of P when growing N-fixing crops.
July 1, 2009 – Alfalfa Cutting Schedule
The cutting schedule for alfalfa is one of the important management decisions that a grower must make. More frequent harvests may result in lower yields of high quality hay. Cutting at longer harvest intervals may result in more yield of lower quality hay, and also longer stand longevity. Hay prices should reflect the quality of the alfalfa and the compromises made in these decisions. Proper nutrition is essential for alfalfa to recover rapidly after cutting and for growing high-quality hay.
June 20, 2009 – Balance Nutrients
An adequate and balanced supply of all plant nutrients is required to maximize crop production. Attention is too often paid to a single nutrient, while neglecting the other nutrients that may be limiting yield and quality. All of the essential nutrients must be present in order to use any of them effectively.
June 10, 2009 – Acidic Soil
The number of acidic soils showing up in Western soil testing labs keeps increasing. The long-held assumption that acid soils are very rare in the West is no longer true. Some soils that are poorly buffered or have a long history of amendment use are likely candidates for acidification. Keep an eye out for this emerging issue.
June 1, 2009 – Value of N Mangement
Pay close attention to getting the most value from your added N fertilizer. Proper N management can boost productivity and reduce N loss. Consider if advanced products and additives have a place in managing the N on your farm. Recent work on potatoes shows that controlled-release fertilizers may boost yields while cutting the total N application rate compared with traditional practices.
May 20, 2009 – Iron Deficiences
Iron deficiencies are common in parts of the Western U.S.A. Effective Fe fertilization can be difficult due to the low solubility of the iron in alkaline soil. A variety of materials are available for treating Fe-deficient plants, including foliar sprays, chelated materials, and combinations of Fe with elemental S. All of these sources can be useful in various situations. Select the one that is most cost effective for your situation.
May 10, 2009 – Removal of Residue Cost
When considering the removal of crop residue from your field for animal bedding or for ethanol production, be sure to take a look at all the potential impacts. Removing crop residue will not cause a rapid decline in the soil organic matter levels, perhaps because the below-ground root system continues to supply organic matter. The value of the nutrients removed from the field can be significant and may need to be replaced as fertilizer at some future time.
May 1, 2009 – Ammonia Emissions
Agriculture is responsible for over three-fourths of ammonia emissions in the USA and Canada. In addition to ammonia loss being a waste of a valuable resource, ammonia reacts with other airborne constituents to form atmospheric haze and can cause irritation for people with respiratory problems.
April 20, 2009 – Nitrogen Fertilizer
Nitrogen fertilizer can be one of the most expensive inputs for crop production. Be certain that you are using realistic yield goals when estimating your fertilizer requirement. Additionally, account for all the sources of N that will be available to the plant, including N from organic matter mineralization, and any nitrate in the irrigation water.
April 10, 2009 – Management Zones
Divide your fields into management zones to give attention where it is needed. A management zone is simply a portion of the field that has similar yield potential. Fertilizer, seed, and other inputs can be applied variably to compensate for the productivity potential of each zone.
April 1, 2009 – Overlooking Micronutrients?
Don’t overlook the need for micronutrients. Soil testing alone may not always provide a clear picture of the need for additional micronutrients. Consider adding a diagnostic plant tissue test to supplement the information from soil testing to predict the likelihood of crop response from added micronutrients.
March 20, 2009 – Nutrient Management Plans
There is increasing discussion of “Nutrient Management Plans”. In some regions, it is becoming mandatory, while in others it is still optional. Regardless of your situation, you should consider how to optimize nutrient inputs for maximum production and profitability, while minimizing impacts of nutrients on water and air quality. Consult with a qualified Certified Crop Adviser or your Extension Service for help in doing this.
March 10, 2009 – Alternative Nutrient Questions
When presented with alternative nutrient sources, be sure to ask yourself: What does it really contain? How will it be applied? How will it perform in my operation? What is the availability of nutrients? Does it sound too good to be true? Does it make economic sense? It might be best to try new products on strips or small plots before jumping in with your checkbook.
March 1, 2009 – Calibrate Spreaders
Calibrating fertilizer, lime, or manure spreaders involves placing trays or pans evenly spaced across the path of the delivery to catch the material being applied. Usually 15 trays is a good number to use for this calibration. Drive the spreader through the test area at the travel speed that will be used in the field, then measure the amount of material collected in each tray.
February 20, 2009 – N in Irrigation Water
Injection of N fertilizer in irrigation water is common in some regions, where anhydrous ammonia or fluid fertilizers are injected in surface irrigation water. Recent research shows that the distribution of the N across the field is greatly improved if the fertilizer addition is withheld until the water reaches half way down the furrow.
February 10, 2009 – Tree Crops Nutrition
A common misconception is that tree crops rarely respond to nutrients other than N. Proper nutrition of tree crops is essential for high levels of production. Take regular tissue samples and use the laboratory recommendations to reach top yields of high quality production from your orchards.
February 1, 2009 – Importance of K
One of the important roles of K in the plant is to speed the conversion of nitrate into amino acids and proteins. When K levels are low, nitrate tends to accumulate in plants and protein formation is delayed, hurting both yield and quality.
January 20, 2009 – Calibrate Equipment
Special attention should be focused on getting nutrients applied uniformly to the field. Equipment needs to be serviced and calibrated on a regular basis. When application equipment is not properly maintained, nutrients may be over or under-applied…resulting in lost yield or wasted nutrients.
January 10, 2009 – Band Application
Band application of fertilizer refers to placing nutrients in a zone near the seed. This allows root interception of the nutrients by the seedling as roots grow out and down through the soil. Placing P near the seed often provides early season benefits to the plant. The benefits of band application fertilizer are most often observed in cold and wet soils and with crops with a limited root system.
January 1, 2009 – Law of the Minimum
One of the most discussed concepts in soil fertility is the “Law of the Minimum”. Briefly, this states that plant growth will be controlled by the most limiting nutrient or the scarcest resource. Until this limiting factor is dealt with, yields will continue to be constrained. The effects of some limiting factors (such as a lack of water) are easily seen. However other limiting factors are not always obvious. Get your soil analyzed to eliminate any limiting factors holding back yields this year.
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