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SZ,
and it is a major breakthrough in
dry-fertilizer technology. The unique
chemistry of this phosphorus-based
product delivers a balanced ratio
of essential nutrients for better nutri-
ent uptake by plants. In addition,
by including all nutrients in one
granule, distribution is uniform, so
every plant receives the correct
amount of each nutrient.
The MicroEssentials family of prod-
ucts delivers sulfur and phosphorus
in the proper ratio for most crops, so
these two nutrients are more available
and easier for plants to use. Nitrogen
is provided in the readily available
ammonium form to help get young
plants off to an early start. Finally,
MicroEssentials includes sulfur in both
the elemental and sulfate forms for
season-long availability.
Studies show MicroEssentials
fertilizer enhances plant uptake of
phosphorus up to 30 percent and
improves zinc uptake by up to
45 percent as compared to a typical
blend. These improvements in nutrient
utilization mean a better return on the
investment in fertilizer. For more de-
tails, visit www.microessentials.com.
decrease, Below points out. As
corn rootworm-resistant hybrids
become increasingly popular and are
planted every year, it will be important
to take these trends into account as
nutrient management plans and fertilizer
recommendations are formulated.
With nearly half of U.S. corn acres
planted to transgenic hybrids costing as
much as $100 to $140 per acre for seed,
it is important growers apply the nutri tion
needed to optimize yields and generate
a good return on these genetics.
Table A.
Increased Yield of Rootworm-
Resistant Hybrids Removes More
Soil Nutrients
CRW-RESISTANT
vs. NON-RESISTANT
DIFFERENCE %
Yield increase 14 %
N removal 14 %
P removal 24 %
K removal 19 %
S removal 17 %
Zn removal 27 %
Champaign, IL 2008; average of two hybrid pairs
Seed industry leaders Dow
AgroSciences, Monsanto, Pioneer
Hi-Bred and Syngenta have all set
aggressive goals to increase corn
yields. Doubling yields by 2030 is an
admirable and daunting goal that plant
breeding and biotechnology are sure to
play a huge role in achieving. However,
in addition to these new technologies,
new management practices also will be
required to optimize yields.
This season, 47 percent of U.S. corn
acres were planted to stacked-trait,
insect-resistant hybrids, but little is
known about the effect of technology
on corn nutrient uptake and the exact
nutrition needed to optimize yields.
Thats why researchers at the University
of IllinoisUrbana-Champaign are
comparing the nutritional needs of
these hybrids to their non-resistant
counterparts. Preliminary research
results show the nutrient uptake of
resistant hybrids is signifcantly greater
than their non-resistant counterparts.
Intact roots absorb nutrients
more effciently
CRW-resistant hybrids change every-
thing, says Dr. Fred Below, professor
of Plant Physiology, University of Illinois.
Because rootworm larval feeding is
suppressed, and therefore the root
system protected from damage, the
corn plant absorbs nutrients more
effciently and ultimately realizes a
higher yield potential.
More effcient nutrient uptake
suggests higher levels of nutrients are
needed to achieve that added yield
potential. In the University of Illinois
trials, CRW-resistant hybrids yielded
205 bu /acre, while the non-resistant
hybrids yielded 179 bu /acre, a
14 percent difference.
Results of our initial trials show
that the per-acre removal rates of
nutrients [N, P, K, S, Zn] are from 14 to
27 percent greater for hybrids with the
rootworm-resistant gene, adds Below.
In fact, both the yield and the concen-
tration of nutrients in the grain were
higher for the transgenic hybrids.
As we look at these results, we see
very large increases of zinc (Zn) and P
removal, in particular, which means soil
test levels of these nutrients may rapidly
Innovation in Fertilizer
Technology
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 3
By understanding how nutrients
work together, farmers can optimize
production and investment in fertilizer
while minimizing the opportunity for
excess nutrients to negatively impact
the environment. Potassium (K) and
nitrogen (N) are two vital nutrients that
create greater benefts working together
than alone.
Research studies from the University
of Illinois illustrate how potassium
nutrition and fertilizer N interact to
markedly increase yields, response to
fertilizer N and N use effciency (Figure
1). It is important to keep in mind that
these same types of P and K interac-
tions will also occur with other nutrients
and non-nutrient crop inputs.
Illinois
Application Rate (lbs N/acre)
0 lb K20/acre
96 lbs K20/acre
144 lbs K20/acre
C
o
r
n
G
r
a
i
n
Y
i
e
l
d
(
b
u
/
a
c
r
e
)
200
150
100
50
0
0 80 120 180 240
Figure 1. Potassium improves yield response to
N fertilizer and N effciency.
University of Illinois
Adapted from Better Crops, Vol. 82 (1998, No. 3)
What do these interactions
mean for the future?
With technology and production
changes, U.S. corn yields have
increased from about 100 bu /acre in
1985 to approximately 160 bu /acre
in 2009. Many farmers are growing
corn yielding more than 200 bu /acre.
But can traditional nutrient recom-
mendations meet the demands of
tomorrows high corn yields? Evidence
suggests the levels of inputs and
management necessary for corn yields
in the 150bu /acre range may not be
enough for modern yield levels of
250+ bu /acre.
A Kansas study combined higher
plant populations and an enhanced fer-
tility program to maximize irrigated-corn
Table B.
Higher Nutrient Levels Required for Plant Population Response
Kansas State University
CORN YIELDS BU/ACRE
PLANT POPULATION
TRADITIONAL
1
FERTILITY
ENHANCED
2
FERTILITY
FERTILITY
RESPONSE
28,000 202 225 23
42,000 196 262 66
Population Response 6 37
1
230 lbs N /acre, 30 lbs P
2
O
5
/acre P and K Soil Tests = High
2
230 lbs N /acre, 100 lbs P
2
O
5
/acre, 80 lbs K
2
O /acre and 40 lbs S /acre
Source: Kansas State University
yields (Table B). With traditional
university nutrient recommendations,
the higher plant populations yielded
slightly less than the traditional, lower
populations. However, when the fertility
program included additional P, K and
sulfur (S), the higher plant population
yielded 37 bu /acre more than the tradi-
tional, lower plant population. Likewise,
corn response to the enhanced fertility
program was only 23 bu /acre at the
lower plant population, but swelled to
66 bu /acre at the higher population!
Balanced and fully adequate fertility
programs will be fundamental com-
ponents of optimizing return from
improved genetics and new tech-
nologies/practices in the future while
protecting the environment.
BA L A NCE D CROP NUT RI T I ON
Nitrogen and Potassium Work
Together for Higher Yields
B Y D A L E L E I K A M , P h . D .
L e i k a m A g r o Ma x
4 This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company.
Survival in todays competitive
economic environment depends
upon each investment ultimately
providing a positive return. In corn
production, fertility is responsible
for about 40 percent* of the crops
yieldand fertilizer is proven to
provide a positive return on invest-
ment (ROI). Use the formulas below
the table to calculate the return from
fertilizing your own corn crop.
Fertilizer Offers Performance That Pays
Few investments offer this level of return
Optimizing Potassium Critical for Top Yields
Soil test trends coupled with environ-
mental factors indicate applying
potassium (K) fertilizer may be more
important than ever for optimum crop
yields. According to studies from the
International Plant Nutrition Institute
(IPNI), soil test K levels continue to de-
crease, and as a result, the percentage
of soils across North America in nega-
tive balance for K continues to rise.
Research at Ohio State shows
that yields increased as soil test K
increased above critical soil levels,
explains Dan Froehlich, agronomist
with The Mosaic Company. A standard
benchmark is that potassium uptake for
a 180-bushel cornyield is 240 pounds
of potassium per acre. The critical level
of potassium in the soil for optimum
performance is approximately 165 ppm.
The Ohio State results show yields
increased as K increased to 200 ppm
and 278 ppm. Nitrogen use also was
enhanced as soil K levels increased,
Froehlich adds.
Agronomic and environmental condi-
tions also play a role in the availability
of nutrients for plant uptake. These
factors make supplemental K even
more important to optimize yields.
Cool, wet years set up agronomic
challenges for crops that exacerbate
the impact of limited soil nutrients,
says Steve Phillips, Southeast U.S.
region director with IPNI, a not-for-
proft, science-based organization
with a focus on agronomic education
and research support. Season-long
excess soil moisture and resulting
compaction from planting, spraying
and harvest cause poor soil aeration.
Oxygen is required for root nutri-
ent uptake; damp, compacted soils
are lower in soil oxygen, thus limiting
plants ability to uptake K. Continued
wet conditions make the situation more
complex, Phillips explains.
Insuffcient K may lead to reduced
nitrogen uptake, less developed roots,
lower protein content, greater suscep-
tibility to water loss and wilting, as well
as weaker stalks that are more prone
to lodging.
Prolonged cool temperatures plus
wet, compacted soils can cause
irreparable damage to yield potential
since more than 50 percent of the total
K is taken up by corn plants in the frst
50 days. Compaction and wet soils
also may limit K uptake shortly before
pollination when corn plants remove
more than 15 pounds of K
2O per acre
per day.
Over time, continued removal of K
without annual fertilizer application will
lower soil test levels, and yield loss will
occur because K removal is a direct
contributor to crop yield, says Phillips.
Visit www.Back-to-Basics.net for
more information about the importance
of K in a balanced fertility program.
Ohio
Application Rate (lbs N/acre)
C
o
r
n
G
r
a
i
n
Y
i
e
l
d
(
b
u
/
a
c
r
e
)
250
200
150
100
50
0
0 80 160 240 320
160 ppm K Soil Test
200 ppm K Soil Test
278 ppm K Soil Test
Figure 2.
Table C.
YEAR
FERTILIZER
INVESTMENT/
ACRE
($ /acre)
ESTIMATED
YIELD
(bu /acre)
FERTILIZER
COST
($ /bu)
NEW
CROP
PRICES
($ /bu)
BUSHELS
NEEDED TO
PAY FOR
FERTILIZER
DOLLAR
RETURN
PER DOLLAR
SPENT
2008 $140.27 180 0.78 3.82 36.7 $1.96
2009 $145.63 180 0.81 4.09 35.6 $2.02
2010 (estimated) $ 96.94 180 0.54 4.29 22.6 $3.19
2011 (projected) $113.77 180 0.63 4.04 28.2 $2.56
As of Oct. 1, 2010
Corn180 bu /acre corn following soybeans; N-P-K = 1407055
Fertilizer cost assumptionsN = $0.39 /lb, P2O5 = $0.68 /lb, K2O = $0.40 /lb
Fertilizer cost per bushel = fertilizer cost /yield
Bushels needed to pay for investment in fertilizer = fertilizer cost per acre/new crop price per bushel
*ROI assumes 40 percent of yield comes from fertilizer (based on university studies)
Dollar return per dollar invested = (0.40 x yield x new crop price)/cost of fertilizer
For updated info, visit
www.Back-to-Basics.net.
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 5
In really wet years, a lot of
preplant nitrogen is lost.
Wet weather causes nitrogen losses
somewhere virtually every year. In 2008
and 2009, very wet weather caused
major nitrogen losses in a huge chunk
of the Corn Belt.
My rule of thumb is that more than
16 inches of rain from April through
June or more than a foot in May and
June will lead to nitrogen defciency
problems in a substantial number of
cornfelds, says University of Missouri
agronomist Peter Scharf.
According to Scharf, last year nearly
all of Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky,
and Tennessee, plus most of Illinois,
southern Indiana, and eastern Kansas
all had over 16 inches of rain from April
through June. In 2008, nearly all of Iowa
and Missouri, plus southern Illinois,
southern Indiana, southern Wisconsin,
eastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas, and
southeastern Minnesota received over
16 inches of rain during those three
crucial months.
The level of risk depends on nitro-
gen fertilizer management and soil
properties as well as rainfall, says
Scharf. Among preplant applica-
tion strategies, spring application of
anhydrous ammonia has the lowest risk
of nitrogen loss. But any nitrogen-man-
agement strategy can be overwhelmed
by weather.
Scharf developed a Nitrogen
Loss Scoresheet to help growers
identify felds apt to respond to rescue
nitrogen based on nitrogen source,
date applied, soil type and degree of
wetness. Its online at http://ppp.mis-
souri.edu/newsletters/ipcm/archives/
v17n10/ipmltr9.htm.
Farmers who went through back-to-
back wet years have been concerned
that the wet fall and winter of 2009-10
was setting the stage for another year
of nitrogen (N) losses and yield losses.
My frm belief after the last two years
is that every producer and every retail
organization need to have a plan for
making rescue N applications in place
before the season starts, says Scharf.
Rescue applications of nitrogen fertil-
izer can be highly proftable when earlier
nitrogen applications have been lost
due to wet weather.
Scharf cites the experience of Wayne
Flanary, a University of Missouri agron-
omy specialist in northwest Missouri.
Flanary applied 180 pounds of N as
anhydrous ammonia in late-November
2008. Nevertheless, corn in a low area
appeared to lack N early in the 2009
growing season. Where Flanary applied
an additional 60 pounds of N as dry
urea in June, the corn yielded 200 bu /
acre. Where he applied an additional
BA L A NCE D CROP NUT RI T I ON
Rescue Nitrogen Application
Often Boosts Corn Yields
B Y R I C H F E E
Cr o p s a n d S o i l s E d i t o r , S u c c e s s f u l F a r mi n g
Ryan Britt used a high-clearance
applicator to apply rescue nitrogen
for neighbors last year.
Reprinted from the May June 2010 issue of Successful Farming magazine. 2010 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.
Figure 3. University of Missouri research agronomist Kelly Nelson developed this chart to show which
sources of nitrogen can be used at different growth stages of corn.
Rescue N Application Chart
1 ft. 2 ft. 3 ft. 4 ft.
Between Rows
Broadcast
Ammonium Nitrate, 32% UAN,
or Urea + NBPT (Agrotain)
Ammonium
Nitrate
Urea
32% UAN
Urea or Urea + NBPT
(Agrotain)
120 pounds of N as urea, the corn
yielded 220. Where he didnt apply any
rescue N, it yielded 170 bu /acre.
Aerial photographs are Scharfs frst
choice for diagnosing N defciency. You
can get through all your acres much
more quickly and thoroughly based on
aerial photos than by ground-based
inspection, he says.
At fairly early stages (knee high),
aerial photos can help you identify likely
problem areas but should be ground-
truthed. At later stages (waist high or
taller), aerial photos provide reliable
indicators of which areas are experi-
encing N stress and how severe it is,
Scharf says.
My research suggests that aerial
photographs can be translated into
yield loss maps that make it easier
to decide how much can be spent
to correct the problem, says Scharf.
Aerial photographs can also be trans-
lated into variable-rate N maps that can
be plugged into a variable-rate appli-
cator. Nitrogen loss is nearly always
patchy, resulting in some areas that
need rescue nitrogen and other areas
that dont.
In the absence of aerial images, you
can tell a lot about corns N situation
simply by inspecting your felds.
The appearance of the corn crop
is an excellent diagnostic tool, says
Scharf. Corn that is light green or
yellow-green is N-defcient nearly 100%
of the time in Missouri. However, corn
growing in waterlogged soil will be
N-defcient even if the N has not been
lost. This makes correct diagnosis more
diffcult. Sometimes this yellow corn will
green up when the soil dries out, and
no additional N is needed. By the time
youve been able to walk through the
feld for a week, the corn should look
substantially better if the N is still in the
soil. If not, a rescue N application is
called for.
Several different sources of N can
be used for rescue applications. Corn
height and application method must be
considered when determining which N
source to use.
University of Missouri research agrono-
mist Kelly Nelson developed the Rescue
N Application Chart (shown above) based
on research by several agronomists.
Scharf says some people are
skeptical about recovering yield once
corn has been substantially stressed
by lack of N.
My experience and research show
that corn has great capacity to use
rescue N to produce additional yield
until at least silking, Nelson says.
Research by others suggests that
this capacity extends at least a week
and probably usually two weeks past
silking.
High-clearance applicators, which are
becoming increasingly common, enable
growers to dribble or inject liquid N
between the rows of tall corn.
Ryan Britt of Clifton Hills in north-
central Missouri applied rescue N for
several neighbors last year with the
Hagie applicator shown on the opening
page. Britt farms with his father, Randy,
and grandfather, Wayne.
Concerned about the risk of losing
preplant N, they switched to split appli-
cations of N in 2008. Last year, they
applied 60 pounds of N preplant then
sidedressed in June using N sensors to
adjust the rate on-the-go.
Nitrogen defciency is evident on
lower leaves frst. Yellowing begins
at the tip of the leaf and proceeds
down the midrib.
The corn on the left received 40
pounds of rescue nitrogen (32%)
while the row on the right did not.
The extra N was applied 17 days
before this photo was taken on
July 16, 2005. The preplant rate
was 120 pounds of NH
3.
Reprinted from the May June 2010 issue of Successful Farming magazine. 2010 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.
BA L A NCE D CROP NUT RI T I ON
Unlocking the Secrets
to Higher Yields
A N I NT E R V I E W WI T H F R E D B E L OW, P h . D.
Un i v e r s i t y o f I l l i n o i s a t Ur b a n a - Ch a mp a i g n
Table E.
Seven Wonders
of the Corn Yield World
FACTOR BU/ACRE IMPACT
Weather 70+
Nitrogen 70
Hybrid Selection 50
Previous Crop 25
Plant Population 20
Tillage 15
Growth Regulators 10
Total = 260 bu/A*
* Represents the maximum yield level possible
when each of these factors is optimized using
standard crop management systems today and
typical planting rates of 30,000 to 36,000 plants
per acre.
World demand for food, feed, fber and
fuel is increasing. Dr. Fred Below and
researchers at the University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign are assessing new
technologies and designing manage-
ment practices to unlock the secret to
higher yields. Here he shares details of
this effort.
You have spent your entire career
looking at corn physiology and factors
that impact yield. What are you focus-
ing on in your current research? There
are many new technologies available to
growers that are changing the face of
crop production and have the potential
to drive higher crop yields. For example,
todays genetics are more tolerant of
the stresses of higher plant populations.
Corn rootworm (CRW) protection now
gives us a larger, more intact root system
so the corn plant can absorb nutrients
more effciently. Fungicides protect
plants from yield-robbing diseases to
maintain plant health longer.
In our research, weve seen benefcial
synergies from combining these manage-
ment tools. To move to the 300-bushel
level and beyond, we have to identify
the most effcient ways of combining
Table D.
Interaction of Technologies/Practices
on Corn Yield
University of Illinois and The Mosaic Company
TRADITIONAL
PROGRAM*
ENHANCED
PROGRAM**
208 BU /ACRE 274 BU /ACRE
TECHNOLOGY/PRACTICE
ADDED TO TRADITIONAL PROGRAM OR
REMOVED FROM ENHANCED PROGRAM
YIELD INCREASE ATTRIBUTED TO
INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE
BU /ACRE
Additional P, S, Zn (MicroEssentials
SZ
) 7 18
Additional sidedress N 16 24
Higher plant population 15 14
Fungicide application 4 12
Genetics CRW-resistant (triple-stack) 8 27
* Traditional program Typical university recommendations without any enhanced inputs
** Enhanced program Typical university recommendations plus all enhanced inputs
these tools. In that effort, our research
is contrasting standard management
practices and planting populations with
a high-yield management approach
that pushes CRW-resistant hybrids
to 45,000 plants per acre, planted in
7-inch twin rows on a 30-inch center.
It also incorporates 100 pounds of extra
sidedress N as a controlled-release
source as well as 100 pounds of P
2O5
as MicroEssentials,
SZ
SZ.
system on
the planter is used to optimize seed-to-soil
contact for better germination.
Mulch tillage has proved particularly
essential to maintain yields in corn
following corn. Replicated strip trials
conducted through Friests participation
in the Iowa Soybean Associations On-Farm
Network verifed the advantages of
Denny Friest
Garden City, Iowa
Participant, Iowa Soybean Association
On-Farm Network
Corn
Soybeans
Swine farrow-to-fnish
10 This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company.
The roles of other essential nutrients
such as sulfur, magnesium and zinc
in increasing crop yield and quality
Why new insect-resistant, multi-
trait hybrids may beneft from a new
approach to fertility
How to identify yield-robbing nutrient
defciencies through visual analysis
How to identify hidden defciencies
not visible to the eye
Visit www.Back-to-Basics.net
Order or bookmark
these valuable tools
and online resources:
Effcient Fertilizer Use manual. This
comprehensive guide to proper fertilizer
uses, soil pH, soil sampling and much
more is FREE! Order the CD-ROM, or
access the chapters online.
Legendary billionaire Warren Buffett has
inspired legions of followers worldwide
to heed his homespun moneymaking
advice: Invest in what you know.
Over a lifetime of investments,
including the 40-acre farm he purchased
in the 10th grade, Buffet demonstrated
that when investors have an intimate
knowledge about a topic, they naturally
spot more opportunities. The same
is true for farmers who gain deeper
knowledge of crop inputs, like fertilizer.
To help farmers learn about crop
nutrition to gain confdence in their
fertilizer decisions, The Mosaic
Company developed the free educa-
tional soil fertility resources found at
www.Back-to-Basics.net. At this
educational website, farmers can learn:
When and why N-P-K applications
alone are not always enough to
optimize yields
BRUS H UP ON S OI L F E R T I L I T Y BA S I CS
Let www.Back-to-Basics.net be Your Guide
Regional agronomic updates. Click
on your region of the interactive map
to receive timely updates on local crop,
soil and weather conditions, along with
nutrient management tips, from the
expert staff at the IPNI.
Crop nutrient defciency photo library.
Nutrient defciencies in crops reduce
yields, grain/forage quality and profts to
the farmer. Browse this image gallery for
help to identify various nutrient defciency
symptoms for 19 different crops.
After you visit www.Back-to-Basics.net
to brush up on soil fertility basics, contact
your local fertilizer dealer for help to
formulate the balanced soil fertility
pro gram needed to optimize your crop
production investment. The more you
know about nutrient needs of your
crops, and the needs of your soil, the
greater your opportunities to increase
yields and profts.
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 11
CROP NUTRIENT UPTAKE
lb/A
Crop Yield (A) N P
2
0
5
K
2
0 Mg S
Alfalfa* 8 ton 408 96 392 43 43
10 ton 510 120 490 54 54
Barley 120 bu. 166 67 182 17 23
Canola 60 bu. 180 90 150 37 30
Corn 150 bu. 135 57 41 14 12
Stalks 68 24 165 21 11
Total 203 81 206 35 23
200 bu. 180 76 54 18 16
Stalks 90 32 220 46 14
Total 270 108 274 64 30
250 bu. 225 95 68 23 20
Stalks 112 40 275 58 18
Total 337 135 343 81 38
Corn Silage 30 ton 291 93 219 60 33
Cotton (lint /seed) 1,500 lbs. 100 44 59 20 17
Stalks 140 28 151 12 19
Total 240 72 210 32 36
Fescue 3.5 ton 130 42 189 13 20
Oats 100 bu. 73 27 18 4 7
Straw 29 15 89 10 10
Total 102 42 107 14 17
Potatoes/ Tubers 500 cwt. 160 60 275 15 15
Plants 100 25 150 20 10
Total 260 85 425 35 25
Rice 7,000 lb. 112 60 168 14 12
Ryegrass 5 ton 215 86 215 40 60
Sorghum (grain) 175 bu. 116 68 47 11 11
Soybeans* (grain) 70 bu. 266 59 91 15 13
Stover 77 17 70 15 12
Total 343 76 161 30 25
Sunfower 1.5 ton 151 45 110 21 18
Wheat 80-bu. Grain 120 48 27 12 8
Straw 56 13 96 8 11
Total 176 61 123 20 19
2010. The Mosaic Company. All rights reserved. MicroEssentials is a registered trademark of The Mosaic Company. MES-0168
* Legumes derive most of the N from symbiotic N xation.
Source: IPNI and Mosaic
Visit Back-to-Basics.net for information on additional crops.
soil testing to determine fertility needs
of specifc felds and guide fertilizer
and manure application needed for
sustainable crop yields.
Figure 4.
2010 median soil levels and
change from 2005
PHOSPHORUS LEVELS*
SD 13
-1
NE 18
-4
IA 21
-4
MO
15
-3
IN
24
-5
MI
38
-11
MN
17
-1
WI
23
-16
IL
24
-12
OH 23
-2
17
-1
KS 17
-4
ON
37
-10
KY
POTASSIUM LEVELS**
SD 245
-23
NE 320
-44
IA 161
-11
MO
149
-1
IN
130
-14
MI
131
-18
MN
160
+4
WI
133
+8
IL
181
+3
OH
145
-23
99
-35
KS 272
-22
ON
131
+3
KY
* Median Bray P1 equivalent, ppm
Soil samples, millions: 2005=2.0; 2010=3.0
** Median ammonium acetate K equivalent, ppm
Soil samples, millions: 2005=2.0; 2010=2.8
are indeed falling in most of the Corn Belt.
The two maps show median soil
P and K levels (50 percent of samples
are above and below these levels) for
the Corn Belt states and Ontario. The
lower numbers in the maps are the
changes from 2005.
Phosphorus declined in all areas, with
Wisconsin and the Northeast showing
the largest drops. Soil P levels in the
Western states were lower initially, so
the 3 or 4 ppm reductions seen from
the summary are important to note.
Preliminary data indicates the P level
decline for Illinois is large.
Soil K relative changes were smaller
in comparison and less consistent.
Nine of the 13 areas showed reduc-
tions or virtually no change, and four
showed small increases. All three of
the western-most states showed large
drops in soil K because of highly nega-
tive nutrient balances, but their median
levels are still well above critical levels.
The northeast states and Ontario also
saw large reductions in soil K.
The takeaway is that crops have been
removing more P and K from many of
the soils of the Corn Belt than those
soils have been receiving as fertilizer
or manure, and the result is declining
soil fertility. The wide range of soil test
results reinforces the importance of
The status of soil fertility levels is an
indicator of the sustainability of farming.
Every fve years, the staff of IPNI
and cooperating private and public
laboratories across the United States
and Canada summarize soil test levels
for phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)
as well as pH to get an inventory of soil
fertility levels across North America.
With decreased fertilizer use in
2009 and the long-term trend of crops
removing soil nutrients faster than
theyre being replenished, many are
interested in the 2010 summary.
Tests confirm that soil test
levels for P and K are falling
in most of the Corn Belt.
First, the good news from this
summary process is that there has
been a substantial increase in use of
soil testing since 2005; soil testing has
grown at an average of about 300,000
samples per year over the last fve years.
We estimate that about 5.5million
samples were collected in North
America for the 2010 crop compared
to about four million for the 2005 crop.
This is one of the highest growth rates in
soil testing ever in North America.
Unfortunately, the results of these tests
confrm that soil test levels for P and K
The Direction of Soil Fertility
in the Corn Belt
B Y P A U L E . F I X E N , P h . D .
I n t e r n a t i o n a l P l a n t Nu t r i t i o n I n s t i t u t e
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 13
- Alfalfa removes approximately
6pounds S per acre per ton pro-
duced. A 40 bu /acre wheat yield will
remove about 5 pounds S per acre.
Sulfur is mobile in the soil.
Excessive rainfall or irrigation water
can move SO
4-S through the soil,
particularly when soils are sandy.
Assessing the need for sulfur
As more signs of sulfur defciency are
seen in crops, a growing number of
producers will wonder if they need to
supplement S. To identify where supple-
mental S will be benefcial, its important
to understand sulfurs role as a plant
nutrient.
Identifying areas with S defciency
often begins with organic matter
content of the soil. Fields with low
organic matter and long histories of
forage/silage production or continuous
corn systems with no manure additions
would be more likely to exhibit S def-
ciency. Some nutrient defciencies can
be confrmed with a soil test, but with S
as with N, it is diffcult to get a reliable
assessment of available S from soil
chlorophyll production, which makes
the younger leaves of the plant appear
yellow, a symptom sometimes confused
with N defciency.
Putting S out of balance
What has changed to bring about a
need for supplemental sulfur in crop
production?
Decreased S deposition from rain/
air (Figure 5). Since the 1970 Clean
Air Act, emissions of sulfur dioxide
have decreased dramatically, resulting
in reduced deposition from rain/air.
Changing fertilization practices.
A switch away from ammonium sul-
fate as a source of N and decreased
use of single super phosphate, which
contained some S, means were
adding less S to soils. Manure use
also has changed.
Increased crop removal.
An increase in both grain and forage
yields results in more rapid depletion
of S from soils.
- A 180 bu /acre corn crop removes
about 14 pounds S per acre.
The frst occurrences of sulfur (S)
defciency in corn were reported in the
1960s. At the time, sulfur defciency
was virtually unheard of. Textbooks
devoted chapters to nitrogen (N), phos-
phorus (P) and potassium (K) and their
roles in crop production. Sulfur received
only short paragraphs.
To sustain optimum crop
yields, the S balance in soils
will need to be maintained
through supplemental S.
Today, the situation is quite different.
Since the late 1980s, university agrono-
mists from New York to Kansas,
Michigan to Alabama, have been
observing sulfur defciency in crops and
advising growers on the importance of
supplemental sulfur. With this change,
S has become the fourth essential
nutrient. It is a com ponent of numer-
ous protein enzymes that regulate
photosynthesis and nitrogen fxation.
In fact, when S is limiting, there is less
BA L A NCE D CROP NUT RI T I ON
Changes Creating Need for Sulfur
B Y D E A N F A I R C H I L D
T h e Mo s a i c Co mp a n y
testing because of sulfurs mobility in
the soil and the varying rates of S min-
eralization from crop residues. Tissue
testing is considered more reliable, and
comparing samples in the same feld/
hybrid between poor and good areas
may be the best strategy.
Visual symptoms also are an indica-
tor, and plants with severe defciencies
have yellow or white streaks along the
leaf veins that may stretch the full length
of the newer, upper leaves. Probably
the most reliable way to know if a
sulfur application will result in a positive
re sponse is to apply some in strips to see
if a difference in yield can be measured.
Choosing a source of
supplemental sulfur
Several products are available for cor-
recting or preventing a sulfur defciency.
When choosing a product, remember
that sulfur forms vary in their availability
for plant growth. Plants can readily take
up sulfate (SO4), so this form is preferred
for corn and small-grain production as it is
immediately available to developing roots,
helping plants get off to a faster start.
Elemental sulfur (S) must be oxidized
into SO
4 by soil bacteria before plants
can take it up. This takes time and is
slowed by cool spring temperatures.
Elemental sulfur is more of a slow-
release fertilizer and can be used in a
soil maintenance program or by plants
later in the season. Choosing a fertilizer
source containing elemental sulfur also
helps ensure S is available to plants all
season long because it is not as mobile
as sulfate, which can move out of the
root zone when precipitation is high.
Sources of sulfur for plants
There are several fertilizers available
to supply S when it is needed. The
MicroEssentials
family of products
provides season-long availability of S by
providing both the elemental and sulfate
forms. K-Mag
(0021.5) 22
MicroEssentials
S15
SZ
) into a
balanced fertilization program. Also
known as langbeinite or double sulfate
of potash, K-Mag is sourced from ore
beds deep beneath the earths surface.
Langbeinite, an evaporite mineral, is
one of the most soluble salts in the
ocean. As a result, K-Mag is virtually
100 percent water soluble and the Mg,
K and S it provides are immediately
available to crops.
B Y N O B L E U N D E R W O O D
I P NI Re t i r e d
A g r i - Te c h S e r v i c e s L L C, P r e s i d e n t
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 21
BA L A NCE D CROP NUT RI T I ON
Understanding Zinc Defciency
B Y D A N F R O E H L I C H , P h . D .
T h e Mo s a i c Co mp a n y
lower soil temperature and higher soil
moisture level. These conditions put
stress on a small root system, making
it diffcult to uptake required Zn, as
well as P and Mg.
Low organic matter. Zinc availability
also has been linked to soil organic
matter content. The soil test for Zn
usually increases as the soil organic
matter content increases. So, Zn
defciency symptoms will usually
appear frst on eroded portions of the
landscape where the organic matter
content is low.
Early crop-planting windows.
Corn and certain vegetables are
being seeded earlier in the spring,
when soils are cool and moist. This
compounds the stress on seed-
lings caused by reduced tillage, and
makes a readily available supply of Zn
and other nutrients even more impor-
tant to ensure early plant growth.
Soils testing low in Zn and high
in P. Soil-test each feld to help
identify where crops will respond to
Zn. Fields that test low in Zn and high
in soil pH and P need attention frst.
University scientists report that a low
Zn level, teamed with a high soil pH,
can increase crop uptake of P to an
excessive level. A shortage of Zn
severely impairs the plants ability to
regulate P accumulation. This triggers
excess uptake of P and the develop-
ment of Zn defciency symptoms.
Getting ready for next years
crops starts now
Soil and plant analysis labs provide
guidelines for sampling felds, evaluating
crop need for Zn and determining the
amount of fertilizer Zn needed to correct
a defciency.
Soil-sample felds carefully, and
analyze the lab reports on a feld-by-
feld, crop-by-crop basis with your
agronomic advisor. Remember, a Zn
defciency is often not visible at the high-
yield level. Thus, soil and plant analysis
are key detection tools. Knowing the
other conditions that create resis-
tance to root uptake of Zn will help to
determine when Zn should become a
member of the balanced nutrient team.
To learn more about zinc, visit
www.Back-to-Basics.net.
Zinc (Zn) has been put to work on farms
for decades. Fencing wire and nails are
galvanized with zinc to prevent rust.
Metal buckets are coated with zinc to
last longer. However, zincs most impor-
tant job is in the feld, as one of the 17
essential elements in plant growth.
Zinc defciency is growing in the
Midwest, and it is more likely to occur
in corn than soybean felds. This is
due in part to earlier planting of corn in
cool and moist soil. Also, more residue
resulting from conservation tillage and
higher grain yields places added stress
on seedlings to absorb Zn from soil.
Zinc is heavily involved in enzyme
systems that regulate the early growth
stages, and is vital for fruit, seed and
root system development, photosynthe-
sis, formation of plant growth regulators
and crop stress protection. In addition,
Zn is a team player with nitrogen (N),
phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).
However, Zn is required in very small
amounts compared to N or K. Only
about a half-pound of Zn is needed per
acre for high-yield (180 bu/acre) corn
production. Sixty-bushel wheat needs
about 0.28 pound of Zn per acre. Yet,
lack of Zn can limit plant growth, just
like N or K, if the soil is defcient or crop
uptake is restricted.
Give plants a good start
Crops need readily available Zn,
especially when plants are young and
growing vigorously. Zn does not move
in the soil, so the small seedlings root
system may have diffculty fnding and
taking up Zn reserves. Zinc availability
and uptake also can be limited by other
environmental and crop management
practices, including:
Liming to reduce soil acidity.
Availability of Zn to plants declines as
soil pH increases. Zinc is usually more
available as soil pH movesto the acid
side of 7.0. Be alert for a Zn shortage
for sensitive crops growing on soils
with pH 6.0 or higher.
Low soil temperature. The solubility
or availability of Zn in soil is affected
by soil temperature, and solubility
decreases as soil temperature drops.
Reduced-tillage systems. Crop
residues on the soil surface at plant-
ing time shade the soil, resulting in a
The photo above illustrates symptoms
of zinc defciency in corn.
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 23
Grain-based biofuels have both pas-
sionate proponents and opponents,
but political support for these programs
looks solid, particularly if energy prices
trend up as predicted this decade
and grain and oilseed prices remain at
moderate levels due to expected yield
increases. For example, corn used for
ethanol production in the United States
is projected to increase to more than
135million tonnes, or about 5.4billion
bushels, in order to meet blending man-
dates by the middle of this decade.
Given this positive demand outlook,
the challenge for farmers around
the world is to produce another
500million tonnes of grains and
oilseeds per year by the end of
the decadeequal to another U.S.
harvestand to boost global produc-
tion by more than 70percent by the
middle of this century. Farmers will
need to harvest record area and reap
ever-increasing yields in order for grain
and oilseed supplies to keep pace with
accelerating demand.
Put another way, the horse race
between grain and oilseed supply and
demand looks like a nearly dead heat.
Supply will inch ahead and stocks will
grow when harvests exceed trend as was
the case in 2008 and 2009. Demand
Global demand for the leading grain
and oilseed crops is projected to
increase from about 2.6 billion tonnes
today to 3.1 billion tonnes in 2020 and
to more than 4.5 billion tonnes in 2050.
In fact, demand growth has accelerated
despite the Great Recession and linger-
ing fears about the global economy.
Demand has increased at a 2.2 percent
per-year clip during the last fve years
compared to a 1.8 percent per-year pace
during the frst half of the last decade.
Grain and oilseed demand is fueled
by three key drivers: 1) steady popula-
tion growth, 2) increases in income and
the upgrading of diets by a swelling
middle class, especially in the populous
and rapidly developing countries of
Asia, and 3) the expansion of grain-
based biofuels production, particularly
the exponential growth of corn-based
ethanol output in the United States.
All of these demand drivers look
positive. Global population is projected
to increase from 6.7 billion today to
7.6billion by the end of the decade
and to more than 9.0billion by 2050.
Global population currently increases
about 75million people per yearthe
equivalent of adding another Ethiopia to
the world each year.
Based on IHS Global Insight fore-
casts, global GDP per capita in 2005
dollars is projected to increase from the
Great Recession low of $7,200 to more
than $9,300 in 2020 and to about
$18,700 by 2050. Statistics show
people spend a large percentage of
the increase in income on protein-rich
and more grain-intensive foods such
as meat, eggs and dairy products as
they move from low to moderate levels
of income.
will inch ahead and stocks will fall
when harvests fall below trend growth
as is the case this year. Never theless,
farmers and crop input suppliers
will need to whip the supply horse
in order for it to keep pace with the
demand horse. That is exactly what
futures prices for most agricultural
commodities are signaling today for the
next several crop years: Keep whipping
the supply horse by planting record
area and harvesting record yields year
after year.
Yet, as highlighted throughout this
supplement, achieving the next genera-
tion of yields will require a complete
bundle of high-technology inputs
including not only promising new seed
varieties but also more sophisticated
crop nutrient products and practices.
For example, feeding 45,000 corn plants
per acre will require innovative products
that uniformly deliver suffcient amounts
of primary as well as secondary nutri-
ents and micronutrients. This also likely
will necessitate more precise placement
or even multiple applications. One thing
we can say with certainty: Meeting
future demand will require fnding the
most synergistic combination of innova-
tive production technologies with which
to drive tomorrows high-yield systems.
;OL 7YVK\J[PVU *OHSSLUNL
B Y M I K E R A H M , P h . D .
T h e Mo s a i c Co mp a n y
24 This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company.
With every new generation, population continues to grow. This means we need more food.
Todays farmers are leading the way to meet the increasing food demands of the future.
MicroEssentials