SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: NCERA13 : Soil Testing and Plant Analysis
- Period Covered: 10/01/2023 to 09/30/2024
- Date of Report: 09/03/2024
- Annual Meeting Dates: 06/05/2024 to 06/05/2024
Participants
Dan Kaiser, University of Minnesota, representative Antonio Mallarino, Iowa State University, representative Javed Iqbal, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, representative Manjula Nathan, University of Missouri, representative John Jones, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, representative Andrew Stammer (virtual), University of Wisconsin-Madison, representative Dorivar Ruiz Diaz (virtual), Kansas State University, representative Sunjeong Park, Ohio State University Issac Cuchna, North Dakota State University
Accomplishments
Short Term Outcomes and Outputs
The committee continues to support their publication “Recommended Soil Test Procedures for the North Central Region” which is used by state and private soil testing labs as a methods manual for chemical tests used for soil testing in the region.
The committee met on June 5, 2024 in Bloomington, MN. The committee members outlined some of their activities and research that support the use of soil testing for making fertilizer guidelines in the region.
Illinois – Multiple research trials were established to collect data to support revisions of the Illinois Agronomy Handbook. Changes have not been made to the handbook at this time.
Iowa – Dr Mallarino started a project with Dr Ruiz-Diaz (KS) and Kaiser (MN0 to combine corn and soybean phosphorus response data to move towards consistent soil test interpretations in the region. Dr. Mallarino retired at the beginning of 2024 but updated the Iowa State University publication PM-1688 “A General Guide for Crop Nutrient and Limestone Recommendations in Iowa” before retirement.
Nebraska – The University recently updated the soil test and fertilizer guidelines for the state. The update has resulted in increased manure use in the state potentially saving an estimated $56 million per year with increased use of beef manure. Researchers also note that work with enhanced efficiency fertilizers have decreased N applications by 34-36 lbs per acre and potential N loss by 41-66% while maintaining yield. No current work on phosphorous or potassium was identified.
Minnesota – All fertilizer recommendations publications were updated within the last year in Minnesota. Current research is on-going regarding potassium fertilizer guidelines. A total of 7 podcasts (1000 to 1500 downloads per episode) were released specifically related to soil testing along with 8 presentations given to roughly 800 students across the state on soil testing topics.
South Dakota - Five presentations were given regarding soil fertility to approximately 525 individuals. One extension fact sheet and two radio interviews regarding nutrient management
Wisconsin – New trials are underway to evaluate current nutrient guidelines. In addition, research projects are comparing additional potassium tests such as the ammonium acetate and mehlich-3 K test to the Bray-K test which would bring the methodology used in Wisconsin for soil potassium to be similar to all other states in the region if adopted.
*Additional information is included in the attached file summarizing the minutes of the meeting held on June 5.
Activities
The committee hosted a joint soil testing workshop including the NCERA13, SERA06, and NECC1012 committees in Bloomington, MN on Jan 3-4. Presentations were given by members of the various committees outlining soil testing issues and research being conducted in the various regions. There were 40 people in attendance and were a mixture of university researchers, soil testing staff, private industry, and representatives from government agencies.
Impacts
- The commite contineus to support the NCR 223 publication which is the methods manual used by soil testing labs in the region.
- Committee memebers continue to provide education to stakeholders in the form of written, oral/in-person, and online materials related to the use of soil testing for making fertilizer management decisions.
- The states represented by the NCEARA13 committee have to date contributed 1450 site-years of data to the Fertilizer Response Support Tool database (soiltestFRST.org) in support of regional and national efforts to modernize soil test reccomendations.
- Members of the committee were co-authors on a publication related to soil testing (which is identified in the publciation section) and continue to support national acttivities such as the NRSP-11 committee.
Publications
Slaton, N.A. A. Pearce, L. Gatiboni, D.L. Osmond, C. Bolster, J. Dhillon. B.S. Farmaha, D.E. Kaiser, A.J. Margenot, F. Miguez, A. Moore, D. Ruiz-Diaz, D. Sotomayor, J. Spackman, J. Spargo, K. Uthman, and M. Yost. 2024. Models and Sufficiency Interpretation for Estimating Critical Soil Test Values for the Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool. Soil Sci. Soc. Am J. 88: 1419-1437.
Recommended Chemical Soil Test Procedures for the North Central Region
NCR 223 Publication [Online] https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/sb1001