Midsummer Crop Fertility Update: Tissue Testing and Nitrogen Needs (7/14/21)

Strategic Farming: Field Notes

Our University of Minnesota Extension staff: Dr. Dan Kaiser, Extension Soil Specialist and Brad Carlson, Extension Educator in Nutrient and Water Quality discussed the proper use of diagnostic tools such as crop tissue testing and nitrogen basal corn stalk testing to provide a checkup on current crop growth and nutrient needs in Minnesota. This summer Minnesota crop growers have been challenged given the variable weather and soil moisture conditions across the state. Dr. Kaiser outlined the proper timing if tissue testing for both corn and soybeans along and which crop nutrients were likely to be highlighted in the results of the corn tissue tests such as potassium. Brad Carlson reviewed the movement and utilization for nitrogen in corn given the drier than normal weather conditions and variable precipitation patterns. Brad also commented on the validity of corn basal stalk testing and its relationship to predicting present and future nitrogen needs in Minnesota crops.