[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Re: soil tests



Tom Wall wrote:
> 
> The big problem with soil tests is that fertilizer is cheap.  Most soil
> tests are used to determine if there is a deficiency.  Otherwise, most
> vegetable farmers will continue putting on the same amount of fertilizer
> they always have, even when soil test levels are high.  Growers will change
> varieties, production systems, pesticides etc. before they will change
> fertilizer rates.
> 
> If you tell a grower they can get the same control with half the rate of
> pesticide X they will try it.  If you tell the same grower to use 50 lbs/A
> less fertilizer they will come up with bizarre reason they can't do that.
> 
> Tom Wall
> 
> *************************************************************
> Thomas E. Wall
> Horticulturist
> Ohio State University, Piketon Research and Extension Center
> 1864 Shyville Rd.
> Piketon, OH 45661-9749
> 614-289-2071                    614-292-4900 (Columbus)
> 614-289-4591 FAX                614-292-1953 FAX (Columbus)
> Wall.59@OSU.EDU


Dear Tom, 

I agree.  I have been an agricultual consultant for over 12 years and have 
seen the same thing in Mexico, Arizona, California and now in Washington 
State.  It is almost impossible to get a grower to reduce his fertilizer 
inputs.  Compared to the value of his crop, the comparitively small cost of 
the fertilizer is trivial.  It is much easier to get him to increase the 
fertilizer.  

In drip irrigated crops it is quite easy to add the mobile nutrients in the 
water, especially nitrogen.  With drip it is often possible to reduce the 
nitrogen use by half and grow a better crop.  But, drip is very expensive and 
is hard to justify on many vegetable crops, especially with cheap water and 
low sale prices.  

I have had clients who add micronutrients even if all of the tests state that 
they are probably not needed.  I call these the  
"so-they-can-sleep-better-at-night" applications.     

*****

Alan S. Wicks
Agricultural Consultant
Kennewick, WA



References: