Because many producers wait until spring green-up to make their nitrogen (N) application, does soil sampling in the fall for nitrate-N really provide useful information for N management in wheat? Kansas State University Extension provides some insight into this question.

Soil sampling in fall is strongly recommended to improve winter wheat management, says Kansas State University Extension, because nitrate-N levels can have a significant impact on N recommendations for winter wheat.

Knowing whether your lab is reporting the nitrate ion or the amount of N in the nitrate ion is critical to determining the safety of your livestock feed.

Wet soils cause nitrogen losses, and determining how much nitrogen is lost is necessary to choose the proper management options.