If soils are too acidic, phosphorus reacts with iron and aluminum, making it unavailable to plants. But if soils are too alkaline, phosphorus reacts with calcium and also becomes inaccessible. However, liming can influence other ways by which phosphorus might become available to plants.

It’s clear that the spring of 2018 is not going to be one that allows a very early start for field operations.

Preventing off-target dicamba movement during application is the responsibility of the applicator, but what is less-than-clear is how far from the treated field off-target extends.

Research aims to track the contributing factors of nutrient management practices, such as cover crops, reducing nitrogen use and wood chip bioreactors.

Corn and soybean take up relatively large amounts of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), and much of this P and K ends up in the grain that is taken off the field during harvest. In order to keep soil nutrient levels from dropping over time, the amounts removed need to be replaced by applying fertilizer or manure. In order to know how much nutrient a crop removes, we need to know how much there is in a bushel of harvested grain.

With reports of dicamba damage soaring in last 2 weeks, University of Illinois weed specialist gives a thorough review of symptoms, analysis of current situation.

What’s good for crops is not always good for the environment. Nitrogen, a key nutrient for plants, can cause problems when it leaches into water supplies.