Proper Nutrient Management Starts With Soil Test

 

The province's soil fertility specialist says big yields means big nutrient removal and that leads to big fertilizer decisions.

 

John Heard notes a soil test is the best way to determine what rate of nutrients may need to be applied.

 

He talked about where current levels are sitting.

 

"Nitrogen levels, certainly are testing lower this year and so they may need to be brought up in accordance to the soil test levels and the yield potential and the other nutrient levels I think they supplied nutrients for a big crop," said Heard. "We don't expect that we'll see large differences in them on these clay soils in the short term but in the long term farmers may need to step up their fertility levels if these high yields are common."