Subsoil Moisture Impacts in 2000

Nov 25, 2020

By Paul Kassel

A quick review of subsoil moisture during the fall of 1999 and the spring of 2000 shows that subsoil moisture did not recharge much from October 30, 1999 to April 10 of 2000 (table 1). The five subsoil moisture sites gained from 0.6 to 4.2 inches of moisture during the late fall and early spring.

Table 2 shows the April 11 to September 30 rainfall was almost normal in Milford, Estherville, Spencer and Pocahontas. However, rainfall in Storm Lake was 9.5 inches below normal.

This information shows the effect on corn yields from below normal subsoil moisture (4.3 inches at Newell site on April 10) and below normal summer rainfall in Storm Lake . The USDA NASS Buena Vista county corn yield was about 20 bushel per acre below the levels in other area counties (table 3).

Source : iastate.edu

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.