Lecture 13a

Soil Fertility – N-P-K

 The study of supplying plant

nutrients from the soil.
 Understanding CEC is the
single most important concept
in understanding soil fertility.
(However soil pH is the most
important chemical property)
 Nutrient analysis of the soil
determines the potential of
the soil for supplying N,P,K,
Ca, Mg, S, plus micronutrients
to plants during the growing
season.
 Nutrients become available
through organic matter
decomposition, chemical
weathering of minerals,
airborne additions, and
fertilizers.
 Fertilizer Plant
Fertilizers

 Manufactured fertilizers have been

used for over a 100 years.
 The numbers on a bag of fertilizer-
-"10-5-5", = guaranteed chemical
analysis.
 These numbers indicate the bag of
fertilizer contains:
 10% N,
 5% P2O5,
 5% K2O.
 These numbers--"10-5-5“ = the fertilizer
grade.
 Fertilizer ratio - proportion of primary
nutrients (N-P2O5-K2O) in a fertilizer grade,
divided by the highest common divisor; or
 10 ÷ 5=2, so the ratio of this fertilizer is 2-1-1.
 For phosphorus and potassium,
the chemical analysis is given in
the oxide form.
 This is the way the nutrients
were first thought to be
absorbed by the plant and is still
used today to express the
analysis of fertilizer.
 For a grade of 18-24-12
elemental analysis = 18- 10.5 - 10
 The elemental analysis can usually
be found on the bag near the
fertilizer grade.
 To convert from the elemental
analysis to the chemical analysis
for phosphorous and potassium
fertilizers, use this formula:
 % P2O5 x .44 = %P
 % K2O x .83 = %K
Converting P2O5 & K2O (oxide from) into P and K (elemental form)

 % P2O5 x .44 = %P (or there is 44% P in P2O5)

 &
 %P x 2.29=%P2O5

 %K2Ox.83=%K ( or there is 83% K in K2O )

 %K x 1.2=%K2O

 For Example: A 30 pound sack of fertilizer (25 - 5 - 5) , is

applied to your garden.
 The amount of N applied=.25 x 30=7.5 lbs N
 amount of P205 applied=.05 x 30=1.5 lbs & P=.44 x 1.5=0.66 lbs P
 amount of K20 applied=.05 x 30=1.5 lbs & K=.83 x 1.5=1.245 lbs.K
 Dyad = If you apply a 14 lb
sack of 22-3-14 how many
pounds of N, P2O5, and K2O did
you apply?

 N – 14 x .22 = 3.08
 P2O5 – 14x .03 = 0.42
 K2O – 14 x .14 = 1.96
Soil Fertility
 Nitrogen Fertilizer -
management of Nitrogen
requires an understanding
of the Nitrogen Cycle.
 Nitrogen is dynamic in the
soil and forms of N will
change depending on the
soil conditions.

Reed Palm – N Def on left

 Nitrogen
 NH4+ and NO3-
forms taken up
by plants
 Loss of N can
occur: 1) leaching
of NO3- , 2)
volatilization of
NH4+ to NH3
(high pH soils),
 3) immobilization
by plant or
microbe uptake,
 4) Denitrification
Nitrogen Cycle
 Fertilizer Nitrogen
 Nitrogen fertilizer should
be added to the soil when
the crop will use it, adding
excess N will cause losses
that may harm the
environment.
 Keep N & P out of water
bodies by only applying it to
soils that need the
nutrients.
 Nitrogen is expensive and
using only what the crop
needs for adequate growth Wheat with N response
is important
 N Fertilizer Rate and Application
 Rate of N application is
the management
practice that most
influences nitrate
concentrations in the
tile drainage water.
 Reducing the N rate
by 33% ( to 80 lbs N)
from the recommended
120-lb N rate for corn
after soybeans
decreased the nitrate-
N concentration in the
subsurface, drainage
water by
 2.6 mg/L (14%)
 and decreased corn
yield by 25 bu/A
(16%).

http://www.ewg.org/reports/deadzone/top10.php
 On the other hand,
increasing the N rate
by 33% above the fall-
applied 120-lb rate,
increased nitrate-N
concentration by 4.3
mg/L (23%) but
increased yield only 9
bu/A (6%).
 Time of application
studies showed
nitrate-N losses from
a corn-soybean
rotation to be ranked
 fall N > split(fall and
spring) N > spring N =
fall N with a
nitrification inhibitor. U.S. Geological Survey, 1993; 26-38.

 From G. Randall,2004
Alfalfa and
grass CRP
effectively filter
tile drain water

Randall et al., 1997

Nitrogen Pollution from Manure
 Nitrogen soil testing
 NO3- Mobile nutrient
 In drier areas use a fall or
spring nitrate-N soil test.
 In humid areas, use spring
nitrate-N test or table
value based on previous crop
and organic matter.
 The amount of rain after
the soil test may determine
if the NO3- tested for has
been leached below the root
zone.
 Nitrogen Credits

 Once the amount of N

needed for the plant is
determined -
 N credits need to be
taken for:
 Previous crop
 Previous manure
applications or sludge
 2nd year after alfalfa
 THUS it becomes important to
give N - CREDITS for previous
management activities.
 legumes, manure or other organic
additions with low C:N ratios are
adding N to the soil
 Thus this organic N needs to be
counted into the total N available
for crop growth
 And thus reduce the need for
fertilizer N. Cow Manure

Green Manure
Price of N P K
 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
 NH3 - .26 $/lb N .32 .32 .47 .42 .31
 Urea -.37 $/lb N .40 .50 .60 .52 .49
 P2O5 -.33 $/lb P .36 .46 .88 .71 .56
 K2O - .20 $/lb K .23 .27 .47 .71 .42

Source- http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/fertilizeruse/
 P - Fertility
Phosphorus is low in total
amount in the soil and low
in solubility and is readily
fixed by Fe and Al at low
pH and Ca at high pH.
H2PO4- and HPO4-- forms
taken up by plants
P Fertilizer is made from
rock phosphate
Rock phosphate mines are in
Florida & South Carolina
 Soybean Yields with P fertilizer
_______________________Yield bu/acre___
Lbs P fertilizer added Waseca Lamber.
0 31 27
23 33 29
46 35 30
69 36 30
92 37 32

Ridge Till
Soybeans
 P
 Soil test for P (Bray pH<7.4 of soil)
 0-5 ppm = very low
 6-10 ppm = LOW
 11-15 ppm = med
 16-20 ppm = high
 > =21 ppm = very high
 No reason to have soil test
> 21
 environmental problems
when P >16
 ppm x 2 = lbs/acre

P deficient tomato
 Soil P
 Crops need more P than is dissolved
in the soil solution at any one time,
therefore, this P in the solution
phase must be replenished many
times during the growing season.
 The ability of a soil to maintain
adequate levels of phosphorus in the
solution phase is the key to the
plant available P status of the soil.
The solid phase P is both organic and
inorganic P deficiency reduces root growth

Solid P Phase Solution Phase Root Hair

 Long term phosphorus soil test trends for NW Ohio

120
100

lbs/ac Bray P1
80
60
40

20
0
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Phosphorus Soil Test Trends

(A&L Great Lakes Laboratory, Inc.)

160
140
lbs/ac Bray P1

120
100 NW OH
80 SE MI
60 NE IN
40
20
0
96

97

98

99

00

01

02

03

04

05

06
19

19

19

19

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

John P. Crumrine

 Potassium Fertility (Potash)
 Potassium (K+) is a problem
on
 acid soils,
 soils with low CEC
 soils with irrigation or high
rainfall where leaching can
readily occur.
 Potassium can be stored in
the soil from one year to
the next
 K is not a pollutant - even if
leached from soil, K does
not cause environmental
problems.
K deficient corn
 K
 Different crops have different K
requirements
 Soil test :

 0-40 ppm = very low

40 – 80 ppm = low 80
120 ppm = medium
120 – 160 ppm = high
> 160 ppm = very high
 ( > 160 = no K needed)

K deficient soybeans
Potassium
 Potassium is found in minerals like
Feldspar Mineral
feldspars and micas (90% of Soil K)
 K is fixed inside of clay minerals ( 9% of soil K)
 K is on the soil exchange sites ( 1%)
 K is in the soil solution (0.1%)
Annual K Recommended for 160 bu corn yield goal
Soil Test CEC
10 20 30
50 130 150 170
150 90 110 130
250 50 70 90
_______________________________________
Ca, Mg
 Calcium and Mg - when
soils are low in Ca, Mg,
they have a pH problem
and by adding lime or
dolomite the pH and Ca,
Mg problem is corrected.
 On some acid, sandy soils
Mg deficiency on corn
has been noted. 15 lbs
as a starter or 75 lbs
broadcast corrected the
problem.

Magnesium deficiency on corn

S
 Sulfur - Most soils in Mn
would not respond to
additions of Sulfur
because of adequate levels
and atmospheric
deposition.
 However, on sandy soils in
NE Minnesota yields have
increased with 25
lbs/Acre to Alfalfa, Corn
and Small grains.
Sample Fertilizer Problem-
For your notes
 Nutrient Analysis - N - P - K = N -P2O5 - K2O
 % P = .44 x %P205 & %K = %K20 x .83
 If you apply 25 lbs of P205 how much elemental P did you
apply, 25 x .44 = 11 lbs P
 Fertilizer Bag = 20 - 5 - 10 =
 20% N, 5% P20%, 10% K20
 If you apply 50 lbs of fertilizer you put on ?
 .20x50 = 10 lbs N,
 & .05 x 50 = 2.5 lbs P205 and 1.1 lbs of P,
 & .1 x 50 = 5 lbs K20 and 4.15 lbs K.
 If you need 85 lbs of N for Corn how many lbs of
this fertilizer(20-5-10) do you need?
 85/.20 = 425 lbs fertilizer
 How many lbs of elemental K will you apply with
the 85 lbs of N.
 425 x .1 = 42.5 lbs K20 and 42.5 x .83=35.275
lb.K
Micronutrients

 Iron - Fe
 Boron - B
 Zinc - Zn
 Copper - Cu
 Molybdenum - Mo
 Chlorine – Cl
 Manganese - Mn
 *Cobalt Co
 *Nickel- grape leaf symptoms of boron deficiency; right: boron toxicity)

 Reasons why use of micronutrients has increased in recent years:

 Increased knowledge of their role in plant nutrition, deficiency symptoms in plants, and
behavior in soil.
 Higher crop yields which have increased micronutrient needs.
 Improved analytical methods, resulting in more soil tests and improved fertilizer
recommendations.
 Improved sources of micronutrient fertilizers and methods of incorporation into other
fertilizers.
 Land-shaping practices, such as terracing or land leveling for irrigation, which remove topsoil
containing organic matter, often associated with most of the available micronutrient supply.
 (Reference: The Fertilizer Handbook / The Fertilizer Institute - pp 91-92)
 Role of Micronutrients

 Boron is believed to be involved in carbohydrate

transport in plants; it also assists in metabolic
regulation .
 Chlorine is necessary for osmosis and ionic balance; it also
plays a role in photosynthesis.
 Zinc participates in chlorophyll formation, and also activates
many enzymes
 Copper is a component of some enzymes and of vitamin A.
 Iron is essential for chlorophyll synthesis, which is why an iron
deficiency results in chlorosis.
 Manganese activates some important enzymes involved in
chlorophyll formation
 Molybdenum is used by plants to reduce nitrates into usable
forms
 *Cobalt is thought to be an important catalyst in nitrogen
fixation. It may need to be added to some soils before seeding
legumes .
 *Nickel has only recently been shown to be an essential
nutrient for plants. Ni-deficient conditions, barley plants fail
to produce viable grain because of a disruption of the normal
grain-filling and maturation processes.
 Micronutrients
 Correcting pH
problems for most
soils will correct
micronutrient
deficiencies Fe Deficiency on rhododendron,

 Most common
deficiency is Iron on
alkaline soils for those
plants that like acid
conditions.

Fe deficiency on pin oak

 Nutrient Management
 Need to manage
nutrients
 Plant growth
 Feed the world
 Economic
 Aesthetic
 Environmental
 N in drinking water
 Hypoxia Gulf of Mexico
 Eutrophication of fresh
waters
Jubilees (oxygen-deficient waters) occur in
coastal areas around the world, as a result of
excessive nutrients (particularly nitrogen)
flowing from rivers into oceans.
 Justus von Liebig’s Law of Minimum

 Plant production
can be no greater
than that level
allowed by the
growth factor
present in the
lowest amount
relative to the
optimum amount
for that factor
 Tools for detecting nutrient deficiency

 1) Tissue testing -involves a complete

and detailed laboratory analysis of
nutrient elements in the plant leaves.
This is a very accurate way of
assessing how much nutrient the plant
has actually taken up from the soil.
 Recommendations are made on the
basis of these test results:
 Backed by research
 Dependent on plant growth stage and
plant part.
 Soil testing

 Collecting a soil
sample to determine
the current nutrient
status of the soil.
Soil Sampling
Sufficiency Method of Nutrient Needs

 Uses soil testing to predict fertilizer needs.

 Based on green house and field research.
 Soil test is a predictive tool.
 Gives soil credit for it’s nutrient providing ability.
 Correlation
 Process used to determine if
 a soil nutrient, as
extracted by a soil test,
 and crop response to
added nutrient, are so
related that one directly
implies the other.
Exploratory fertilization trial
Greenhouse – a
controlled environment
with soil homogeneity.
 Trials in field with
selected soils not as
controlled but needed
to verify greenhouse
trials.
 Determine
percentage yield 120
values for each 110
fertilizer rate trial.

Relative corn yield (% )

100
 Determine soil test
values for nutrient 90
being studied. 80
 Plot percentage yield
70
vs soil test value.
60

50
40
0 20 40 60 80
Bray-P (ppm)
Soil test categories

Category Chance of
response
1.00

Profitable Response
Very low 90 % 0.85

Probability of
0.60
Low 75 % 0.40

Medium 50 % 0.15
0.00
V. Low Low Med. High V. Hig
High 30 %
Level of soil fertility

Very high 10 %
Improving soil fertility the 'green' way

 Importance of
expanding the use of
agricultural production
methods that are both
agronomically and
economically
sustainable.

Legume intercropped with maize in

Wenchi, Ghana, Africa