Basics of Crop Production

1. Basics of Crop Production Soil and Plant Fertility

2. Soil Quality • This is the most important factor in farm crop production. • Soils will determine which plant species yields the most, the time of harvest, and ultimately the investment a landowner must make to yield an acceptable economic return from management.

3. Soil Profile The soil profile shows the layers, known as horizons that represent the soil. Horizons formed over the centuries due mostly form weathering. A lettering system is used to name the different horizons.

4. Where can you find info on a farm’s soil? • In the County SoilSurvey Map. • There are Tables on several land options such as Woodland Management and Productivitywhich provides a lot of valuable information on the potential for soil erosion, seedling mortality, species preference, and tree growth.

5. County Soils Map There is even a table in the Soil Survey Map that evaluates sites for wildlife habitat.

6. Factors Controlling Plant Growth • Light • Mechanical Support • Heat • Air • Water • Nutrients • All except for light, involves soil

7. Major Components of Soil 50%

8. Soil Terminology • Soil texture - concerns the size of mineral particles, specifically the relative proportion of various size groups in a given soil • Soil structure - the arrangement of soil particles into groups of aggregates

9. Soil Texture • Soil texture is separated into three soil separates based on particle size. • Sand • Silt • Clay

10. Soil Texture • Silt, clay - imparts a fine texture and slow water and air movement, also high water holding capacity • Sandy to gravelly - are referred to as lighter soils with lower water holding capacity

11. SoilTexture • Sandy soils are normally very well drained and often lack nutrients due to constant leaching loss. • Mostly clay soils are at the opposite end of the soil spectrum. They tend to allow water to move through more slowly and will stay wetter longer. They will hold nutrients.

12. Soil Terminology • Pore space - is that portion of the soil occupied by air and water - sandy soils have low soil porosity, while silt and clay soils have high soil porosity • Soil compaction - fine textured, wet soils are more easily compacted - compaction reduces pore spaces

13. Soil Terminology • Soil depth - defined as that depth of soil material favorable for plant root penetration - deep, well drained soils are the best

14. Soil Terminology • Slope - land topography largely determines the amount of drainage, runoff, and erosion - the steeper the land, the more management is required

15. Soil Terminology • Organic matter - it consists of plant and animal residues in various stages of decay - adequate levels benefit soil by: 1) improving physical condition 2) increasing water infiltration 3) improving soil tilth 4) decreasing erosion losses 5) supplying plant nutrients 6) holding cation nutrients

16. Soil Terminology • pH - expression of both acidity and alkalinity on a scale whose values run from 0 to 14 with 7 representing neutrality, <7 represents acidity, and >7 represents alkalinity • pH has a significant impact on the availability of soil nutrients • pH 6.5 - pH objective for most ag crops

17. pH Scale The figure shows the break down of where acidity to alkalinity is on the pH scale. PH 7 is neutral.

18. pH Effect on Nutrient Availability This has a direct impact on plant health. For most agricultural crop recommendations, the goal is to have a 6.5 pH. At this pH most of the essential plant nutrients are available. This graphic shows how the major plant nutrients change in availability with the increase and decrease of pH. The wider the black band in this graphic, the more available the nutrient.

19. pH Preferences by Plants As can be seen from the black bands, most plants prefer a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. This graphic shows the range in pH preferred by plants. This shows that it is important for producers to know the fertility and pH requirements of the plants they plan to grow. A pH below 5.5 is considered to be very acid and above 7.0 is alkaline. .

20. Limiting Factors • A layer which restricts the downward penetration of a plant’s root system will reduce growth in direct relation to the depth of the layer. • On rare occasions, a limiting layer may increase site productivity, such as on sandy soils where the layer may retard leaching of nutrients and increase available moisture. Root

21. Subsoiling Subsoilers have long shanks that physically dig down to break open the hard soil to form channels where plant roots can penetrate. There are farm implements available that can breakup soil hard pans and improve the crop production in otherwise limited soils.

22. 16 Essential Elements (part 1) The primary elements are plant nutrients that are needed and most used by plants for growth. The primary nutrients can be found in commercial complete fertilizers as the fertilizer number reflects these three elements, i.e. 10-6-4. • Primary Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) • Secondary Sulfur (S) Magnesium (Mg) Calcium (Ca) Secondary elements are the next most needed plant nutrients. Magnesium and calcium are obtained from liming materials. During the Industrial revolution, most of our sulfur came from air pollution (sulfur dioxide). In recent years, producers have had to routinely include supplemental sulfur to their crop fertility programs as the air around us becomes less contaminated with sulfur.

23. 16 Essential Elements (part 2) • Micro-nutrients Iron (Fe) Manganese (Mn) Boron (B) Chlorine (Cl) Zinc (Zn) Copper (Cu) Molybdenum (Mo)

24. 16 Essential Elements (part 3) • The final three (3) essential elements to plant growth come mostly from air and water. • They are: Carbon (C) Hydrogen (H) Oxygen (O)

25. The Primary Elements • Nitrogen: It gives plants their green color, promotes above ground growth, and regulates utilization of other elements. • Phosphorus: It has favorable affect on - cell division - stem strength - crop maturation - root development - flowering/fruiting - disease resistance

26. The Primary Elements (con’t) • Potassium (K) - It is essential for starch formation and translocation of sugars. It is also essential to the development of chlorophyll. K helps plants to over-winter.

27. What is the nutrient content of commercial fertilizers? • Expressed as a percent called the “guaranteed analysis” or fertilizer grade. • Nutrient content always appears in this order: % total nitrogen % available phosphate (P2O5), or phosphoric acid % soluble potash (K2O)

28. The Fertilizer Number The fertilizer number refers to a ratio of N-P-K 5-10-5 (1-2-1 ratio) has: 5% N 10% P205 5% K20 = 20% The other 80% of the material is called the carrier. This is typically some inert material. 10 - 6 - 4 (2-1-1 ratio) 10 -10 -10 (1-1-1 ratio)

29. What does a fertilizer guarantee mean? This bag contains: 5% nitrogen--10% phosphate--15% potash or 2.5 lbs. nitrogen 5 lbs. phosphate 7.5 lbs. potash Ag-Gro-Pro 5-10-15 50 lbs.

30. Common Fertilizers • Urea 46 - 0 - 0 • Ammonium nitrate 34 - 0 - 0 • UAN 30 - 0 - 0 • Ammonium sulfate 21 - 0 - 0 • Diammonium phosphate 18 - 46 - 0 • Triple superphosphate 0 - 46 - 0 • Muriate of potash 0 - 0 - 60

31. Determining Fertilizer Need Production Goal: Total lb/A N - P - K soil reserve - N –P - K crop residue - N manure - N - P - K ______________ Commercial fertilizer + lb/A N - P - K

32. Example: Calculating the Quantity of Commercial Fertilizer Required to meet a Nutrient Recommendation Jasper Little Farm: • needs 60 lbs./A of potash (K2O) on his soybean crop • broadcasts muriate of potash (0-0-60) pre-plant • see Example 4-1, p.18 in training guide

33. Calculating Quantity of Commercial Fertilizer 1) RECORD recommended quantity of nutrient (see nutrient management plan). 2) RECORD the percentage of nutrient in the preferred product, muriate of potash. 3) CONVERT the percentage of nutrient to a decimal fraction by multiplying the % by .01 60 lbs./A 60% 60 x 0.01 = .60

34. Calculating the Quantity of Commercial FertilizerCALCULATE the quantity of muriate of potash required in lbs./A: divide the recommended quantity of nutrient by the nutrient content expressed as a decimal fraction. Little needs 100 lbs. of muriate of potash to supply 60 lbs. of potash.Done! 60 lbs./A ÷ 0.60 = 100 lbs./A

35. Determining Production Goal • Cropping history • Soil Survey Map/Soil Capability Chart • Investigate species/variety potential - other growers - field days - private and university trial results • FSA records • Experimentation

36. MASCAP MARYLAND’S AGRONOMIC SOIL CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM Va. A. Bandel, and E.A. Heger Agronomy Department Cooperative Extension Service University of Maryland September 1994 Determining Yield Goal • Take the average yield for typical years that a crop is grown in a certain field. • Estimate yields goal by averaging the yield from the best 3 of 5 growing seasons. • When actual yield data is not available, estimated yields for the soil type in the field can be found in “MASCAP”.

37. Soil Reserve • Soil test - university lab - private labs • Frequency of testing - depends on crop and management • Typical test looks at P, K, Ca, Mg, O.M., and pH. Minors are as needed.

38. Fig. 1-1: Phosphate Recommendation (lbs/A)as a function of soil fertility level (FIV-P)for corn grain (yield goal-150 bu/A) # P205/A Excessive Optimum Low Medium

39. Crop Residue • Benefits left by a previous crop or cover crop • Previous crops leave little unless it was a leguminous crop • Leguminous crops leave nitrogen • The amount of N left depends on the species of legume and the stand density and maturity. • Cover crops are not harvested and will recover nutrients otherwise lost.

40. Manure Analysis is available from the University of Maryland’s Soil Testing Laboratory.

41. How much of the nitrogen in manure is plant-available? It depends on: * the nitrogen content * animal species * incorporation practices

42. Figure 2- 3b. Distribution of organic nitrogen & ammonium nitrogen in dairy manure This dairy manure contains 12 pounds of total nitrogen per ton.

43. Available Organic Nitrogen Only part of the nitrogen in manure becomes plant-available -- through the process of mineralization -- the year it’s applied.

44. Nitrogen “Credits” • Organic nitrogen in organic sources continues to break down or mineralize for several years after application. • The largest proportion of this organic nitrogen breaks down and becomes available in the year of application. • Organic sources include manure, biosolids (sludge), and composts.

45. Nitrogen “Credits” • Progressively smaller amounts of the organic nitrogen break down and become available in the subsequent years. • Credit needs to be given to this available nitrogen from previously applied manure to the current year’s nitrogen recommendation.

46. Figure 2- 4b: Distribution of Available Nitrogen from Organic and Ammonium Nitrogen Components in Dairy Manure 0.6 lb 2.4 lb 6 lb 3 lb This dairy manure contains 12 pounds of total nitrogen and 5.4 pounds of available nitrogen per ton

47. A funny slide to breakup the class. This could be an Iraqi surface to airmissile. Don’t Overload!

48. Manure Mineralization Factors • Vary by animal species. • See Table 2-1 in the Nutrient Applicator Guide. The mineralization rate of manure varies between animal species. A table explaining these differences can be found in the Nutrient Applicator Guide on page 10.

49. Available Ammonium Nitrogen • NH4 is a plant-available form of N. • When manure is left on the soil surface after application, it can be lost through the process of volatilization. Nitrogen Loss

50. Estimated Manure Values • Dairy (fresh, spread daily) 89% moist. 7 - 3 - 6 (lb/T) • Dairy (stored outside, leachate lost) 87% moist. 3 - 2.5 - 4 (lb/T) • Poultry (layer stored in pit) 65% moist. 25 - 27 - 24 (lb/T) • Swine (storage tank beneath slotted floor) 95% moist. 2.5 - 3 - 5 (lb/T) • Beef (bedded manure pack under roof) 80% moist. 5 - 4 - 8 (lb/T)