Think of nitrogen carryover as ‘money in the bank’ for many crops, says John Heard, soil fertility specialist with Manitoba Agriculture – an even more important point to consider in a time of high fertilizer prices.
“Soil testing is really not an option. It’s a must in order to fine tune recommendations,” says Heard.
4R efficiency is one way to get there, but Heard also observed in one study that it’s important to know what type of soil you’re dealing with when testing in order to properly gauge the amount of residual nitrate you may have.
In this video from Manitoba Ag Days earlier this year, Heard shares his thoughts on the importance of soil testing, how fertilizer placement can impact protein levels in wheat, and why cutting back on inputs may work in the short term to save money but ultimately you’ll need to replenish your depleted soils.
Video by Greg Berg
