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NCERA013: Soil Testing and Plant Analysis

Duration:
October 01, 2011 to September 30, 2016
Administrative Advisor(s):
Kenneth F. Grafton (ND.) - Research
NIFA Reps:
Raymond Knighton

Statement of Issue(s) and Justification:

Soil testing and plant analysis remain the cornerstones of economically profitable and environmentally sustainable crop production systems. Insufficient fertilizer inputs will negatively impact crop yield and profitability, while excessive fertilizer applications, especially of nitrogen and phosphorus, can negatively impact surface- and ground-water quality. Methods for soil testing and plant analysis continue to evolve as analytical methods and crop production strategies change; and no single agricultural research and extension institution has the resources required to develop and validate all of the soil and plant testing methodologies currently used in the North Central region. However, research conducted in one state is often relevant to other states so cooperation and data sharing among states avoids unnecessary duplication of research and helps extend the utility of individual research results for extension related activities. The majority of producer soil and plant tissue samples in the North Central region are now analyzed by commercial laboratories, increased communication between land grant universities and commercial laboratories is vital to ensure consistency in soil testing and plant analysis methods and interpretation. Improved collaboration with this committee and commercial laboratories will be an area of emphasis in this project. In addition, land grant university guidance documents for fertilizer recommendations and soil and plant tissue sampling have become regulatory documents for livestock operations that must comply with the USEPA CAFO rule, so there is a great need to ensure that current approaches for soil and plant tissue sampling and interpretation meet the dual goals of optimum production and environmental protection. A distinct need continues for a regional committee to stimulate and encourage interstate cooperation and transfer of soil testing and plant analysis information among land grant universities, commercial laboratories, state and federal agencies, and the diverse clientele served by these entities. The NCERA013 Committee serves to meet this need by facilitating cooperative research and educational programs in soil testing and plant analysis throughout the North Central region.

Objectives

  1. Develop a regional guidance manual explaining appropriate methods or strategies for soil sampling, including the pros and cons of the various methods available to producers and the agronomic professionals that work with them.
  2. Develop a regional guidance document for the concepts and rationale used to develop phosphorus and potassium fertilizer recommendations. The ultimate objective of this activity will be to develop fertilizer recommendations that are based on differences in crop, soil, climate and management rather than state boundaries.
  3. Develop a more formalized structure for information exchange between university and commercial soil test laboratory personnel throughout the region. This will likely include alternating the time for annual meetings every other year to allow for more commercial soil testing laboratory personnel input.
  4. Compile recent data on crop sulfur response studies with a goal to develop improved guidance on the management of this important plant nutrient.
  5. Develop a website to improve the marketing of the products and activities generated by this committee.

Procedures and Activities

The committee will be composed of land grant university representatives with expertise in laboratory operations, soil testing and plant analysis, and soil and plant tissue test calibration and correlation studies to develop nutrient recommendations. This committee will:

1. Meet annually to discuss: 1) the principles underlying various soil and plant tissue tests, 2) results of research on new analytical methods, innovations in laboratory operations and instrumentation, 3) the use of information technology and computer programming for lime and nutrient recommendations, 4) the role of soil and plant tissue testing in nutrient management plan development and implementation and 5) soil test result summaries by state and geographic regions.

2. Collaborate in research studies and literature reviews on various aspects of soil fertility diagnosis and correction including laboratory quality control and quality assurance, soil and plant tissue test correlations with crop responses to nutrient applications.

3. Foster the initiation of additional research where needed to improve soil testing, plant analyses and nutrient application recommendations by bringing these needs to the attention of the appropriate persons or agencies.

4. Maintain representation and provide advice to the North American Proficiency Testing (NAPT) program and state entities involved in laboratory oversight, and improve communications with the NC218, SERA006, SERA017 and NCERA180 Regional Committees. Continue the working relationship with SERA-IEG-6.

5. Disseminate outputs through, workshops, publications, and a new website.

Expected Outcomes and Impacts:

Project Participation:

Include a completed Appendix E form

Educational Plan:

Prepare and publish bulletins, organize regional workshops in 2011, 2013 and 2015, and otherwise serve as a source of information on soil and plant analyses, interpretation of analyses and nutrient application recommendations to the public. Revise and update the recommended methods bulletin as required.

Interact with SERA006 to exchange ideas and information. A representative of this committee will attend the annual meeting of the SERA006 committee to coordinate research and educational activities with that committee. Likewise, a representative of the SERA006 committee will be invited to this committees annual meeting.

The North Central Region has a large number of commercial soil testing laboratories that utilize methodologies that have been previously proposed, evaluated and adopted as standard methods for soil analysis by this committee. We will increase our formal interactions with commercial soil testing laboratories during this project period. We will strive to involve members of federal agencies such as USDA, ARS and EPA in committee activities.

Committee members also make recommendations on how these tests are to be interpreted. This committee has impacted soil testing in states within the region and is regarded as an authoritative source for information on soil testing and plant analysis across the North Central Region. The recommendations from this committee help to limit nutrient applications that can have adverse environmental consequences while helping producers to identify and overcome nutrient deficiencies. We will increase our formal interactions with NC218 and SERA017 to ensure that nitrogen and phosphorus management information generated by those committees are similar to the recommendations generated by NCERA013.

Governance:

The recommended Standard Governance for multistate research activities include the election of a Chair, a Chair-elect, and a Secretary. All officers will be elected for two-year terms to provide continuity. Administrative guidance will be provided by an assigned Administrative Advisor and a CSREES Representative.

Literature Cited:

Kamprath, E.J., Beegle, D.B., Fixen, P.E., Hodges, S.C., Joern, B.C., Mallarino, A.P., Miller, R.O., Sims, J.T., Ward, R., Wolf, A.M., 2000. Relevance of soil testing to agriculture and the environment. Issue Paper no. 15. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, Ames,IA. NCR-13, 1998. Recommended chemical soil test procedures for the North Central Region,. North Central Regional Publication no. 221. Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station.

NCR-13, 2001. Soil sampling for variable rate fertilizer and lime application. North Central Multistate Report 348. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

Attachments:

none

Internal Linkages:

External Linkages:

Signatures:


s:/Kenneth F. Grafton

Last Modified: 25-May-2011

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