By Blake Barlow
Fall field preparation is the time when a little extra effort pays off in a big way for next year’s soybean crop. We have plenty of data in Missouri that tells us what really matters this time of year, and it starts with the soil.
Fall is the best window to pull soil samples and see where you stand on your soil’s pH, phosphorus and potassium levels. University of Missouri data continues to show that if pH isn’t right, nothing works the way it should. Your crop will not be able to uptake the nutrients, and herbicides may not be as effective.
Lime applications should be made in the fall, as the lime has several months to react and neutralize acidity before planting season rolls around. Those same long-term trials across Missouri also make it clear that for phosphorus and potassium, hitting the right soil-test levels matters far more than exactly when you apply it. The key is to build up to those agronomic critical values and maintain them, especially in fields that have been mined down after a few years of high yields. Beyond fertility, this is also the season to think about compaction and water management. Missouri’s claypan soils are a constant balancing act: They hold water when you do not want them to and crack when it gets dry.
Research out of the University of Missouri shows that running equipment on wet ground can cause long-term yield drag from compaction, especially in the top 8 inches of those heavy soils. If you have a field that has been rutted up from harvest or spraying during the season, plan to fix it while it’s dry and stable, not during the spring rush. If your fields have drainage issues, this is the best time to get tile installed or repaired. Missouri studies on tile and drainage have shown approximately a 20% yield bump in soybeans and far more consistency across wet and dry seasons.
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