What’s New with K Fertilizer Use?

Apr 10, 2018

By Charles Wortmann

Available research-based information continues to verify that the soil test potassium (K) level of 125 ppm as a critical level for K application is adequately high for agronomic crops of Nebraska. The probability of profitable response to K application is very low if soil test K is above 125 ppm.

In three studies of corn response to applied K involving over 50 trials, there was a 2-4 bu/ac average decrease in yield during the year of application. The decrease was not greater with application of 86 compared with 43 lb/ac of K2O. The cause of the decrease has not been well determined. There is no evidence for such a decrease with other crops or of the reduction effect for corn persisting beyond the year of application although this has not been well-studied. These results suggest that

fertilizer K should not be applied if not needed;
infrequent higher rate applications are better than annual lower rate applications; and
K may be better applied to another crop in the rotation rather than corn.

The UNL K recommendations are available in the Nebraska Extension publication, Nutrient Management for Agronomic Crops of Nebraska (EC155). We realize that some advisors recommend K rates in excess of UNL recommendations, but available research-based information indicates that these higher rates reduce profit potential.

Source: unl.edu

Video: Grazing Network Group: What it is and how it benefits our operation

In the spring of 2023 OMAFA, along with the University of Guelph, gathered a group of 18 producers from the beef, sheep, and dairy sectors to support a three to four year research project related to measuring grass growth in Ontario. The producers use a Rising Plate Meter to capture grass growth and record livestock movements. This presentation will explain how the group interact/support one another, some initial findings, as well as the benefits for the research team and our farm.

The purpose of the Profitable Pastures conference is to bring fresh ideas and new research results to Ontario grazing managers across the ruminant livestock sectors. These conferences have a major focus on pasture management