IT’S A BIG DEAL: NUTRIENT REPLENISHMENT FOR 2021

Yields were good to great this year, and while the grain bins are full of rich grain, the soil is depleted of valuable nutrients.

It’s time to replenish the nutrients lost from crop removal.

Kevin Carlson, Federated agronomy sales manager, offer this example for 200-bushel corn. Considering grain removal alone, each acre loses:

• 70 lbs. of P2O5, which is equivalent to 150 lbs. of DAP;
• 50 lbs. of K2O, which is equivalent to 83 lbs. of 0-0-60 potash;

To restore available nutrients after those losses, each corn acre needs:

• 102 lbs. of P2O5, which is equivalent to 220 lbs. of DAP;
• 270 lbs. of K2O, which is equivalent to 450 lbs. of potash.

The total nutrient requirement is higher when figuring the stover along with the grain removal.

On the soybean side, for 60-bushel beans, each acre loses in grain removal:

• 44 lbs. of P2O5, which is equivalent to 100 lbs. of DAP;
• 72 lbs, of K2O, which is equivalent to 120 lbs. of potash.    

Carlson said, “We actually remove more K in soybeans than we do in corn (with grain removal). Soybeans love potassium; it’s important.”

“Between the two crops,” said Carlson, “in a corn and soybean rotation, we are looking at grain removal of 114 lbs. of P2O5, which is equivalent to 250 lbs. of DAP, and 122 lbs. of K2O, which is equivalent to 200 lbs. of potash.”

Potassium is easier and cheaper to apply, he noted, so it’s typically well supplied, but he noted a trend of lower tests for phosphorous – which means “replenishing applications aren’t happening,” he said, and that means yields fall.

To ensure next year’s crop has the nutrients it needs, start with the ever-important soil test and go from there. Assess 2020 yields and nutrient needs for 2021, then talk to your Federated Agronomist to make plans and place fertilizer orders.