The USDA says nutrient management is inconsistent across farms in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.. Let's dig into how balancing key nutrients can boost soil health, crop yields and profits.
Feed Your Soil and Grow Your Yields With a Balanced Diet of Nutrients
Jason Imes, Director of Market Development | Omya Kansas
More than one Midwest farmer has told me their soil is their most valuable asset. But are we giving our soil the nourishment it needs to reach its full potential, season after season? The USDA says nutrient management is inconsistent across farms in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.. Let's dig into how balancing key nutrients can boost soil health, crop yields and profits.
Working with a nutrient management expert is advised, especially when starting. Agronomists recommend that farmers work with nutrient management service providers such as certified crop advisers (CCAs), third-party service providers (TSPs), retail fertilizer personnel and experts with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), a federal agency within the USDA.
The Big Six: Essential Soil Nutrients
To optimize your collaboration, there’s a handful of nutrients every Midwest farmer should be familiar with. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur—these six nutrients form the backbone of soil fertility. Each has a vital function in plant growth and development:
Nitrogen (N): Promotes leafy growth and chlorophyll production
Phosphorus (P): Supports root development and energy transfer
Potassium (K): Regulates water uptake and strengthens stems
Calcium (Ca): Builds cell walls and improves nutrient uptake
Magnesium (Mg): Essential for photosynthesis
Sulfur (S): Aids protein synthesis and chlorophyll formation
With the cost of nitrogen and other key fertilizers rising sharply after the pandemic, it pays to make sure you’re using the right amounts.
A Balanced and Tailored Approach to Managing Soil Nutrients
Nutrient management alone won’t guarantee bumper crops, but as part of a balanced soil health approach tailored to your land and specific crops, it can be the difference between a strong yield and a weak one. To get the most out of your nutrient management efforts, you also have to observe conservation practices to limit runoff and practices that prevent organic materials from leaving fields. Nutrient management becomes fully effective only when combined with soil health best practices.
A research paper from the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University, explains the synergy: “In combination, these practices reduce agricultural non-point source pollution (pollution caused by diffuse runoff) and enhance economically sustainable crop production. However, increased nutrient management practice implementation requires increased producer awareness and well-informed crop advisers.”
Four Soil Practices for Healthy Crops and Healthy Profits
Efficient nutrient management is a win-win for farmers and the environment. By giving our soils the balanced nutrition they need, we can grow healthier crops, minimize environmental impacts, reduce input costs and increase profits.
As the NRCS puts it: "Maximizing soil health is essential to maximizing profitability." The agency identifies four key practices that complement nutrient management for overall soil health:
- Maximize the presence of living roots
- Minimize disturbance
- Maximize soil cover
- Maximize biodiversity
Prioritizing these practices boosts nutrient management effectiveness and treats your soil like the complex, living system it is. By feeding it a balanced diet of essential nutrients under optimal conditions, you'll reap the rewards in your fields and bottom line.
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The Science and Financing of Nutrient Balancing
Achieving the right nutrient balance for your fields and crops involves some serious agronomy and financial investment, which is why the USDA offers a bushel of nutrient management resources. The agency says farmers who implement a nutrient management plan can save “an average of $30 per acre on their fertilizer bill.”
Nutrient use efficiency is about applying the right source of nutrients at the right rate, time and place to match crop needs. This optimizes yield while minimizing losses to the environment. Too little of any nutrient can limit growth, while excess can lead to runoff, environmental issues and wasted material. Every field has different chemistry and nutrient needs vary by crop, so a site-specific approach is needed.
Soil testing is the foundation of efficient nutrient management. Regular testing helps farmers track nutrient levels and make informed decisions about fertilizer applications. The goal is to maintain optimal ranges for each nutrient based on crop needs and soil type. As precision farming technology advances with new testing tools constantly coming to market, farmers can collect soil health data from different parts of the same field to address issues with pinpoint accuracy.
Corn, Soybeans and Wheat: Nutrient Needs Vary
Our major Midwest crops have different nutrient requirements that are good to know when working with your CCA:
Corn is a heavy nitrogen feeder, typically needing 1 pound of N per bushel of expected yield. It also requires significant amounts of phosphorus and potassium.
Soybeans fix their own nitrogen but benefit from starter N early in the season. They have high demands for phosphorus and potassium.
Wheat needs a balanced nutrient profile, with particular emphasis on nitrogen and sulfur to boost protein content.
Beyond NPK: Don't Neglect Secondary Nutrients
While nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium often get the most attention because they’re needed in higher amounts, secondary macronutrients like calcium, magnesium and sulfur are increasingly important. For example, sulfur deficiency can lead to lower yields in crops like corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat in the Midwest.
Agronomists at Purdue and Michigan State say a yellowing of foliage has been caused by a lack of sulfur in the region in recent years. They cited several reasons sulfur deficiency is becoming more common, including “reduced atmospheric S deposition, continued and increasing crop removal of S, higher amounts of crop residues, greater use of no-tillage and earlier planting into cool, wet soils.”
Calcium and magnesium are also critical. They’re needed for healthy plants and soil structure. In acidic soils, liming with calcium carbonate or dolomitic limestone (which contains both calcium and magnesium) improves nutrient availability and crop performance.
Efficiency Strategies for Nutrient Management
To maximize nutrient use efficiency on your farm, work with your CCA or other soil health expert to:
1. Test soil regularly and maintain good records
2. Use variable rate technology for precise application
3. Time applications to match crop uptake patterns
4. Consider split applications for nitrogen
5. Use slow-release fertilizers where appropriate
6. Incorporate cover crops to capture and recycle nutrients
7. Manage crop residues to return nutrients to the soil
Remember, every farm is unique. Take advantage of your local extension office or crop consultant to develop a nutrient management plan tailored to your specific soil conditions and crop needs. Your soil and your yields will thank you.
Written by Jason Imes, Director of Market Development, Omya Kansas
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AgriTechTomorrow
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