2014 LOGAN COUNTY FARM OUTLOOK MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com November 4, 2014 35
He emphasizes no-till or modified no-till.
The combined measures consistently result
in healthier soil conditions that lead to
lower crop input costs and increase yields.
Each type of plant has specific nutrient
needs. Corn needs differ from soybean.
While elements like phosphorous, calcium
and other essential nutrients are plentiful
in Illinois soils, they are often inaccessible
to the plant. In less than optimal soil
conditions when a plants roots are unable
to take up the needed nutrients, or the
nutrients are locked up, the plant’s health
suffers giving opportunity for insect or
disease infections, and the general result is
lesser and lower quality product.
A pound of roots equates to a pound of
grain.
The healthier the plant, the more able it
will be able to withstand uncontrollable
environmental stresses -- wet soils,
drought, wind, cold; and biological stresses
-- insects and disease. Also, nutrients taken
up by a plant may influence nutritional
values in products processed for human,
livestock and pet foods consumption.
Soil is a solution full of nutrients subject to
change with the environment throughout
a season and over years. Dr. Becker uses
soil and plant tissue tests to macro-manage
major and minor nutrients that bring soils
into balance for crop needs.
Becker says that farmers focus too much
on the standard nitrogen, phosphorous
and potassium (NPK), and not enough on
the other thirteen essential elements that
act as ‘micronutrients’ for healthy plant
tissue. While N and K make a corn stand;
phosphorous, sulfur and zinc are important
too.
He uses soil tests to determine the amounts
of nutrients already present in the soil.
Comparatives to plant tissue tests show
what is not being absorbed and what might
be going on in a soil. The nutrients might
be present in a soil but not in an available
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