2017 | Soil Solutions LLC

Humic Acid and Fulvic Acid Showed Benefits in 70% of Tests Across All Soils

April 13, 2017

Research conducted on farms across Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota has shown a positive yield benefit from using humic acid in 24 of 35 fields (See Chart Below). The results were even more conclusive when targeting lower organic matter or eroded soils and/or fields that were under drought stress. Although drought stress increased the chance of getting a yield response, the greatest yield response was observed in a North Central Nebraska Irrigated field where a 71% increase in yield was noted.

Noteworthy is that most of these humic acid applications were applied at the same time as a pesticide, primarily herbicide, was being applied. This results in less application cost since the pesticide was a planned application. However, benefits of humic and fulvic acids are usually greatest when applied with plant nutrients. It is my opinion an even higher confidence of response could be realized if applying these products with nutrient applications.

Responses have also been observed in soybeans where humic acid has been applied. In 2013, pod counts have increased as much as 23%, however, due to late season stresses, yield responses were 7% higher where humic acid was applied.

In Conclusion, Humic and Fulvic Acids are tools farmers should be using to improve yields across their farms. Some ways to assure consistent responses are:

Apply specifically to lower organic matter soils or eroded soils.
Apply in lighter textured, more droughty soils.
Use in high pH soils where nutrient tie-up is greater, especially where iron deficiency is a concern.
Apply in soils where there are other restrictions such as sodium (>2% sodium base saturation) or aluminum toxicity (pH<5.3).
Apply Fulvic acid especially with foliar nutrition or with in-row fertility to enhance nutrient uptake.
Apply Humic Acid with nitrogen fertilizers (28-0-0) to reduce the losses and enhance the response and efficiency of the nitrogen.

Using Humic Acid and Fulvic Acid can reduce the variability in yield that a farmer experiences across his fields due to differences in soils. Call us at Soil Solutions if you are interested in trying Nature Gro (Fulvic Acid) or Nature Gro (C) (Humic Acid) on your farm this year.

Can I Afford To Buy Farmland?

April 5, 2017

Farmland values have benefited from the near record low interest rates over the past 10 years by decreasing the cost of money for investors. During that same time commodity prices (particularly corn and soybeans) have also benefitted from the weak dollar because it has made our commodities a better value for foreign countries. Commodity prices also rose to record levels during 2012 through 2014 due to drought conditions affecting overall production and lowering carryover stocks. These increases in commodity prices coupled with the low interests rates created a “perfect storm” for increased demand for farmland.

One question for farmers and investors alike moving ahead is, “How much affect will an increase in interest rates have on farmland demand and prices?” More specifically, how much less should I pay for land if the interest rate climbs 1%, 2%, 3% or more? Likewise, if the dollar strengthens relative to other countries’ currencies, decreasing export demand and lowering commodity prices, how much affect will this have on farmland values?

Farmers may lack a tool to analyze different scenarios in evaluating farmland purchases over time. We have added to our website links to a couple of calculators that may help you in modeling how land values may change given different expectations. One of these is the Farmland Investment Calculator and can be found under the Resources tab on our website. Then click on Additional Resource Links.

Included in this calculator, are projections for income as you enter production inputs and different yield goals. Inputs and yields can vary significantly from farm to farm. Below is a screenshot of the annual expense page of the calculator where you can customize for your operation.

Soil Tests should be used to evaluate possible need for major crop input expenses such as lime and fertilizer and crop management which may change the profitability picture or the yield goals. You are always welcome to call upon the experts at Soil Solutions to help you answer questions you may have concerning soil tests or cropping decisions.

An additional calculator that you can access on our website is the Land Loan Calculator. This calculator is useful in comparing payment schedules as interest rates change or if you increase the principal payments each month. It can also show how the value of your land can increase over the life of your loan by putting in appreciation rates. We hope these are helpful tools in making financial decisions in the years to come. Farmland has been a good investment over time and will continue to be into the future, but it must be able to cash flow within your operation.

What About Calcium and Magnesium Ratios?

January 6, 2017

Each year we get many questions about calcium/magnesium ratios on soil tests. What is the ideal ratio? How high is too high for magnesium? What can I do if I have a very high magnesium level? Etc.

You also may read articles that will say that magnesium levels don’t matter unless you are on sandy soils and have a magnesium deficiency. I hopefully can clarify some of these “murky waters”. First, I will say that calcium/magnesium ratios are not about assessing whether you have sufficient nutrient levels of both. It is about soil and water management. The calcium/magnesium ratios will be more of a factor in stressful years than in non-stress years.

For optimum soil and water management it is best to have the base saturation of magnesium around 15% and the base saturation of calcium above 75%. The reason for this is that calcium will flocculate (group together) the soil clays into aggregates. This means that there will be more pore space, better aeration and more root development. Magnesium molecules, due to their large hydrated radius (as much as 22 molecules of water around each magnesium molecule), will cause clay particles to stay farther apart. This means that the soil has less pore space, becomes a more dense, tighter soil that will decrease microbial activity and root growth. When these soils dry, they also become very hard which also reduces root growth and nutrient uptake.

These soils, due to the soil condition created by the higher magnesium, will have a slower rate of infiltration and internal drainage. This means these soils will have greater runoff during rainfall events. If this condition is on flat river valley soil more water ponding will occur and will be slower to drain and dry. Within 48 hours after a rain, oxygen in rainwater can be used up by microbes unless you have aeration that will re-oxygenate soil water. Nitrogen efficiency is also decreased. By increasing the calcium levels in these soils with gypsum you can change the soil structure and improve the soil conditions improving oxygen supplies in the soil and making soils “field ready” faster. The soils are more pliable and softer. They have greater soil health since air is the most critical factor to life, whether it be animals, microbes or plants.

Increasing calcium with gypsum will also form stronger soil aggregates by stabilizing organic and humic polymers. Raindrops and tillage will be less destructive of these soil aggregates meaning less soil crusting. Tile waters run more clear (not murky) when the clays are flocculated by gypsum. This means less nutrients leaving the fields.

Those who have never tried gypsum at soil amendment rates will question its validity, however, our customers who have used PRO CAL 40 gypsum on these soils will support these facts.