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You are here: Home1 / Blog2 / 2019

Grateful!!

May 9, 2019

At Soil Solutions, we never take any of our customers for granted. We appreciate each one of them, whether they do business with us every year or every few years. Repeat business is what we have built our Soil Solutions business on. This requires satisfied customers, products that perform, and employees that are honest and conscientious.

This week (May 8, 2019) we have finally wrapped up a relatively busy season of spreading PRO CAL 40 gypsum and NutraBio biomass to our customers’ fields. The weather this winter was a challenge as it often is in agriculture, but we were able to get most of our orders filled. Those that we did not complete, we will try again next year. This couldn’t have been accomplished without the diligent work of our “team” of employees. It truly takes a “team” working together to get the job done. This includes salesmen, retail dealers, dispatchers, truck drivers, hired truckers, applicator drivers, storage site manager, and office personnel. Often it requires working long hours and long weeks. We are grateful for our team.

PRO CAL 40 gypsum and Nutrabio biomass are both proven products, but these are not the only reliable products that we handle. We also offer Nature Gro fulvic acid and Nature Gro(C) humic acid, Procidic Bactericide/Fungicide, Safestrike for Plant Health, plus the Maximum Farming System. If you have any interest in any of these other products or how you may use them to increase your yields, give our salesman, Gene, a call at 712-433-0000.

https://soilsolutions.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1.png 476 556 Andrea Meyer https://soilsolutions.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/logo.png Andrea Meyer2019-05-09 09:00:422019-05-09 09:00:42Grateful!!

Bacterial Leaf Streak in Corn

May 7, 2019

Both fungal and bacterial diseases infect corn. A new bacterial disease that is becoming more common is Bacterial Leaf Streak. (See pictures) Recently it has been confirmed that many other grass species are also alternate hosts of this disease.   Although it doesn’t cause death of the corn plant it will severely decrease leaf area for photosynthesis and impact final yields. Being a bacterial disease, fungicides do not have activity on this disease. The product, Procidic, is both for fungal and bacterial diseases. Producers who used Procidic at around V5 stage this past year were satisfied with the activity it had on Bacterial Leaf Streak. Given the wet conditions that we are experiencing this spring and likely this summer, infection could be likely. Using Procidic as a preventative is preferred. Consider using Procidic both in furrow and at V5 stage to protect your corn against this disease and many others. Remember that as with most protectants, it is important to lower the spray water pH before adding Procidic. Call Gene at 712-433-0000 for more information.

https://soilsolutions.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2.jpg 1200 675 Andrea Meyer https://soilsolutions.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/logo.png Andrea Meyer2019-05-07 12:54:032019-05-07 12:54:03Bacterial Leaf Streak in Corn

Know your water pH and hardness especially when using Procidic.

March 29, 2019

Not all Water is Created Equal!!

For spraying many herbicides and for all insecticides and fungicides you should know your water pH and adjust it to get greatest efficacy. For most insecticides or fungicides efficacy is improved if the pH of the spray solution is 5.5 or less. When using Procidic it is vitally important that you acidify your spray water to 5.5 or lower before adding Procidic. When using Procidic at planting in-furrow it is also important to lower the pH of the solution you are using before adding the Procidic. Many herbicides perform better if the pH of the spray solution is dropped. This is especially true with glyphosate. You cannot lower the pH far enough with using ammonium sulfate alone. Be aware that a lower pH solution when spraying dicamba may cause more potential volatility even though the activity of the herbicide may be improved.

Many “well water” sources have pHs that are above 7 and may be 8 or higher. Hardness of water can also affect performance and should be checked. Hardness is measured either as ppm, mg/L or grains per gallon. PPM and mg/L are the same number. One grain per gallon is equivalent to 17 ppm for comparison. Water is considered moderately hard if it exceeds 50 ppm or 3 grains per gallon. Hardness measures the amount of Calcium Carbonate or Magnesium Carbonate in the water. pH on the other hand measures the concentration of Hydrogen ions in the water. As you can see these are two different measurements, but somewhat related.

If you need more information on how to lower the pH or to condition your water please contact us.

If you need a pH meter or strips for measuring water hardness feel free to email us at andrea@soilsolutions.net or call us to order. Likewise, if you have questions about this subject, give us a call at 712-433-0000.

 

 

 

https://soilsolutions.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/1.jpg 760 507 Andrea Meyer https://soilsolutions.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/logo.png Andrea Meyer2019-03-29 09:04:212019-03-29 09:04:22Know your water pH and hardness especially when using Procidic.

Yields Can be Affected by Relative Magnesium Levels

February 19, 2019

As we analyze yield data from our clients each year it is interesting to see what soil test factors have the greatest impacts on yield.  This can vary from year to year, but we often see the influence of high magnesium on yields.  You can see below from both soybean and corn 2018 yield data from a customer’s field.  It is more prevalent in stress years, however, than in years when we have ideal growing conditions.  This specific customer had much above average moisture this year.

Soybean Yield vs. % Mg Soil Test

A 9 bushel difference between the optimum % Mg levels and the Highest % Mg levels across 900 acres. ($72/acre more revenue)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corn Yield vs % Mg Soil Test

A 11 bushel difference between the optimum % Mg levels and the second highest % Mg levels across 1000 acres. ($40/acre more revenue) (%Mg > 30%  was 50 acre bushels less)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why are yields affected by high magnesium levels in stress years?

Less Air in the Soil

Magnesium molecule attracts water molecules to a greater degree than calcium.  A magnesium molecule can have as high as 22 molecules of water around it.  The hydrated radius of magnesium is 400 times larger than its dehydrated radius.  There is a 25-fold difference between magnesium and calcium.

This affects soil environments and will affect the amount of air that is found in the soil.  If you have less air, you will have less microbial activity for organic matter decomposition and less mycorrhizae for nutrient uptake.  With less microbial activity nutrients aren’t as available as soon.  Less microbial activity will also decrease the amount of nitrogen fixation in legume crops such as soybeans and alfalfa.

Less air also means slower growth by roots.  This can also affect plant growth and nutrient uptake.

Colder Soils

If  the soil contains more water, the soil doesn’t warm up as fast in the spring.  Colder soils also affect microbial activity and early plant growth and nutrient availability.  Consequently, we prefer better placement of nutrients on these soils. Soybeans planted earlier in these soils will mean slower nodulation and less nitrogen fixation.

Poorer Root Growth

Magnesium also will weaken the stability of the soil aggregates (clay particle groupings).  This will mean soils will become dispersed more easily and lack a good soil structure. This can decrease root growth, especially fibrous roots.   As these soils dry, they will become hard and will crack open.  This causes roots to be torn and not able to take up water and nutrients from deeper depths during drought periods.  Some of the largest yield differences due to high magnesium soils, I have seen during drought periods.  In 2012 (drought year), I was notified by an extension agronomist that magnesium levels in the soil was the best correlation to yield differences.  The soils with the highest magnesium levels had the lowest yields.

Air and Water Management is Most Important to Yield!

It is interesting that so much emphasis is put on fertility levels and the influence they have on yield.  It is more common to see factors that affect air and water management have a greater affect on yield.  One tool that is effective in lowering % magnesium and improving air and water management in soils is gypsum.  Our observations show that we can lower the % magnesium by about 5% for each ton of gypsum we apply, and this greatly changes the soil condition and how the soils perform.  Our observations also show good yield responses especially in those more stressful years, either too wet or too dry.  Plus, as we plan to plant crops earlier, gypsum applications make the soils planter ready sooner (less sticky) allowing you to get in the fields when you aim to.  With less bound water and more air, the soil will actually warm up sooner.

As the data above shows, to reduce the affects of stressful years, it is best to have magnesium levels in the 10 to 16% range.  The higher your levels are above this, the greater the risk of yield loss.  Gypsum can improve yields even in the 10 to 16% range if your soils have a CEC above 20 since these soils will have greater than 35% clay content and will likely be colder and wetter soils with less aggregation.  The gypsum requirement may be less depending upon how high the CEC is.  Soils may also respond to the sulfur in gypsum if sulfur tests show low.

 

 

 

 

https://soilsolutions.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2.png 295 559 Andrea Meyer https://soilsolutions.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/logo.png Andrea Meyer2019-02-19 09:40:032019-02-19 09:40:03Yields Can be Affected by Relative Magnesium Levels

Should You Consider Higher Corn Plant Populations?

January 10, 2019

There is much that can go into answering this question. Some considerations are what type of hybrid are you planting? What is your current plant population? What is your soil type and texture? Do you have a full soil moisture profile? What is the expected long-term weather outlook? Is your field dryland or irrigated? What are the fertility levels in the fields?
In analyzing farmer’s corn yield data, I have been surprised at how many producers still plant populations of 28,000 or less. Although good yields can be achieved at these populations, data for many years have shown that populations higher than this give optimum yields in most years
I hear some of the “high yield corn” gurus speak of goals of reaching 10 bushels per 1,000 plants. At 28,000 plants per acre that is 280 bushels which is a lofty goal for most. This is possible, but it may be better and more energy efficient for the plant to attain 280 bushels with 31,000 plants per acre and only have 9 bushels per 1,000 plants or 33,000 plants per acre and attain 8.5 bushels per 1,000 plants.
I have recently reviewed some research comparing populations of 22,000 to populations of 36,000 across 88 hybrids. At high population (36,000 ppa) the average yield was 300 bushel per acre. This was 8.33 bushels per 1000 plants. At low population (22,000) the average yield was 241 bushels per acre. This was about 11 bushels per 1000 plants. Seed costs, if you average at $2.25 per 1000 plants, differed by $31.50 per acre. However, at $3.50 corn price, the high population gave $206.50 more in revenue. I think I would rather produce 8 bushels per 1000 plants and have more revenue and greater income.
As I mentioned earlier, hybrid differences can be huge. In this study, there was as much as a 158 bushel difference in narrow rows between the top yielder in high populations to the bottom yielder in low populations and 198 bushel difference in wide rows from top yielder in high populations to the bottom yielder in low populations. That is HUGE and can greatly alter your profitability!! Know your hybrids and how they fit in your environment.
Fertility can also be critical as you increase your populations. You may want to increase the nitrogen slightly or use nitrogen timing keyed to your particular variety to be more efficient. You may want to consider row placed nutrients to increase efficiency, improve stalk quality and standability as well as test weight. Be aware of where your pH is. This is the starting point of all fertility programs. Your best pH for optimum yields is in the 6.0 to 6.6 range. If on high pH soil you may want to consider ammonium sulfate to create more acidity and gypsum to increase your available calcium and root growth. Fulvic acid and humic acid should also be considered to enhance root growth and nutrient availability. If you haven’t tested for micronutrients in your soils, you may want to start. They could be more limiting as you push populations and yields.

https://soilsolutions.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/1.jpg 859 1145 Andrea Meyer https://soilsolutions.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/logo.png Andrea Meyer2019-01-10 09:41:012019-01-10 09:41:01Should You Consider Higher Corn Plant Populations?
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