News

Researcher says pH & potassium critical for soybean success

A University of Wisconsin soil scientist says during tough financial times, farmers need to put their soybean fertilizer money where it will do the most good.  Dr. Carrie Laboski says two big factors affecting beans are pH and potassium levels. “We can sometimes see as much as a 40% yield reduction when soil pH is below 5.5. Now, our target pH for soybeans is 6.3 but there are fields out there that start getting low.”

Laboski says if lime costs 125 dollars an acre, it will still pay for itself in a couple of years.  And, yield losses are as high as 60% with low potassium, so look at the soil test. “If phosphorus were low and potassium were optimum, then you might want to consider putting your money on “P” (phosphorus) but if they’re both testing low, potassium will be the nutrient that pays back the most.”

Laboski says soil testing is the best tool farmers have and it doesn’t cost much, especially considering the cost of just a few pounds of fertilizer.

Listen to Brownfield’s interview with Dr. Carrie Laboski here: