Month: June 2015

Grain Crops Update: Drying the 2014 Wheat Crop

Del Voight- Penn State Extension
With the continued rains many growers are considering harvesting high moisture wheat and begin drying. I ran across this article that details some of the needed information to make that decision.

Grain Crops Update: Drying the 2014 Wheat Crop: Sam McNeill, Extension Agricultural Engineer, University of Kentucky The delay in wheat maturity and concern for late planting of doubl…

Now is the time to gather Soybean Leaves for plant tissue testing.

Del Voight- Penn State Extension

Several growers are considering more high yield management for the soybean crop. There are alot of foliar fertilizer products with ideal nutrient levels for numerous micronutrients. Our research indicates tremendous variation in the response to these products.  Yield enhancement is tied to whether the plant is deficient in micronutrients or not.  Since we cannot test the soil with accurate assessments of micronutrients, the best way to determine hidden hunger is with a simple $24.00 plant tissue test. A few growers last season enjoyed 90 bu/acre plus while managing for high yield soybean crops.  The first step is to gain an accurate soil test an maintain optimum levels of P 150ppm and K 300ppm . The second step is to collect a sample at the R1 to R2 stage(full flower) for plant analysis. The Ag Analytical Lab provides the testing for the results.  Here are the specifics to gather the samples.
Once the plant begins to flower R1 which is occurring at the time of this writing in early planted fields in the next two weeks gather the samples and send them off via overnight mail to gain quick results. This will allow for adequate time to determine a nutrient strategy before peak growth at R3 when pods are being filled.  .

Soybean Specifics  

Soybeans or other beans
Seedling stage (less than 12″)
or		 All the above ground portion. 20-30 plants
Prior to or during initial flowering Two or three fully developed leaves at the top of the plant. 20-30 upper leaves

Interpretive Nutrient Levels for Plant Analysis

Soybeans plant tissue levels

Low Normal High Excessive
Nitrogen (% DW) 3.10 4.01 5.51 7.01
Phosphorus (% DW) 0.16 0.26 0.51 0.81
Potassium (% DW) 1.26 1.71 2.51 2.76
Calcium (% DW) 0.21 0.36 2.01 3.01
Magnesium (% DW) 0.11 0.26 1.01 1.51
Sulfur (% DW) 0.16 0.21 0.41 2.00
Manganese (ppm DW) 15 21 101 251
Iron (ppm DW) 31 51 351 501
Copper (ppm DW) 5 10 31 51
Boron (ppm DW) 10 21 56 81
Zinc (ppm DW) 10 21 51 76

Case study of K deficiency in soybeans

Album link: Photo Gallary of K Deficiency Case Study
The photo gallary contains the diagnostic visit to a local grower whom was concerned with the yellowing of his soybeans. I checked the field and took some pictures of the affected area. I pulled soil samples from the good and bad area of the field. In the meantime I recommended an application of 200lbs of muriate of potash which the grower applied the afternoon that I was in the field. In a week I checked the field and took pictures of the recovery of the soybeans which was quite dramatic.