If your crop are n’t looking as spritely this season as you expect them to , your first instinct may be to get asoil testto regain out what nutrient your dirt is lacking . However , if you ’re doing things good , it ’s likely your soil test show up healthy soil , intend the weather and other growing season conditions are to charge for your inferior harvest .
“ Environmental condition play an important character in nutritive availability , ” says Fabián Fernández , University of Illinois Extension specialist in soil fertility and plant nutrition . “ Plants find most of their nutrients and water system from the dirt through their root arrangement . Any agent that re¬stricts root growth and natural process has the potential to restrict nourishing availability . ”
campaign of Crop Nutrient DeficiencyFour factor may be causing this season ’s observed crop deficiencies , Fernández says .
1 . Extra RainExcess water in the soil wipe out O and builds up carbon - dioxide layer . While oxygen is needed by the roots to raise and take up nutrient , high carbon paper - dioxide level are toxic and limit root increment and action .
2 . Cooler WeatherTemperature influences how grime nutrient are absorbed by plants . Under cool soil temperature , chemical substance reaction and root activity lessening , rendering nutrients less available to the craw . plant life nutrients are contain up as ascendant extract soil water to replenish water lose through the leaf . Cool atmosphere temperatures can lower evapotranspiration and reduce the convective flow of water and nutrients from the soil to the works theme .
3 . Cloudy SkiesLight volume impress nutrient availability . Many day in this growing season have been characterize by modest light-colored strength due to cloudiness . downhearted light intensity reduces photosynthetic rates and nutrient uptake by the harvest .
4 . Crop ResidueImmobilization of nitrogen pass when plant - usable nitrogen becomes temporarily unavailable as microorganisms breakdown crop residue . This has been watch over in corn fields implant on previous corn field . As crop residue and soil organic matter starts to mineralize , nitrogen will become available to the plant life . If the full amount of nitrogen has not been applied yet , a sidedress program of urea ammonium ion nitrate ( UAN ) can help provide the nitrogen the plant need at this time .
“ As growing weather condition improve , most nutrient deficiency symptom will evaporate without additional fertilisation , ” Fernández enjoin .
In Illinois , there are example in which calcium , magnesium , sulphur and a few micronutrient may be deficient in craw , but these crop deficiency are not widely see .
“ The employment of micronutrient plant food should be limit to area of known deficiency , and only the deficient nutrient should be apply , ” he says . “ Exceptions to this are situations in which producers already in the highest output angle bracket try micronutrients through an experiment in field that are succumb less than would be expected under good manage¬ment , which admit an adequate N , P and K fertility program and a favorable pH. ”
Testing for Crop Nutrient DeficiencyIf you surmise a nutrient deficiency in your craw , Fernández encourage you to collect plant samples and send them to a laboratory for nutrient psychoanalysis .
When diagnosing a harvest fertility trouble through flora analysis , select paired sample of compa¬rable plant character representing the unnatural and normal plants . After collecting the sample , deliver them immediately to the laboratory . sample should be air - dry out if they can not be fork out straightaway or if they are going to be shipped .
Soil factors ( fertility position , temperature and moisture ) and plant factors ( cultivar and developing point ) may elaborate the interpreting of plant life analysis data . The more entropy leave concerning a par¬ticular field , the more honest the version will be .
“ Because growing time of year conditions accentuate trouble that might not be as apparent in other years , this is a unspoilt fourth dimension to learn about field conditions or management practice session that should be adjusted to prevent or lessen problems in the future , ” Fernández aver .
