Crop Requirements and Nutrient Sources
Adequate nutrition is essential if productive new corn hybrids are to realize their full yield potential. This publication provides fertilizer guidelines based on university research and a special section on manures as nutrient sources for corn.
Manure
Nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium
- Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizer Placement in Corn Production (pdf)
- Back to Basics — Nitrogen and Phosphorus Deficiencies in Corn (pdf)
- , 2010
- Phosphorus Removal in a Double Drop Forage System (pdf)
Secondary and micronutrients
Tillage practices
- Consider the Value of Plant Nutrients in Your Hay and Corn Silage (pdf)
- Intensive Cropping of Maize in the Southeastern United States (pdf)
Alfalfa
- Consider the Value of Plant Nutrients in Your Hay and Corn Silage (pdf)
- Unconventional Annual Forage Yield and Quality: Extended Grazing Potential (pdf)
- Triticale Boot-Stage Forage K, MG, CA, S and Micronutrient Content (pdf)
- Copper Sequestration Using Local Waste Products (pdf)
- Nitrogen Fertility of Alfalfa (pdf)
- Dairy Compost Effects on Soil Test Levels (pdf)
- Residual Phosphorus Effects on Alfalfa Seed Pollination and Production (pdf)
- Trace Metal Toxicity from Manure in Idaho: Emphasis on Copper (pdf)
- Alfalfa Fertility and Compost Management (pdf)
- Phosphorus Removal in a Double Cropped Forage System (pdf)
- Nutrient Availability for Alfalfa Seed Production (pdf)
Grasses
Legumes
Onions are grown primarily under furrow or drip irrigation in southwest Idaho and are a high value crop. Most of the harvested onions are marketed from storage during the fall, winter and early spring. They represent roughly a third of the onions marketed nationally. Fertilizers historically are used extensively. Onion culture presents special challenges for effective nutrient management. The root system is relatively shallow though roots extend well into the second foot. The soils program at Parma has addressed onion fertilization issues since the 1970s.
Nitrogen
- Early Season Nitrogen Sources for Onions (pdf)
- Fall Applied Nitrogen Sources for Onions (pdf)
- Nitrogen and Water Use Efficiency in Onion Production under Drip and Furrow Irrigation (pdf)
- Soil Test N for Predicting Onion N Requirements — An Idaho Perspective (pdf)
Phosphorus
- Onion Response to Fall Banded Fertilizer Phosphorus (pdf)
- Biofumigant Nitrogen Release and Influence on Subsequent Onion and Wheat as Affected by Phosphorus (pdf)
- Onion Response to Phosphorus Placement and Fumigation (pdf)
- Placement of Fall Applied P for Early Season Onion Growth — Year 3 (pdf)
- Placement of Fall Applied P for Early Season Onion Growth — Year 2 (pdf)
- Placement of Fall Applied P for Early Season Onion Growth — Year 1 (pdf)
Effective management of nutrients is critical for potato production, as tuber yield and tuber quality are directly impacted by quantity and timing of nutrient applications. Potatoes have high nutrient demands, as they require approximately 220 lb nitrogen (N), 30 lb phosphorus (P) and 300 lb potassium (K) per acre to produce a 450 cwt./acre yield of Russet Burbanks, a typical yield for southern Idaho.
Copper soils
Cull (waste)
Garden potatoes
Irrigation
Manure
- Manure Management in Potatoes: Salt Accumulations in Idaho Soils (pdf)
- Manure Management and Potato Production (pdf)
- Dairy Compost Utilization in Cropping Systems (pdf)
- Fertilizing Potatoes in Idaho with Dairy Manure (pdf)
Nitrogen
- Challenges in Providing Sufficient Nitrogen to Organic Potatoes (pdf)
- Biofuel Byproducts as Nitrogen Sources for Potatoes (pdf)
- Nitrogen Fertilizer Management for New Potato Varieties (pdf)
- Nutrient Management Following the 2000 PIK Program (pdf)
- Interaction of Crop Protectants with Potato Nitrogen Management (pdf)
- Long Term Effects of Dairy Compost on Crop Production and Soil Quality (pdf)
Organic
- Organic Potato Production: Nitrogen Management and Variety Trials (pdf)
- Organic Potato Production and Storage (pdf)
- Challenges in Providing Sufficient Nitrogen to Organic Potatoes (pdf)
- Biofuel Byproducts as Nitrogen Sources for Potatoes (pdf)
Phosphorus
- Improving Phosphorus Use Efficiency with Carbond P and Carboxylic Acid Polymer (Avail) Fertilizer Additives (pdf)
- Potato Variety Response to Phosphorus Fertilizer (pdf)
- Humic Acid Effects on Potato Response to Phosphorus (pdf)
- Phosphorus Nutrition in Potato Production (pdf)
Potassium
Varieties
Small grains are important crops throughout Idaho and are grown in diverse production systems ranging from fully irrigated to low rainfall wheat-fallow. Wheat market classes include soft white winter and spring; hard red winter and spring; hard white winter and spring; club; and durum. Wheat is also fed to livestock. Barley is grown for malt, animal feed and human food. Combined small grains represent the second most valuable crop marketed in Idaho. They are valuable for the receipts they provide directly to farms but also are excellent rotation crops for other commodities that may involve higher production costs, marketing risks and income potential. Effective nutrient management is critical for the success of small grains, affecting both production and quality.
Barley
- Dairy Compost Utilization in Cropping Systems (pdf)
- Fertilizing for End Use Quality (pdf)
- Phosphorus Removal in a Double Cropped Forage System (pdf)
- Long term Effects of Dairy Compost on Crop Production and Soil Quality (pdf)
Oats
Residue management
Triticale
- Triticale Boot-Stage Forage K, MG, CA, S and Micronutrient Content (pdf)
- Nitrogen Timing For Boot Stage Triticale Forage Yield And Phosphorus Uptake (pdf)
- Phosphorus Removal with Triticale in Manure Fields (pdf)
- Comparison of Austrian Winter Pea and Winter Triticale for Use as Cover Crops
- Triticale for Phosphorus Removal (pdf)
- Southern Idaho Winter Triticale Forage P in Manured Fields (pdf)
- Phosphorus Removal in a Double Cropped Forage System (pdf)
Wheat
Fertilizer
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is typically the most important nutrient for wheat as it is the most limiting to production. Effective N management is also important to protect groundwater quality. Effective nitrogen management differs for different wheat production systems and marketing classes. Nitrogen application rate, timing, source and method may all influence wheat yield and quality. Quality concerns related to N include grain protein, gluten strength, test weight; and for durum, vitreous kernels.
- Nitrogen Management for Enhanced Value of Irrigated Barley (pdf)
- Nitrogen Availability from Manure in Years Following a One-Time Application (pdf)
- Slow Release N Source and Timing for Irrigated Winter Wheat (pdf)
- Enhanced Nitrogen for Hard Wheat Yield and Protein (pdf)
- Seed Banded N for Winter Wheat (pdf)
- In-Season Nitrogen and Phosphorus Availability from Fall Compost Application in Spring Wheat (pdf)
- Slow Release Nitrogen and Winter Wheat (pdf)
- Slow Release Nitrogen for Irrigated Hard Red Spring Wheat Yield and Protein (pdf)
- Available Nitrogen After the Wheat Harvest (pdf)
- Biofumigant Nitrogen Release and Influence on Subsequent Onion and Wheat as Affected by Phosphorus (pdf)
- Late Summer — Fall N Release After Wheat as Affected by Previous Crop (pdf)
- Phosphorus Removal in a Double Cropped Forage System (pdf)
- Spring Soil N Test for Irrigated Winter Wheat (pdf)
- Nutrient Management Following the 2000 PIK Program (pdf)
- Predicting Protein with Flag Leaf N — Madras Case Study (pdf)
Phosphorus
- In-Season Nitrogen and Phosphorus Availability from Fall Compost Application in Spring Wheat (pdf)
- Irrigated Winter and Spring Wheat Response to P in Calcareous High Lime Soil (pdf)
- Phosphorus Removal in a Double Cropped Forage System (pdf)
Phosphorus, potassium and sulfur
Conservation Tillage Practices
- Impact of Residue Cover and Nitrogen Applications on Strip Tilled Sugar Beet Production: Year 2 (pdf)
- Chaff Rows and Nitrogen Application in Strip Tillage — Year 1 (pdf)
- Effect of Tillage on Nitrogen Availability to Sugar Beets (pdf)
- Effect of Tillage Method, Tillage Timing, and Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Rate on Sugarbeet Production: Year 1 Summary (pdf)
- Cultural Management of Green Manure Crops for the Sugar Beet Cyst Nematode Management (pdf)
Manure
- Dairy Compost Utilization in Cropping Systems (pdf)
- Dairy Manure/Compost N Release for Sugarbeets and Subsequent Wheat (pdf)
- Long Term Effects of Dairy Compost on Crop Production and Soil Quality (pdf)
Micronutrients
Nitrogen
- Nitrogen Requirement for Sugar Beets: A Summary of Past and Present Research Findings (pdf)
- Managing Chaff Trails and Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications in Strip-Till Sugar Beet Production (pdf)
- Nitrogen Availability from Manure in Years Following a One-Time Application (pdf)
- Impact of Residue Cover and Nitrogen Applications on Strip Tilled Sugar Beet Production: Year 2 (pdf)
- Chaff Rows and Nitrogen Application in Strip Tillage — Year 1 (pdf)
- Effect of Tillage on Nitrogen Availability to Sugar Beets (pdf)
- Fall Nitrogen to Sugarbeets? (pdf)
- Dairy Manure/Compost N Release for Sugarbeets and Subsequent Wheat (pdf)
- Using Soil Texture to Guide Variable-Rate Nitrogen Fertilization (pdf)
- Nutrient Management Following the 2000 PIK Program (pdf)
- Studies of Nitrogen Mineralization in Sugarbeets for Improved Crop Management (pdf)
- Nitrogen Mineralization in Elmore County Soils Growing Sugar Beets (pdf)
- An On-Farm Study of Nitrogen Mineralization in Sugarbeets and Its Implications for Nitrogen Management (pdf)
- Sugar Beet Fertility Trials in Elmore County (pdf)
Phosphorus
Potassium
Seed Coating
- A Comparison of RV5 Seed Coating With and Without Nutrients in Pelleted Sugar Beet Seed to Raw Seed for Emergence, Top Tare, and Sugar Yields (pdf)
- Enhancing Seedling Emergence by Seed Treatments — The Future (pdf)