BOONVILLE, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agronomist Todd Lorenz says a simple soil test help farmers kick the habit of routine fertilization resulting in wasted money and poor crop performance.
Soil tests remove the guesswork from deciding how much fertilizer to apply by providing an accurate inventory of nutrients available in the soil, Lorenz says.
Applying too much fertilizer results in unnecessary costs and harm to the environment; too little fertilizer results in poor yields, he says. Whether it’s too much or too little, the result is the same – lower profits.
Spring and fall are the best times to take soil tests, but samples can be taken any time the soil is workable, he says.
Samples can be submitted at county MU Extension centers or at the MU Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory in Columbia on the MU campus. There is a small shipping charge if you take samples to the county offices.
Users can access soil tests online with a password or receive the results by mail. MU Extension field agronomists are available to review the results or answer questions about nutrient management, says Lorenz.
“Soil testing is an essential tool for efficient nutrient management that results in improved production and optimized returns,” he says.
See the MU Extension publication “Soil Sampling Hayfields and Row Crops” at https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9217 for instructions on taking samples.
The MU Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory website at https://soilplantlab.missouri.edu has downloadable submission forms, instructions for taking and submitting soil samples, information about available tests and a guide to interpreting test results. For questions, contact the lab at 573-884-0623 or [email protected].
MU Extension is the link between the University of Missouri’s proven research, knowledge and resources and Missouri’s 6.2 million citizens. With state and local partners, we deliver real-world solutions to address our state’s grand challenges around agriculture, economic opportunity, educational access and health and well-being. Faculty and staff in 114 counties and the city of St. Louis work to empower people, strengthen communities and develop leaders. True to our land-grant mission, we serve Missouri and deliver Mizzou as we improve lives and opportunities.
–Linda Geist, University of Missouri Extension
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