2022
Maintenance of Long-Term Soil Test Calibration Trials in North Carolina
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsSeed quality
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Luke Gatiboni, North Carolina State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
22-053
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:
Soil test calibration is a continuous process required to maintain up to date recommendations of fertilizers for different crops. Average crop yields are increasing yearly basis due to use of best management practices and the development of new varieties. NC State University is maintaining three long-term trials to check if phosphorus and potassium fertilizer recommendations based on soil testing are still adequate. The three long-term trials testing rates of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are located at Tidewater Research Station (TRS), Peanut Belt Research Station (PBRS), and Piedmont Research Station (PRS). In one location, also poultry litter and levels of pH has been studied....
Unique Keywords:
#soybean variety trials
Information And Results
Project Summary

Soil test calibration is a continuous process required to maintain up to date recommendations of fertilizers for different crops. Average crop yields are increasing yearly basis due to use of best management practices and the development of new varieties. NC State University is maintaining three long-term trials to check if phosphorus and potassium fertilizer recommendations based on soil testing are still adequate. The three long-term trials testing rates of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are located at Tidewater Research Station (TRS), Peanut Belt Research Station (PBRS), and Piedmont Research Station (PRS). In one location, also poultry litter and levels of pH has been studied. These trials were initiated in 1966 (TRS), 1982 (PBRS), and 1985 (PRS), and they have been tested every year with row-crops, generally with a soybean-corn rotation. These trials are extremely important for checking if our recommendations are adequate or if increases in the fertilizer rates due to increasing yields are needed. This proposal had support from Corn Growers Association in 2021/2022, with a budget of $4,412 for supplies (travel, seeds, fertilizers, chemicals) and services (soil and plant tissue analysis); a graduate student was also funded. Starting in the next season, we will no longer have a graduate student working on this project, and thus field activities will be conducted by the research technician of our group. In this proposal, we are requesting $11,700 to cover two months of salary and wages for our technician.

Project Objectives

The objective of this proposal is to continue support for the maintenance of three long-term trials used to refine the soil test calibration and recommendation of fertilizers for corn and soybean in North Carolina.

Project Deliverables

We will use the results of these trials to change, if needed, the rate of fertilizers recommended for North Carolina crops. We will present the results during the winter meetings and during the training of extension agents and crop consultants. We will promote field days to show the results of these trials and it also will be outreached by writing factsheets and videos to the soil fertility extension portal at NCSU (https://soilfertility.ces.ncsu.edu/).

Progress Of Work

Final Project Results

Benefit To Soybean Farmers

These trials are essential to refine the recommendations of fertilizers due to the increase in cropping yields and the use of new crop varieties.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.