COLFAX, WIS. (RFD-TV) — Reducing fertilizer applications may lower costs in the short term, but repeatedly cutting nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium can gradually deplete soil reserves and create a deficit that eventually affects crop performance.
Tryston Beyrer, field solutions agronomist with The Mosaic Company, joined Market Day Report to discuss nutrient-use efficiency, the importance of soil testing, and how growers can manage fertilizer expenses without sacrificing long-term productivity.
Repeated Nutrient Cuts Can Create Soil Deficits
In his interview with RFD-TV, Beyrer said more than 60 percent of crop yield is dependent on crop nutrition, making nutrient management an important part of protecting yield potential.
As yields increase, crops also remove more nutrients from the soil. He noted that North American average corn yields have been increasing by about two bushels per acre annually.
Each bushel of corn harvested removes approximately 0.35 pounds of phosphorus, along with a significant amount of potassium.
When growers consistently apply less than their crops remove, soil nutrient levels can decline over time. Beyrer said producers may not notice the impact immediately, but those deficits can eventually affect crop performance and yields.
Soil Testing Helps Identify Nutrient Needs
Beyrer encouraged growers to work with their agronomists and use soil sampling to identify potential nutrient deficiencies.
Fall is an especially useful time to evaluate soil conditions and begin planning fertility programs for the following season.
He recommended comprehensive soil sampling that measures organic matter, pH, phosphorus and potassium, along with secondary and micronutrients.
Those results can help growers determine which nutrients may be limiting crop performance and where adjustments are needed.
Balance Fertilizer Spending for Better Returns
With input costs continuing to pressure farm budgets, Beyrer understands why producers are looking for places to cut expenses. However, he cautioned against making drastic changes to fertility programs without first understanding what the soil needs.
“The first increment of any nutrient or any input gives you your greatest return on the investment,” Beyrer said, pointing to the law of diminishing returns.
He said growers may be able to improve profitability by applying lower rates more strategically across fields rather than eliminating a nutrient entirely.
Reallocating fertilizer dollars to the most limiting nutrient can also provide a better return than continuing to spend heavily on nutrients that are already sufficient.
On-Farm Evaluation Matters
Beyrer said soil testing and other data can help guide decisions, but every operation has different soil types and management practices.
He encouraged growers to evaluate fertility products and recommendations under their own conditions to determine what delivers the best results.
Rather than making broad cuts across an entire operation, producers should use available data to identify where nutrients are needed most and prioritize those investments.
LEARN MORE: mosaicco.com
