Iowa farmers who did on-farm tissue sampling and made in-season corrections in 2018 likely saw the benefits in their crop performance at harvest. However, tissue sampling is just one component of a successful crop nutrition program, which also includes soil testing, predictive analysis, product recommendations and expertise to help guide production practices for high-yielding crops.

Micronutrients and macronutrients are key to early crop development, rigorous growth and greater ROI potential for farmers. To help farmers adjust their management practices with precision and protect yield potential, WinField United analyzes thousands of plant tissue samples each year.

Iowa crops are hungry. Iowa farmers submitted over 3,700 corn tissue samples for evaluation by WinField United in 2018. Based on sampling data, over 82% of corn was deficient in zinc. A majority of the samples were also deficient or responsive in manganese, boron, potassium, nitrogen and sulfur.

Soybeans suffered from low levels of calcium, copper and potassium early in the season. By flowering and pod formation stage, it was copper, magnesium and potassium that were most deficient in soybeans across the state.

Application timing, rate, nutrient source
Analysis of samples submitted throughout the growing season shows nutrient availability varies throughout a crop’s development, notes Tyler Steinkamp, a WinField United agronomist. One of the keys to a successful plant nutrition program is not only applying the right nutrients, but also making sure those applications are done when the plant needs them most.

The source of the nutrient and the application rate can also affect how efficient plant uptake is, Steinkamp says. Tissue sampling in-season gives a real-time snapshot of crop fertility and allows for adjustments to maintain your seeds’ yield potential.  

The WinField United sampling database includes more than 475,000 data points that help identify nutrient trends based on geography, soil type and environmental conditions. Based on the analysis, WinField United recommends that farmers sample tissue and re-evaluate fertilization plans annually and throughout the growing season.

While trends can be recognized across the state, each field and season are different, so plants should be tested to ensure proper fertilization. Factors that can affect nutrient availability to plants include soil type and pH, crop rotation and planting population.

“Tissue sampling, combined with soil sampling, can help farmers assess crop nutrient availability to fine-tune fertilization applications,” Steinkamp says. “Work with your local WinField United retailer to evaluate crop health and develop fertility programs specific for your acres.”

For complete information about WinField United plant nutrition and performance solutions, visit winfieldunited.com.

Source: WinField United