Over the years I have talked a lot about the affect of pH on crop yield. The general idea of this is that when the pH gets low crop yields go down.
There are a few crops, such as blueberries, that do best when the pH is low. They like a pH of around 4.8. That’s pretty acid, but I have seen a few instances where the pH was that low in local fields. In those cases, plant growth was minimal and the plant stands were low to zero. However, even though pH problems are not evident in the field, yield loss can be significant.
Most crops grow best when the pH is at or near neutral which is a pH of 7.0. Yield reductions under low pH conditions are the result of several factors, including reduced root mass, reduced nutrient uptake and reduced nutrient availability. When the soil pH goes down applied fertilizer becomes less available because it is tied up in a form that will make it unavailable in your lifetime. This is especially true of phosphorous but potassium can also become unavailable through this process.
Ken Kelley, Crops and Soils Researcher at the Southeast Ag Research Center in Parsons has done some work to determine how much yield reduction there is in various crops based upon specific soil pH levels. This test was run for three years and has included grain sorghum, full-season soybeans, double-crop soybeans and wheat. The pH ranges included 4.9, 5.3, 6.1, 6.5 and 7.0.
The yield result at the 4.9 pH level includes sorghum at 83.8 bushels, full season beans at 26.5 bu., double-crop beans at 17.6 bu., and wheat at 45.4 bushels. Yields at the 5.3 pH level includes sorghum at 89.9 bu., full-season beans at 28.7 bu., double- crop beans at 20.3 bu. and wheat at 46.1 bu. Yields at the 6.1 pH level includes sorghum at 96.3 bu., full-season beans at 32.8 bu., double-crop beans at 22 bu. and wheat at 47.3 bu. Yields at the 6.5 pH level includes sorghum at 99.3 bu., full-season beans at 33.4 bu., double-crop beans at 23.3 bu., and wheat at 49.1 bu. Yields at the 7.0 pH includes sorghum at 99.0 bu., full-season beans at 34.3 bu., double-crop beans at 22.3 bu. and wheat at 48.2 bu.
Looking at these results it is plain to see that the ideal pH lies somewhere between 6.5 and 7.0. Even though the yield differences in some instances may not seem that great, if you look at the difference in total production over time, it becomes quite apparent that liming does pay for itself many times over.
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Over the years I have talked a lot about the affect of pH on crop yield. The general idea of this is that when the pH gets low crop yields go down.
There are a few crops, such as blueberries, that do best when the pH is low. They like a pH of around 4.8. That’s pretty acid, but I have seen a few instances where the pH was that low in local fields. In those cases, plant growth was minimal and the plant stands were low to zero. However, even though pH problems are not evident in the field, yield loss can be significant.
Most crops grow best when the pH is at or near neutral which is a pH of 7.0. Yield reductions under low pH conditions are the result of several factors, including reduced root mass, reduced nutrient uptake and reduced nutrient availability. When the soil pH goes down applied fertilizer becomes less available because it is tied up in a form that will make it unavailable in your lifetime. This is especially true of phosphorous but potassium can also become unavailable through this process.
Ken Kelley, Crops and Soils Researcher at the Southeast Ag Research Center in Parsons has done some work to determine how much yield reduction there is in various crops based upon specific soil pH levels. This test was run for three years and has included grain sorghum, full-season soybeans, double-crop soybeans and wheat. The pH ranges included 4.9, 5.3, 6.1, 6.5 and 7.0.
The yield result at the 4.9 pH level includes sorghum at 83.8 bushels, full season beans at 26.5 bu., double-crop beans at 17.6 bu., and wheat at 45.4 bushels. Yields at the 5.3 pH level includes sorghum at 89.9 bu., full-season beans at 28.7 bu., double- crop beans at 20.3 bu. and wheat at 46.1 bu. Yields at the 6.1 pH level includes sorghum at 96.3 bu., full-season beans at 32.8 bu., double-crop beans at 22 bu. and wheat at 47.3 bu. Yields at the 6.5 pH level includes sorghum at 99.3 bu., full-season beans at 33.4 bu., double-crop beans at 23.3 bu., and wheat at 49.1 bu. Yields at the 7.0 pH includes sorghum at 99.0 bu., full-season beans at 34.3 bu., double-crop beans at 22.3 bu. and wheat at 48.2 bu.
Looking at these results it is plain to see that the ideal pH lies somewhere between 6.5 and 7.0. Even though the yield differences in some instances may not seem that great, if you look at the difference in total production over time, it becomes quite apparent that liming does pay for itself many times over.
Private Applicators Certification
This meeting is scheduled for the evening of January 25, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Extension meeting room located at 120 East Buffalo in Girard.
This meeting is designed for those people who have never been certified as a private applicator and for those whose certification has been expired for more than a year. At this meeting you will be taking an open book test. This test takes two to three hours to complete. You must have 75% of the 95 multiple choice questions right to pass. (I have never had anyone flunk this test.)
There is a fee of $25 and must be paid with a check that should be written to the Kansas State Department of Agriculture. No cash payments.
If you have been certified but your certification has expired within the last year you can still take the test at home and send it directly back to the state yourself. However, if it has been more than a year, you must come to my office to take the test.
Please give us a call at 724-8233 if you want to take this test that night.
Calving school
I hope that beef cow-calf producers will join me on Thursday, January 28 for a calving school at our office, located at 120 E. Buffalo in Girard. The program will begin at 6:00 p.m.
Dr. Larry Hollis, K-State Extension Veterinarian will be on hand to give timely tips as you prepare for the calving season which is just around the corner.
Larry will be using a video that Dr. Bob Mortimer from Colorado State put together. This video will walk you through how to determine calf position and how to help the cow deliver a healthy calf. You will see proper calf pulling techniques. You will also have the opportunity to ask Larry about specific problems and discuss these issues with him.
It doesn’t take very many lost calves and cows to take the profit out of your operation. No reservations are required and there is no cost with the program. This should be a very good program so plan to attend.
