Michigan State University Extension
Soils & Soil Management - Fertilizer - 06029718
07/10/97
Fertilizer Recommendations for Field Crops in Michigan Extension Bulletin E-550A, March 1992
D. R. Christenson, D. D. Warncke, M. L. Vitosh, L. W. Jacobs and J. G. Dahl, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
The potential of a soil to produce good crop yields depends on its properties and how they are managed. Soils with similar properties and yield potentials form soil management groups (SMG).
Yield potentials in (Vis. 19), (Vis. 20)located at the end of this bulletin represent practical yield goals under good management. These yields are based on field experiences with average management and climatic conditions for the various soil management groups. Yield potential on individual fields can vary substantially from these averages, depending on management. Use these as guides when there is not sufficient experience to establish a reasonable yield goal.
Past experience is a good tool to use in setting the yield goal for a given field. A good guide for determining a reasonable yield goal is to average the three highest yields from the past 5 years. Fertilizing to try to reach a yield goal that cannot be attained because of some other limiting factor or factors increases fertilizer costs and may be detrimental to the environment due to possible erosion and/or leaching of nutrients into ground or surface waters.
| Visual title - Visual size | Visual title - Visual size |
|---|---|
| Average yeld potentials for crops, no irrigation, over 140 grow - 87K | Average yeild potentials for crops w/o irrigations under 140 grow - 84K |
