Corn growers urge farmers to sample soil before planting

Spring soil sampling is a great way to evaluate soil fertility levels in the preparation process.
Spring soil sampling is a great way to evaluate soil fertility levels in the preparation process. | File photo

The National Corn Growers Association is reminding farmers that before spring planting is a great time for soil sampling. 

Soil can help farmers determine which nutrients the soil is lacking for a better corn crop at the end of growing season.

“Spring soil sampling is a great way to evaluate soil fertility levels in the preparation process,” Nick Goeser, NCGA soil scientist and director of soil health and sustainability, said. “Many factors affect the nutrient content available to plants, including soil moisture, temperature, residues and organic matter content. Spring soil sampling helps account for many soil factors to provide an up-to-date baseline for tracking plant-available nutrient content ahead of planting.”

Knowing the baseline for soil nutrients at the beginning of the planting season can help farmers improve planning of nutrient applications specific to each farmer’s soil.

“Not only does this make better sense from a crop productivity and economic standpoints, it also makes farmers better stewards of the land and can prevent unwanted nutrient losses to air and water,” Goeser said.