Soil Fertility

Soil Sampling

Soil sampling is needed to determine soil nutrient needs and optimize fertilizer use and to assess soil variability across the field. See these guides for further information:

Nebraska Fertilizer Nitrogen Recommendations

pale corn plant

Nutrient Deficiencies

Plant symptoms can be used to differentiate and identify crop nutrient disorders. Symptoms of nutrient deficiency vary with variety, growing conditions, and plant age. Similar symptoms may be caused by other abiotic or biotic stresses. Use these symptom keys to help identify nutrient disorders observed in Nebraska corn and sorghum, soybean, or wheat and small grains.

For more information on these and related topics, see the UNL Extension publication, Nutrient Management for Agronomic Crops in Nebraska, EC155, available online, or in soft cover through your local Extension office.

Soil Management Software

Related Articles

Researcher kneels in field to gather sample

2024 Soils School to Feature Fundamentals of Soils and Nutrient Management

November 29, 2023
During the two-day school in February, leading experts from the University of Nebraska will present research-based recommendations of primary crop nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

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Southwest Nebraska producer's terraced field
A section of field from a 99-acre plot in southwest Nebraska, which has experienced significant yield decline after terraces were built. In this article, Soil Health Exchange professionals identify some of the potential causes and solutions for low-yielding terraced fields. (Submitted photo)

The Soil Health Exchange: Terrace Effects on Soil Fertility and Yield

November 13, 2023
The Soil Health Exchange team shares insights and potential solutions for a southwest Nebraska farmer who has observed a significant yield decline in a field after terraces were built in 2010.

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Corn stubble burning
The Exchange team weighs in on soil health factors that may be contributing to lower yields in irrigated corn this year, following wildfires that scorched southeast Nebraska fields during the fall of 2022.

The Soil Health Exchange: Are Soil Health Factors Impacting Yield Following Wildfire?

October 17, 2023
UNL experts weigh in on soil health factors that may be contributing to lower yields in irrigated corn this year, after wildfires scorched southeast Nebraska fields during the fall of 2022. 

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Orchard with mustard cover crop
Figure 1. A comparison of bare ground vs. cover crop for two adjacent almond orchards after receiving 3/4-inch of rain. The grower, Donny Hicks, used mustards to breakup compaction and improve infiltration in his orchard soil. (Photo courtesy Donny Hicks)

The Soil Health Exchange: Natural Solutions to Soil Compaction — Beyond Mechanical Means and Cover Crops

October 5, 2023
Soil health experts share techniques for reducing soil compaction without the use of long-term cover crops.

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MICRA project team posing for photo
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln team working on the MICRA project includes (from left) Taro Mieno, agricultural economics; Daniel Schachtman, agronomy and horticulture; Saleh Taghvaeian, biological systems engineering; and Seunghee Kim, civil engineering. (Photo by Nick Kumpula, Research and Economic Development)

Nebraska Part of Interdisciplinary Team Examining Climate Resiliency Through Soil

September 28, 2023
The research team will experiment with soil amendments and biochar to measure their impact on soil water-holding capacity to find ways to improve preservation of soil moisture in farm fields.

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