Source: NCSU COLLEGE OF AG & LIFE SCIENCES, 1/25/21


“There’s a misconception that farmers fertilize a crop. But really it’s the soil that fertilizes the crop,” said Deanna Osmond, NC State soil science researcher. “Soil is a dynamic environmental filter. You have to be mindful about what you put into it.” Soil testing is the predominant way growers assess specific soil nutrient status and evaluate supplemental needs. Surprisingly, the fertilizer guidance farmers receive from soil testing labs is often based on the decades-old methodology and testing because it was originally so successful. Osmond’s team thinks it’s time to loose the power of big data to address one of agriculture’s most nagging issues, nutrient management.  

Soil Testing Takes Off
Soil testing caught traction in the 1940s as America moved from subsistence to production farming. At the same time, scientists were unraveling the chemistry behind the production of chemical fertilizers that would catapult corn yields from 40 bushels per acre in 1950 to 170+ today. As chemical fertilizers entered the market and became affordable, farmers looked to land-grant universities and county Extension for guidance on soil analysis and nutrient application rates.

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