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Greenfield, Il | Grid sampling in my opinion is highly overrated unless its extremely low cost. Even then the info you obtain really cant be entirely used to determine the grid acres fertility needs. Example- A low area in a field will almost always indicate an increased amount of phosphorus needed when in fact there's a tie up problem probably from several different possibilities, compaction, low available calcium, lower organic content to name a few. Great deal for the fertilizer company applying extra where you really don't need it. Remember the P1 reading is the plant available nutrient amount which is what we endeaver to raise, however if we get the P2 reading (currently unavailable) to release available P its much more economical. One way that can be done is applying lime (high calcium low magnesium) every year in smaller increments such as no more than 1000lbs. in the fall, 500lbs. in the spring. Anymore than that actually exascerbates the tie up problem. Remember ph reading is a hydrogen ion count, terrible gauge for determining available calcium. Somewhat useful for soil acidity as long as each soil sample has been perfectly taken equally in depth and temp. Hard to do but it has to be done as best as possible for accurate useable info. Good luck | |
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grid sampleing
