PRODUCED BY THE MOSAIC COMPANY

BALANCED CROP NUTRITION

Building a Foundation for
Better Performance
Supplement to
2010. The Mosaic Company. All rights reserved. K-Mag is a registered trademark of The Mosaic Company. KMAG-0060
TUNE IN TO K-MAG.
HIGHER YIELDS.
FOR
A
Ask for K-Mag

in your next fertilizer blend

Potassium, magnesium and sulfur three nutrients in one
All nutrients are readily available to the crop
Visit www.kmag.com to view the new informational video
The recent accomplishments of North Americas farmers are truly
noteworthy. Record harvests have produced more food, fuel, feed
and fber than at any time in our history. Optimism in agriculture
abounds and with good reason.
But with success comes the challenge to accomplish more. Even
with bin-busting production records in 2008 and 2009, supply
merely kept pace with surging demand. Last November, the U.N.
Secretary General reported one billion people are hungry, and by
2050, the world will have two billion more mouths to feed about
nine billion in total meaning well have to produce 70 percent
more than we do today just to keep up. Water, land, energy and fer-
tilizer are fnite resources, and agriculture must develop sustainable
solutions to provide the critically needed increase in food supply.
Meeting this challenge will require new technologies, new crop
management strategies and a commitment to innovation. As the
philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said, we must not just go
where the path may lead, [but] go instead where there is no path
and leave a trail.
Its with this pioneering spirit and quest for better information that
The Mosaic Company brings you the Balanced Crop Nutrition
supplement to Successful Farming. Technology continues to evolve
and promises higher levels of crop performance, but to maximize
this potential, fertility strategies also must move forward. Fertilizer is
the foundation on which all high-yield crop systems must be based.
Inside, youll fnd new thinking on building a well-balanced fertility
program, highlights from the latest research uncovering the nutrient
requirements of todays new hybrids, real experiences of producers
implementing innovative best management practices, and facts on
the latest advancements in fertilizer.
Mosaic is committed to helping the world grow the food it needs.
Were confdent you will fnd information in this supplement to help
you grow more as well.
Sincerely,
Richard N. McLellan
Sr. Vice President, Commercial
The Mosaic Company
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Nutrition for
Next Generation Seed .......................................... 2
The Basics of Balanced Fertility
N and K Work Together
for Higher Yields ...................................................... 4
Brush up on Soil Fertility ........................... 13
N, P, K
the Foundation of Production
Rescue Nitrogen Application
Often Boosts Corn Yields ................................... 6
Optimizing Potassium Critical
for Top Yields........................................................... 5
Managing P Soil Test Values ............................18
Production Management Profles
Prairie Pothole Production
Challenges
Denny Friest, Garden City, Iowa .....................10
Little Is Typical About
Approach to Crop Production
Fairholme Farms, Lewisville, Ind. ................... 17
An Edge That Leaves
Nothing to Chance
Kriss Schroeder, Colby, Kan. .......................... 20
Planning Pays
Fertilizer Offers Performance With Return .... 5
Are You Ready for
Higher Yields? .................................. Back Cover
Unlocking the Secrets to Higher Yields ...... 8
The Need for MicroNutrients
MagnesiumOften Forgotten,
but Most Essential ................................................21
Changes Creating Need for Sulfur ................. 14
Understanding Zinc Defciency ...................... 22
The Production Challenge
Meeting Tomorrows
Growing Demand ..................................................24


To view these articles online or for
more balanced-nutrition information,
visit www.Back-to-Basics.net.
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 1
BA L A NCE D CROP NUT RI T I ON
Next-Generation Seed Requires
New Approach to Fertility
B Y T O M F R Y
T h e Mo s a i c Co mp a n y
The Mosaic Company is working
to bring farmers innovative fertilizer
products and information to provide
better understanding of balanced crop
nutrition. To this end, the company
surveyed farmers, fertilizer dealers and
university soil scientists across Asia,
South America and North America,
investigating their needs and wants for
fertilizers and plant nutrition services.
Overwhelmingly, the results
showed farmers wanted to go beyond
existing N, P and K fertilizers to
products that offer balanced nutri-
tion, says Dean Fairchild, assistant
vice president of Agronomy for The
Mosaic Company. Their priorities
were products to help manage needs
for nutrients such as sulfur, zinc and
also boron, relates Fairchild.
After intensive research, Mosaic
scientists and engineers developed
a patented process to manufacture
a fertilizer granule that incorporates
nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and zinc.
The product is MicroEssentials

SZ,

and it is a major breakthrough in
dry-fertilizer technology. The unique
chemistry of this phosphorus-based
product delivers a balanced ratio
of essential nutrients for better nutri-
ent uptake by plants. In addition,
by including all nutrients in one
granule, distribution is uniform, so
every plant receives the correct
amount of each nutrient.
The MicroEssentials family of prod-
ucts delivers sulfur and phosphorus
in the proper ratio for most crops, so
these two nutrients are more available
and easier for plants to use. Nitrogen
is provided in the readily available
ammonium form to help get young
plants off to an early start. Finally,
MicroEssentials includes sulfur in both
the elemental and sulfate forms for
season-long availability.
Studies show MicroEssentials
fertilizer enhances plant uptake of
phosphorus up to 30 percent and
improves zinc uptake by up to
45 percent as compared to a typical
blend. These improvements in nutrient
utilization mean a better return on the
investment in fertilizer. For more de-
tails, visit www.microessentials.com.
decrease, Below points out. As
corn rootworm-resistant hybrids
become increasingly popular and are
planted every year, it will be important
to take these trends into account as
nutrient management plans and fertilizer
recommendations are formulated.
With nearly half of U.S. corn acres
planted to transgenic hybrids costing as
much as $100 to $140 per acre for seed,
it is important growers apply the nutri tion
needed to optimize yields and generate
a good return on these genetics.
Table A.
Increased Yield of Rootworm-
Resistant Hybrids Removes More
Soil Nutrients
CRW-RESISTANT
vs. NON-RESISTANT
DIFFERENCE %
Yield increase 14 %
N removal 14 %
P removal 24 %
K removal 19 %
S removal 17 %
Zn removal 27 %
Champaign, IL 2008; average of two hybrid pairs
Seed industry leaders Dow
AgroSciences, Monsanto, Pioneer
Hi-Bred and Syngenta have all set
aggressive goals to increase corn
yields. Doubling yields by 2030 is an
admirable and daunting goal that plant
breeding and biotechnology are sure to
play a huge role in achieving. However,
in addition to these new technologies,
new management practices also will be
required to optimize yields.
This season, 47 percent of U.S. corn
acres were planted to stacked-trait,
insect-resistant hybrids, but little is
known about the effect of technology
on corn nutrient uptake and the exact
nutrition needed to optimize yields.
Thats why researchers at the University
of IllinoisUrbana-Champaign are
comparing the nutritional needs of
these hybrids to their non-resistant
counterparts. Preliminary research
results show the nutrient uptake of
resistant hybrids is signifcantly greater
than their non-resistant counterparts.
Intact roots absorb nutrients
more effciently
CRW-resistant hybrids change every-
thing, says Dr. Fred Below, professor
of Plant Physiology, University of Illinois.
Because rootworm larval feeding is
suppressed, and therefore the root
system protected from damage, the
corn plant absorbs nutrients more
effciently and ultimately realizes a
higher yield potential.
More effcient nutrient uptake
suggests higher levels of nutrients are
needed to achieve that added yield
potential. In the University of Illinois
trials, CRW-resistant hybrids yielded
205 bu /acre, while the non-resistant
hybrids yielded 179 bu /acre, a
14 percent difference.
Results of our initial trials show
that the per-acre removal rates of
nutrients [N, P, K, S, Zn] are from 14 to
27 percent greater for hybrids with the
rootworm-resistant gene, adds Below.
In fact, both the yield and the concen-
tration of nutrients in the grain were
higher for the transgenic hybrids.
As we look at these results, we see
very large increases of zinc (Zn) and P
removal, in particular, which means soil
test levels of these nutrients may rapidly
Innovation in Fertilizer
Technology
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 3
By understanding how nutrients
work together, farmers can optimize
production and investment in fertilizer
while minimizing the opportunity for
excess nutrients to negatively impact
the environment. Potassium (K) and
nitrogen (N) are two vital nutrients that
create greater benefts working together
than alone.
Research studies from the University
of Illinois illustrate how potassium
nutrition and fertilizer N interact to
markedly increase yields, response to
fertilizer N and N use effciency (Figure
1). It is important to keep in mind that
these same types of P and K interac-
tions will also occur with other nutrients
and non-nutrient crop inputs.
Illinois
Application Rate (lbs N/acre)
0 lb K20/acre
96 lbs K20/acre
144 lbs K20/acre
C
o
r
n

G
r
a
i
n

Y
i
e
l
d

(
b
u
/
a
c
r
e
)
200
150
100
50
0
0 80 120 180 240
Figure 1. Potassium improves yield response to
N fertilizer and N effciency.
University of Illinois
Adapted from Better Crops, Vol. 82 (1998, No. 3)
What do these interactions
mean for the future?
With technology and production
changes, U.S. corn yields have
increased from about 100 bu /acre in
1985 to approximately 160 bu /acre
in 2009. Many farmers are growing
corn yielding more than 200 bu /acre.
But can traditional nutrient recom-
mendations meet the demands of
tomorrows high corn yields? Evidence
suggests the levels of inputs and
management necessary for corn yields
in the 150bu /acre range may not be
enough for modern yield levels of
250+ bu /acre.
A Kansas study combined higher
plant populations and an enhanced fer-
tility program to maximize irrigated-corn
Table B.
Higher Nutrient Levels Required for Plant Population Response
Kansas State University
CORN YIELDS BU/ACRE
PLANT POPULATION
TRADITIONAL
1
FERTILITY
ENHANCED
2
FERTILITY
FERTILITY
RESPONSE
28,000 202 225 23
42,000 196 262 66
Population Response 6 37
1
230 lbs N /acre, 30 lbs P
2
O
5
/acre P and K Soil Tests = High
2
230 lbs N /acre, 100 lbs P
2
O
5
/acre, 80 lbs K
2
O /acre and 40 lbs S /acre
Source: Kansas State University
yields (Table B). With traditional
university nutrient recommendations,
the higher plant populations yielded
slightly less than the traditional, lower
populations. However, when the fertility
program included additional P, K and
sulfur (S), the higher plant population
yielded 37 bu /acre more than the tradi-
tional, lower plant population. Likewise,
corn response to the enhanced fertility
program was only 23 bu /acre at the
lower plant population, but swelled to
66 bu /acre at the higher population!
Balanced and fully adequate fertility
programs will be fundamental com-
ponents of optimizing return from
improved genetics and new tech-
nologies/practices in the future while
protecting the environment.
BA L A NCE D CROP NUT RI T I ON
Nitrogen and Potassium Work
Together for Higher Yields
B Y D A L E L E I K A M , P h . D .
L e i k a m A g r o Ma x
4 This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company.
Survival in todays competitive
economic environment depends
upon each investment ultimately
providing a positive return. In corn
production, fertility is responsible
for about 40 percent* of the crops
yieldand fertilizer is proven to
provide a positive return on invest-
ment (ROI). Use the formulas below
the table to calculate the return from
fertilizing your own corn crop.
Fertilizer Offers Performance That Pays
Few investments offer this level of return
Optimizing Potassium Critical for Top Yields
Soil test trends coupled with environ-
mental factors indicate applying
potassium (K) fertilizer may be more
important than ever for optimum crop
yields. According to studies from the
International Plant Nutrition Institute
(IPNI), soil test K levels continue to de-
crease, and as a result, the percentage
of soils across North America in nega-
tive balance for K continues to rise.
Research at Ohio State shows
that yields increased as soil test K
increased above critical soil levels,
explains Dan Froehlich, agronomist
with The Mosaic Company. A standard
benchmark is that potassium uptake for
a 180-bushel cornyield is 240 pounds
of potassium per acre. The critical level
of potassium in the soil for optimum
performance is approximately 165 ppm.
The Ohio State results show yields
increased as K increased to 200 ppm
and 278 ppm. Nitrogen use also was
enhanced as soil K levels increased,
Froehlich adds.
Agronomic and environmental condi-
tions also play a role in the availability
of nutrients for plant uptake. These
factors make supplemental K even
more important to optimize yields.
Cool, wet years set up agronomic
challenges for crops that exacerbate
the impact of limited soil nutrients,
says Steve Phillips, Southeast U.S.
region director with IPNI, a not-for-
proft, science-based organization
with a focus on agronomic education
and research support. Season-long
excess soil moisture and resulting
compaction from planting, spraying
and harvest cause poor soil aeration.
Oxygen is required for root nutri-
ent uptake; damp, compacted soils
are lower in soil oxygen, thus limiting
plants ability to uptake K. Continued
wet conditions make the situation more
complex, Phillips explains.
Insuffcient K may lead to reduced
nitrogen uptake, less developed roots,
lower protein content, greater suscep-
tibility to water loss and wilting, as well
as weaker stalks that are more prone
to lodging.
Prolonged cool temperatures plus
wet, compacted soils can cause
irreparable damage to yield potential
since more than 50 percent of the total
K is taken up by corn plants in the frst
50 days. Compaction and wet soils
also may limit K uptake shortly before
pollination when corn plants remove
more than 15 pounds of K
2O per acre
per day.
Over time, continued removal of K
without annual fertilizer application will
lower soil test levels, and yield loss will
occur because K removal is a direct
contributor to crop yield, says Phillips.
Visit www.Back-to-Basics.net for
more information about the importance
of K in a balanced fertility program.
Ohio
Application Rate (lbs N/acre)
C
o
r
n

G
r
a
i
n

Y
i
e
l
d

(
b
u
/
a
c
r
e
)
250
200
150
100
50
0
0 80 160 240 320
160 ppm K Soil Test
200 ppm K Soil Test
278 ppm K Soil Test
Figure 2.
Table C.
YEAR
FERTILIZER
INVESTMENT/
ACRE
($ /acre)
ESTIMATED
YIELD
(bu /acre)
FERTILIZER
COST
($ /bu)
NEW
CROP
PRICES
($ /bu)
BUSHELS
NEEDED TO
PAY FOR
FERTILIZER
DOLLAR
RETURN
PER DOLLAR
SPENT
2008 $140.27 180 0.78 3.82 36.7 $1.96
2009 $145.63 180 0.81 4.09 35.6 $2.02
2010 (estimated) $ 96.94 180 0.54 4.29 22.6 $3.19
2011 (projected) $113.77 180 0.63 4.04 28.2 $2.56
As of Oct. 1, 2010
Corn180 bu /acre corn following soybeans; N-P-K = 1407055
Fertilizer cost assumptionsN = $0.39 /lb, P2O5 = $0.68 /lb, K2O = $0.40 /lb
Fertilizer cost per bushel = fertilizer cost /yield
Bushels needed to pay for investment in fertilizer = fertilizer cost per acre/new crop price per bushel
*ROI assumes 40 percent of yield comes from fertilizer (based on university studies)
Dollar return per dollar invested = (0.40 x yield x new crop price)/cost of fertilizer
For updated info, visit
www.Back-to-Basics.net.
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 5
In really wet years, a lot of
preplant nitrogen is lost.
Wet weather causes nitrogen losses
somewhere virtually every year. In 2008
and 2009, very wet weather caused
major nitrogen losses in a huge chunk
of the Corn Belt.
My rule of thumb is that more than
16 inches of rain from April through
June or more than a foot in May and
June will lead to nitrogen defciency
problems in a substantial number of
cornfelds, says University of Missouri
agronomist Peter Scharf.
According to Scharf, last year nearly
all of Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky,
and Tennessee, plus most of Illinois,
southern Indiana, and eastern Kansas
all had over 16 inches of rain from April
through June. In 2008, nearly all of Iowa
and Missouri, plus southern Illinois,
southern Indiana, southern Wisconsin,
eastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas, and
southeastern Minnesota received over
16 inches of rain during those three
crucial months.
The level of risk depends on nitro-
gen fertilizer management and soil
properties as well as rainfall, says
Scharf. Among preplant applica-
tion strategies, spring application of
anhydrous ammonia has the lowest risk
of nitrogen loss. But any nitrogen-man-
agement strategy can be overwhelmed
by weather.
Scharf developed a Nitrogen
Loss Scoresheet to help growers
identify felds apt to respond to rescue
nitrogen based on nitrogen source,
date applied, soil type and degree of
wetness. Its online at http://ppp.mis-
souri.edu/newsletters/ipcm/archives/
v17n10/ipmltr9.htm.
Farmers who went through back-to-
back wet years have been concerned
that the wet fall and winter of 2009-10
was setting the stage for another year
of nitrogen (N) losses and yield losses.
My frm belief after the last two years
is that every producer and every retail
organization need to have a plan for
making rescue N applications in place
before the season starts, says Scharf.
Rescue applications of nitrogen fertil-
izer can be highly proftable when earlier
nitrogen applications have been lost
due to wet weather.
Scharf cites the experience of Wayne
Flanary, a University of Missouri agron-
omy specialist in northwest Missouri.
Flanary applied 180 pounds of N as
anhydrous ammonia in late-November
2008. Nevertheless, corn in a low area
appeared to lack N early in the 2009
growing season. Where Flanary applied
an additional 60 pounds of N as dry
urea in June, the corn yielded 200 bu /
acre. Where he applied an additional
BA L A NCE D CROP NUT RI T I ON
Rescue Nitrogen Application
Often Boosts Corn Yields
B Y R I C H F E E
Cr o p s a n d S o i l s E d i t o r , S u c c e s s f u l F a r mi n g
Ryan Britt used a high-clearance
applicator to apply rescue nitrogen
for neighbors last year.
Reprinted from the May June 2010 issue of Successful Farming magazine. 2010 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.
Figure 3. University of Missouri research agronomist Kelly Nelson developed this chart to show which
sources of nitrogen can be used at different growth stages of corn.
Rescue N Application Chart
1 ft. 2 ft. 3 ft. 4 ft.
Between Rows
Broadcast
Ammonium Nitrate, 32% UAN,
or Urea + NBPT (Agrotain)
Ammonium
Nitrate
Urea
32% UAN
Urea or Urea + NBPT
(Agrotain)
120 pounds of N as urea, the corn
yielded 220. Where he didnt apply any
rescue N, it yielded 170 bu /acre.
Aerial photographs are Scharfs frst
choice for diagnosing N defciency. You
can get through all your acres much
more quickly and thoroughly based on
aerial photos than by ground-based
inspection, he says.
At fairly early stages (knee high),
aerial photos can help you identify likely
problem areas but should be ground-
truthed. At later stages (waist high or
taller), aerial photos provide reliable
indicators of which areas are experi-
encing N stress and how severe it is,
Scharf says.
My research suggests that aerial
photographs can be translated into
yield loss maps that make it easier
to decide how much can be spent
to correct the problem, says Scharf.
Aerial photographs can also be trans-
lated into variable-rate N maps that can
be plugged into a variable-rate appli-
cator. Nitrogen loss is nearly always
patchy, resulting in some areas that
need rescue nitrogen and other areas
that dont.
In the absence of aerial images, you
can tell a lot about corns N situation
simply by inspecting your felds.
The appearance of the corn crop
is an excellent diagnostic tool, says
Scharf. Corn that is light green or
yellow-green is N-defcient nearly 100%
of the time in Missouri. However, corn
growing in waterlogged soil will be
N-defcient even if the N has not been
lost. This makes correct diagnosis more
diffcult. Sometimes this yellow corn will
green up when the soil dries out, and
no additional N is needed. By the time
youve been able to walk through the
feld for a week, the corn should look
substantially better if the N is still in the
soil. If not, a rescue N application is
called for.
Several different sources of N can
be used for rescue applications. Corn
height and application method must be
considered when determining which N
source to use.
University of Missouri research agrono-
mist Kelly Nelson developed the Rescue
N Application Chart (shown above) based
on research by several agronomists.
Scharf says some people are
skeptical about recovering yield once
corn has been substantially stressed
by lack of N.
My experience and research show
that corn has great capacity to use
rescue N to produce additional yield
until at least silking, Nelson says.
Research by others suggests that
this capacity extends at least a week
and probably usually two weeks past
silking.
High-clearance applicators, which are
becoming increasingly common, enable
growers to dribble or inject liquid N
between the rows of tall corn.
Ryan Britt of Clifton Hills in north-
central Missouri applied rescue N for
several neighbors last year with the
Hagie applicator shown on the opening
page. Britt farms with his father, Randy,
and grandfather, Wayne.
Concerned about the risk of losing
preplant N, they switched to split appli-
cations of N in 2008. Last year, they
applied 60 pounds of N preplant then
sidedressed in June using N sensors to
adjust the rate on-the-go.
Nitrogen defciency is evident on
lower leaves frst. Yellowing begins
at the tip of the leaf and proceeds
down the midrib.
The corn on the left received 40
pounds of rescue nitrogen (32%)
while the row on the right did not.
The extra N was applied 17 days
before this photo was taken on
July 16, 2005. The preplant rate
was 120 pounds of NH
3.
Reprinted from the May June 2010 issue of Successful Farming magazine. 2010 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.
BA L A NCE D CROP NUT RI T I ON
Unlocking the Secrets
to Higher Yields
A N I NT E R V I E W WI T H F R E D B E L OW, P h . D.
Un i v e r s i t y o f I l l i n o i s a t Ur b a n a - Ch a mp a i g n
Table E.
Seven Wonders
of the Corn Yield World
FACTOR BU/ACRE IMPACT
Weather 70+
Nitrogen 70
Hybrid Selection 50
Previous Crop 25
Plant Population 20
Tillage 15
Growth Regulators 10
Total = 260 bu/A*
* Represents the maximum yield level possible
when each of these factors is optimized using
standard crop management systems today and
typical planting rates of 30,000 to 36,000 plants
per acre.
World demand for food, feed, fber and
fuel is increasing. Dr. Fred Below and
researchers at the University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign are assessing new
technologies and designing manage-
ment practices to unlock the secret to
higher yields. Here he shares details of
this effort.
You have spent your entire career
looking at corn physiology and factors
that impact yield. What are you focus-
ing on in your current research? There
are many new technologies available to
growers that are changing the face of
crop production and have the potential
to drive higher crop yields. For example,
todays genetics are more tolerant of
the stresses of higher plant populations.
Corn rootworm (CRW) protection now
gives us a larger, more intact root system
so the corn plant can absorb nutrients
more effciently. Fungicides protect
plants from yield-robbing diseases to
maintain plant health longer.
In our research, weve seen benefcial
synergies from combining these manage-
ment tools. To move to the 300-bushel
level and beyond, we have to identify
the most effcient ways of combining
Table D.
Interaction of Technologies/Practices
on Corn Yield
University of Illinois and The Mosaic Company
TRADITIONAL
PROGRAM*
ENHANCED
PROGRAM**
208 BU /ACRE 274 BU /ACRE
TECHNOLOGY/PRACTICE
ADDED TO TRADITIONAL PROGRAM OR
REMOVED FROM ENHANCED PROGRAM
YIELD INCREASE ATTRIBUTED TO
INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE
BU /ACRE
Additional P, S, Zn (MicroEssentials

SZ

) 7 18
Additional sidedress N 16 24
Higher plant population 15 14
Fungicide application 4 12
Genetics CRW-resistant (triple-stack) 8 27
* Traditional program Typical university recommendations without any enhanced inputs
** Enhanced program Typical university recommendations plus all enhanced inputs
these tools. In that effort, our research
is contrasting standard management
practices and planting populations with
a high-yield management approach
that pushes CRW-resistant hybrids
to 45,000 plants per acre, planted in
7-inch twin rows on a 30-inch center.
It also incorporates 100 pounds of extra
sidedress N as a controlled-release
source as well as 100 pounds of P
2O5
as MicroEssentials,

even though the

soil test suggested no additional P
was necessary.
As part of your high-management
system, you have ranked seven factors
that impact corn yield, and you refer
to them as the Seven Wonders.
Why are they important to success in
high-yield management systems? The
Seven Wonders are weather, nitrogen,
hybrid selection, previous crop, tillage,
plant population and a catchall I call
growth regulators that is represented by
the plant-health or performance aspect
of fungicides.
However, before we can uncover the
full potential of the Seven Wonders, there
are base prerequisites that must be
met. They are proper drainage, P and K
levels based on higher yield goals and soil
test values, plus effective weed control.
Your research shows that nitrogen
management has the second-biggest
impact on yield, right behind weather,
but what does your current research
suggest about the importance of man-
aging for P and K levels? There is no
doubt in my mind that to achieve high
yields, you have to meet base fertil-
ity levels in order to get the rest of the
Seven Wonders to reach their greatest
potential. Nitrogen, the Second Wonder,
is a major driver in corn yields, but we
are seeing that a balanced nutrition
approach is critical to helping nitrogen
achieve its full value, particularly toward
the 300-bushel level. We are seeing a
lot more cases impacted by the classic
law of the minimum. If the limiting nutri-
ent is P, K, S or Zn, that one defciency
can prevent the corn from getting the
full value of nitrogen applied. This is why
balanced fertility is an important man-
agement component of the high-yield
system I am evaluating.
Dr. Belows Five Management Factors for a High-Yield Corn System
1
Fertility 100 lbs of P2O5 as MicroEssentials

SZ

even though the soil test

suggested no additional P was necessary.
2
Nitrogen 100 lbs of extra N as a controlled-release source for a total of
280 lbs of nitrogen
3
Hybrid Selection Triple-stack hybrid, locally adapted for specifc
environment
4
Population 45,000 plants/acre planted in 7.5-inch diamond-patterned twin rows
5
Fungicide Single application of a well-timed fungicide
Photo courtesy of Cargill.
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 9
Production Challenges Prairie Pothole Poses ie Pothole Poses Production Cha
MANAGE ME NT PROF I L E
possibility our soils also need supple-
mental sulfur, weve been evaluating
MicroEssentials

SZ.

Weve seen good

yield response in strip trials. In his
2009 comparison, the corn receiving
MicroEssentials produced 10.9 bu /acre
more than the untreated check and
6.8 bu /acre more than that which
received MAP.
Nitrogen management also is a signif-
cant challenge, according to Friest. We
monitor our N use very carefully. Weve
seen evidence of signifcant leaching of N
from fall-applied manure, so management
of this resource must be done carefully.
He continues, Were not only looking for
economic beneft to our fertility practices,
but also environmental benefts. We need
to be good environmental stewards, and
if we can maintain productivity with less
nitrogen, everyone wins.
Encouraged by a program from ISA to
cut N use, Friest has decreased N applica-
tion by 25 to 30 percent, or 50 lbs /acre,
and now applies around 150 pounds when
targeting 200-bushel yields on corn
following corn. He prefers to apply N in
the spring to reduce the opportunity of
leaching and has seen yield advantages
to sidedressing in June with 50 lbs /acre.
Friest fully expects nutrient manage-
ment to remain high on his list of factors
to evaluate and closely control.
We have a lot of good tools in our
arsenal. We just need to continue working
to see what fts best, he concludes.
20/20 AirForce is a trademark of Precision
Planting, Inc.
mulch-till compared to moldboard plowing
and no-till.
As one of the original On-Farm Network
participants, he fully utilizes this manage-
ment tool to evaluate the yield beneft of new
products and crop production practices.
There are certain requirements partici-
pants must meet, but we can test anything
wed like as long as there are three
replicated strips across the feld, Friest
explains. Through the years, Ive looked at
hog manure, fungicides, soil insecticides,
tillage, different plant populations and
various fertilizers. With all the new traits
available in seed, we are always looking at
new hybrids to see what will work best.
MOISTURE COMPLICATES
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
Nutrient management is one of Friests
greatest challenges.
Weve been working very hard on
nutrient management over the last six
or seven years, and something is always
changing. It is frustrating, he says.
For example, Friest has seen a
signifcant drop in his normally high P soil
test levels, which he attributes to nutrient
draw-down from 200 bu /acre corn yields.
He also has found the use of phytase in
swine feeds has lowered P available from
manure, which is a source of N, P and K
for a portion of his acres.
He explains, We know hog manure
now will not provide enough P to meet crop
removal rates of P for both corn and the
following soybean crop, so felds receiving
hog manure also receive supplemental P to
provide a base of 120 lbs /acre for our 200
bu /acre yield goal.
Friest adds, To meet P needs and the
While most farmers are anxiously awaiting
long-promised drought-tolerant corn hybrids,
Denny Friest would welcome moisture-
tolerant hybrids on his north-central Iowa
farm. Too much moisture is often the
biggest challenge of farming the dense,
poorly drained Clarion-Nicolette-Webster
soils, which are typical of North Americas
vast Prairie Pothole region.
Its hard to complain about too much
moisture, but Mother Nature almost always
gives us more than what wed like to have,
relates Friest. Our soil here is heavy, dense
and prone to ponding. I lose far more yield
to too much moisture than to not enough.
Moisture creates issues from planting
through the production season. He has
installed 4-inch tile every 70 feet in several
felds. Though tiling is not a total solution
to improving crop performance, it has
decreased yield variability across felds.
TILLAGE IS A MUST DO
Friest also has learned getting the crop off
to a good start requires managing fall crop
residue using a disk ripper to help soils
warm up and dry out the following spring.
The goal of this mulch-till approach is to
open up the soil but leave 70 percent of the
corn residue on the soil surface. His planter
is equipped with trash whippers to manage
the remaining residue and further warm
the seedbed. A 20/20 AirForce

system on
the planter is used to optimize seed-to-soil
contact for better germination.
Mulch tillage has proved particularly
essential to maintain yields in corn
following corn. Replicated strip trials
conducted through Friests participation
in the Iowa Soybean Associations On-Farm
Network verifed the advantages of
Denny Friest
Garden City, Iowa
Participant, Iowa Soybean Association
On-Farm Network
Corn
Soybeans
Swine farrow-to-fnish
10 This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company.
The roles of other essential nutrients
such as sulfur, magnesium and zinc
in increasing crop yield and quality
Why new insect-resistant, multi-
trait hybrids may beneft from a new
approach to fertility
How to identify yield-robbing nutrient
defciencies through visual analysis
How to identify hidden defciencies
not visible to the eye
Visit www.Back-to-Basics.net
Order or bookmark
these valuable tools
and online resources:
Effcient Fertilizer Use manual. This
comprehensive guide to proper fertilizer
uses, soil pH, soil sampling and much
more is FREE! Order the CD-ROM, or
access the chapters online.
Legendary billionaire Warren Buffett has
inspired legions of followers worldwide
to heed his homespun moneymaking
advice: Invest in what you know.
Over a lifetime of investments,
including the 40-acre farm he purchased
in the 10th grade, Buffet demonstrated
that when investors have an intimate
knowledge about a topic, they naturally
spot more opportunities. The same
is true for farmers who gain deeper
knowledge of crop inputs, like fertilizer.
To help farmers learn about crop
nutrition to gain confdence in their
fertilizer decisions, The Mosaic
Company developed the free educa-
tional soil fertility resources found at
www.Back-to-Basics.net. At this
educational website, farmers can learn:
When and why N-P-K applications
alone are not always enough to
optimize yields
BRUS H UP ON S OI L F E R T I L I T Y BA S I CS
Let www.Back-to-Basics.net be Your Guide
Regional agronomic updates. Click
on your region of the interactive map
to receive timely updates on local crop,
soil and weather conditions, along with
nutrient management tips, from the
expert staff at the IPNI.
Crop nutrient defciency photo library.
Nutrient defciencies in crops reduce
yields, grain/forage quality and profts to
the farmer. Browse this image gallery for
help to identify various nutrient defciency
symptoms for 19 different crops.
After you visit www.Back-to-Basics.net
to brush up on soil fertility basics, contact
your local fertilizer dealer for help to
formulate the balanced soil fertility
pro gram needed to optimize your crop
production investment. The more you
know about nutrient needs of your
crops, and the needs of your soil, the
greater your opportunities to increase
yields and profts.
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 11
CROP NUTRIENT UPTAKE
lb/A
Crop Yield (A) N P
2
0
5
K
2
0 Mg S
Alfalfa* 8 ton 408 96 392 43 43
10 ton 510 120 490 54 54
Barley 120 bu. 166 67 182 17 23
Canola 60 bu. 180 90 150 37 30
Corn 150 bu. 135 57 41 14 12
Stalks 68 24 165 21 11
Total 203 81 206 35 23
200 bu. 180 76 54 18 16
Stalks 90 32 220 46 14
Total 270 108 274 64 30
250 bu. 225 95 68 23 20
Stalks 112 40 275 58 18
Total 337 135 343 81 38
Corn Silage 30 ton 291 93 219 60 33
Cotton (lint /seed) 1,500 lbs. 100 44 59 20 17
Stalks 140 28 151 12 19
Total 240 72 210 32 36
Fescue 3.5 ton 130 42 189 13 20
Oats 100 bu. 73 27 18 4 7
Straw 29 15 89 10 10
Total 102 42 107 14 17
Potatoes/ Tubers 500 cwt. 160 60 275 15 15
Plants 100 25 150 20 10
Total 260 85 425 35 25
Rice 7,000 lb. 112 60 168 14 12
Ryegrass 5 ton 215 86 215 40 60
Sorghum (grain) 175 bu. 116 68 47 11 11
Soybeans* (grain) 70 bu. 266 59 91 15 13
Stover 77 17 70 15 12
Total 343 76 161 30 25
Sunfower 1.5 ton 151 45 110 21 18
Wheat 80-bu. Grain 120 48 27 12 8
Straw 56 13 96 8 11
Total 176 61 123 20 19
2010. The Mosaic Company. All rights reserved. MicroEssentials is a registered trademark of The Mosaic Company. MES-0168
* Legumes derive most of the N from symbiotic N xation.
Source: IPNI and Mosaic
Visit Back-to-Basics.net for information on additional crops.
soil testing to determine fertility needs
of specifc felds and guide fertilizer
and manure application needed for
sustainable crop yields.
Figure 4.
2010 median soil levels and
change from 2005
PHOSPHORUS LEVELS*
SD 13
-1
NE 18
-4
IA 21
-4
MO
15
-3
IN
24
-5
MI
38
-11
MN
17
-1
WI
23
-16
IL
24
-12
OH 23
-2
17
-1
KS 17
-4
ON
37
-10
KY
POTASSIUM LEVELS**
SD 245
-23
NE 320
-44
IA 161
-11
MO
149
-1
IN
130
-14
MI
131
-18
MN
160
+4
WI
133
+8
IL
181
+3
OH
145
-23
99
-35
KS 272
-22
ON
131
+3
KY
* Median Bray P1 equivalent, ppm
Soil samples, millions: 2005=2.0; 2010=3.0
** Median ammonium acetate K equivalent, ppm
Soil samples, millions: 2005=2.0; 2010=2.8
are indeed falling in most of the Corn Belt.
The two maps show median soil
P and K levels (50 percent of samples
are above and below these levels) for
the Corn Belt states and Ontario. The
lower numbers in the maps are the
changes from 2005.
Phosphorus declined in all areas, with
Wisconsin and the Northeast showing
the largest drops. Soil P levels in the
Western states were lower initially, so
the 3 or 4 ppm reductions seen from
the summary are important to note.
Preliminary data indicates the P level
decline for Illinois is large.
Soil K relative changes were smaller
in comparison and less consistent.
Nine of the 13 areas showed reduc-
tions or virtually no change, and four
showed small increases. All three of
the western-most states showed large
drops in soil K because of highly nega-
tive nutrient balances, but their median
levels are still well above critical levels.
The northeast states and Ontario also
saw large reductions in soil K.
The takeaway is that crops have been
removing more P and K from many of
the soils of the Corn Belt than those
soils have been receiving as fertilizer
or manure, and the result is declining
soil fertility. The wide range of soil test
results reinforces the importance of
The status of soil fertility levels is an
indicator of the sustainability of farming.
Every fve years, the staff of IPNI
and cooperating private and public
laboratories across the United States
and Canada summarize soil test levels
for phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)
as well as pH to get an inventory of soil
fertility levels across North America.
With decreased fertilizer use in
2009 and the long-term trend of crops
removing soil nutrients faster than
theyre being replenished, many are
interested in the 2010 summary.
Tests confirm that soil test
levels for P and K are falling
in most of the Corn Belt.
First, the good news from this
summary process is that there has
been a substantial increase in use of
soil testing since 2005; soil testing has
grown at an average of about 300,000
samples per year over the last fve years.
We estimate that about 5.5million
samples were collected in North
America for the 2010 crop compared
to about four million for the 2005 crop.
This is one of the highest growth rates in
soil testing ever in North America.
Unfortunately, the results of these tests
confrm that soil test levels for P and K
The Direction of Soil Fertility
in the Corn Belt
B Y P A U L E . F I X E N , P h . D .
I n t e r n a t i o n a l P l a n t Nu t r i t i o n I n s t i t u t e
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 13
- Alfalfa removes approximately
6pounds S per acre per ton pro-
duced. A 40 bu /acre wheat yield will
remove about 5 pounds S per acre.
Sulfur is mobile in the soil.
Excessive rainfall or irrigation water
can move SO
4-S through the soil,
particularly when soils are sandy.
Assessing the need for sulfur
As more signs of sulfur defciency are
seen in crops, a growing number of
producers will wonder if they need to
supplement S. To identify where supple-
mental S will be benefcial, its important
to understand sulfurs role as a plant
nutrient.
Identifying areas with S defciency
often begins with organic matter
content of the soil. Fields with low
organic matter and long histories of
forage/silage production or continuous
corn systems with no manure additions
would be more likely to exhibit S def-
ciency. Some nutrient defciencies can
be confrmed with a soil test, but with S
as with N, it is diffcult to get a reliable
assessment of available S from soil
chlorophyll production, which makes
the younger leaves of the plant appear
yellow, a symptom sometimes confused
with N defciency.
Putting S out of balance
What has changed to bring about a
need for supplemental sulfur in crop
production?
Decreased S deposition from rain/
air (Figure 5). Since the 1970 Clean
Air Act, emissions of sulfur dioxide
have decreased dramatically, resulting
in reduced deposition from rain/air.
Changing fertilization practices.
A switch away from ammonium sul-
fate as a source of N and decreased
use of single super phosphate, which
contained some S, means were
adding less S to soils. Manure use
also has changed.
Increased crop removal.
An increase in both grain and forage
yields results in more rapid depletion
of S from soils.
- A 180 bu /acre corn crop removes
about 14 pounds S per acre.
The frst occurrences of sulfur (S)
defciency in corn were reported in the
1960s. At the time, sulfur defciency
was virtually unheard of. Textbooks
devoted chapters to nitrogen (N), phos-
phorus (P) and potassium (K) and their
roles in crop production. Sulfur received
only short paragraphs.
To sustain optimum crop
yields, the S balance in soils
will need to be maintained
through supplemental S.
Today, the situation is quite different.
Since the late 1980s, university agrono-
mists from New York to Kansas,
Michigan to Alabama, have been
observing sulfur defciency in crops and
advising growers on the importance of
supplemental sulfur. With this change,
S has become the fourth essential
nutrient. It is a com ponent of numer-
ous protein enzymes that regulate
photosynthesis and nitrogen fxation.
In fact, when S is limiting, there is less
BA L A NCE D CROP NUT RI T I ON
Changes Creating Need for Sulfur
B Y D E A N F A I R C H I L D
T h e Mo s a i c Co mp a n y
testing because of sulfurs mobility in
the soil and the varying rates of S min-
eralization from crop residues. Tissue
testing is considered more reliable, and
comparing samples in the same feld/
hybrid between poor and good areas
may be the best strategy.
Visual symptoms also are an indica-
tor, and plants with severe defciencies
have yellow or white streaks along the
leaf veins that may stretch the full length
of the newer, upper leaves. Probably
the most reliable way to know if a
sulfur application will result in a positive
re sponse is to apply some in strips to see
if a difference in yield can be measured.
Choosing a source of
supplemental sulfur
Several products are available for cor-
recting or preventing a sulfur defciency.
When choosing a product, remember
that sulfur forms vary in their availability
for plant growth. Plants can readily take
up sulfate (SO4), so this form is preferred
for corn and small-grain production as it is
immediately available to developing roots,
helping plants get off to a faster start.
Elemental sulfur (S) must be oxidized
into SO
4 by soil bacteria before plants
can take it up. This takes time and is
slowed by cool spring temperatures.
Elemental sulfur is more of a slow-
release fertilizer and can be used in a
soil maintenance program or by plants
later in the season. Choosing a fertilizer
source containing elemental sulfur also
helps ensure S is available to plants all
season long because it is not as mobile
as sulfate, which can move out of the
root zone when precipitation is high.
Sources of sulfur for plants
There are several fertilizers available
to supply S when it is needed. The
MicroEssentials

family of products
provides season-long availability of S by
providing both the elemental and sulfate
forms. K-Mag

fertilizer is virtually 100

percent water soluble and provides K,
Mg and S that are immediately available
to plants. Your local agronomist, crop
consultant or fertilizer dealer can help
you assess the right product to optimize
yields in your crop production program.
Table F.
Sulfur content of some common fertilizers
MATERIAL NAME S CONTENT (%)
Ammonium sulfate (210024) 24
Ammonium thiosulfate (120026) 26
K-Mag

(0021.5) 22
MicroEssentials

S15

(1333015S) 15 (7.5 sulfate; 7.5 elemental)

MicroEssentials SZ

(1240010S-1Zn) 10 (5 sulfate, 5 elemental)

MicroEssentials S10

(1240010S) 10 (5 sulfate, 5 elemental)

Potassium sulfate (0050) 18
Sulfur deposited by precipitation
in 1986 compared to 2008
Figure 5. When comparing these maps, it is apparent the 3 12 pounds per acre of S deposited by
precipitation in 2008 is not enough to replenish the amount of S removed by crops.
2008
1986
National Atmospheric Deposition
Program/National Trends Network
http://nadp.sws.uluc.edu
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 15
:VTL ZLLR HUZ^LYZ PU [OL Z[HYZ
6[OLYZ SVVR [V [OL ZLH
>LYL UKPUN V\YZ PU [OL ZVPS
Science is a world of
pioneers. Especially the
science of soil. With
more than 40% of crop
yields dependent on
the soils fertility, were
developing the balanced
fertility strategies to drive
yields even higher. This
initiative has made us a
leader in conservation,
environmental steward-
ship and sustainability.
And kept us in tireless
pursuit of the next great
answer to help the world
grow the food it needs.
4VZHPJ*VJVT
2010. The Mosaic Company. All rights reserved. Mosaic is a registered trademark of The Mosaic Company. MOSC-0072
oach to Crop Production Little Is Typical Abou s Typical About Approach to Crop P
MANAGE ME NT PROF I L E
Kim Drackett
Randy Bales
Lewisville, Indiana
Fairholme Farms Inc.
Continuous no-till
Corn, soybeans
Swine farrow-to-fnish
we have the data and have used this
approach for so many years, I believe weve
dramatically reduced the variability in our soil
test levels across each feld, and as a result,
have reduced the probability that P, K or pH
will be the limiting factors to grain yield.
For optimum productivity, our goal is to
maintain phosphorus at 25 ppm and potas-
sium at 150 to 200 ppm, depending on
the cation exchange capacity (CEC). When
soil test data indicates nutrient levels need
to be brought up, we work on a four-year
build program for P, K and lime, Drackett
adds. Our typical process is to apply
these nutrients at a build rate, plus one
years removal for both corn and soybeans.
Application is done every other year, prior
to corn. After four years, if things appear
to be going well, they switch to a mainte-
nance program, occasionally pulling a few
soil samples to confrm their beliefs.
INVESTING RESOURCES WISELY
PAYS OFF
Drackett and Bales also plant on a
variable-rate basis, with plant population
ranging from 26,000 to 35,000 plants
per acre. This allows these farmers to
invest resources where they will produce
the most bushels. Nitrogen (N) for corn
on 150 high-management acres near the
swine operation is supplied using irriga-
tion water from the two-stage lagoon
system. And while all other acres typically
receive anhydrous ammonia as a sidedress
application, the fortuitous addition of a real-
time kinetics (RTK)-guidance auto-steering
system in early 2010 allowed application of
anhydrous preplant.
Weve experienced several years when
it has been wet in the month of June,
making it hard to get sidedressing done,
says Bales, who oversees crop planning
and operations. If we hadnt been able
to apply N prior to planting, we probably
would have been dripping liquid N between
the rows with highboys. Because the
farm has the equipment and labor to apply
anhydrous, Bales estimates the ability to
complete timely application plus the savings
on appli cation cost may have paid for their
investment in the RTK-guidance technology.
GETTING BETTER AT
EVERYTHING
Since 1981, Fairholme Farms has worked
with its crop consultants, Purdue University
and the University of Illinois, to complete
numerous on-farm trials. This has helped
them achieve a fve-year average yield
of 165 bu /acre on corn and 59 bu /ac on
soybeans. While Drackett and Bales are
always game to try something new, they
like to have proof it works.
With their experience in crop production
and from what theyve seen through previ-
ous on-farm research, the duo is convinced
reaching the industrys 300-bushel yield
goal will require everything coming together.
We are going to have to get better at
everything, says Drackett. Well need
more plants per acre, better soil tilth, more
balanced nutrition, and better hybrids and
varieties. On the nutrient side, we will need
to use fertilizer formulations as well as
technologies that provide nutrition through-
out the entire growing season. Finding what
works is why weve been doing on-farm
research so long and why we will continue
to do so.
Both Kim Drackett and Randy Bales
describe 1,850-acre Fairholme Farms as
a typical eastern Corn Belt operation, but
their management approach is, and long
has been, anything but typical.
For example, the operation began
2.5-acre grid sampling in the 1950s. At the
time, they variable-rate-applied fertilizer by
simply driving a gear slower with the tractor
and fertilizer spreader in areas that needed
more nutrients.
Drackett then worked with other farmers
to form a local Maximum Economic Yield
group, and together the group enlisted
a local retailer to invest in variable-rate
application equipment. In 1992, the farms
frst yield data was collected. In 1997, after
working with a crop consultant and Purdue
University to complete a statistical evalua-
tion of what size soil test grid captured the
variability in their soils, they switched to
sampling on a 1-acre grid.
VARIABLE-RATE PROGRAM BASED
ON CALCULATED SOIL TEST
Today, the operation soil-samples on
a 1-acre grid every six to eight years.
Fairholme Farms zone management
based variable-rate crop nutrition program
is built using a beginning soil test and
a soil test value calculated between soil
tests by combining the base soil test with
nutrient applications and crop removal
rates from yield data. While sampling on a
1-acre grid is costly, the expense is spread
over more years, and the resulting nutrient
management process has helped eliminate
variability in soil test levels.
So much of crop risk management is
reducing variability, says Drackett. Since
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 17
BA L A NCE D CROP NUT RI T I ON
Managing P Soil Test Values
B Y G Y L E S W. R A N D A L L , P h . D .
Un v e r s i t y o f Mi n n e s o t a Wa s e c a
P to be available in the soil.
Maintaining high STP values gives
growers the fexibility to skip P fertiliza-
tion without sacrifcing yield. Moreover,
the risk of failing to maximize yield
in exceptional years is reduced by
maintaining STP at high levels. Less-
than-high STP values can easily be yield
limiting, resulting in potential yield being
left in the feld. Finally, high STP gives
extra resource value to the land, provid-
ing better return on investment to both
the landowner and renter.
Visit www.Back-to-Basics.net for
more information on soil testing and
managing phosphorus.
Soil testing is the best tool farmers have
for determining and managing phos-
phorus (P) levels in their felds. Testing
can confrm increases in soil test phos-
phorus (STP) resulting from application
of P and also document how much
crop removal has decreased STP.
Unfortunately, in the last decade or
two, STP has declined in many areas
of the Corn Belt. The steady decline is
generally due to increasing yields, which
remove greater levels of P from the soil,
coupled with P application rates that
often have fallen below crop nutrient
removal rates (Table G). This trend is
particularly evident for rented land when
the renter chooses to mine P from the
soil rather than apply fertilizer or manure
P at a rate suffcient to maintain STP at
an optimum level.
Building P soil test values
Since nutrients removed by the crop
need to be replaced by fertilizer or
manure P to maintain soil test P values,
farmers often ask, How much phos-
phate will it take to raise my STP value
to the optimum level? This is a diffcult
question to answer as the amount of
P required depends on current and tar-
geted STP levels, subsoil P level, depth
of P
2O5 incorporation and crop yields/
nutrient removal during the time frame
in which the STP is to be increased.
A common rule of thumb developed
by University of Illinois researchers
says 18 pounds P
2O5 per acre will
increase Bray P
1 by 1 ppm. In a 12-year
Minnesota study during the 70s and
80s, with corn yields averaging 150
bu /acre, Bray P
1 STP was maintained
at 20ppm with an annual 50-pounds-
P
2O5-per-acre rate. STP increased 1
ppm per year when an additional 30
pounds P
2O5 per acre were applied
annually. Thus, given the many variables
involved, annual soil testing is an excel-
lent way to monitor changes in STP for
each particular situation.
Recent research indicates high soil
test P values may be necessary for
economically successful corn and
soybean production. A three-year study
in Minnesota compared yields of corn
and soybeans grown on low P-testing
soil and very high P-testing soil. A
50-pounds-P
2O5-per-acre rate was
Table G.
Calculate P and K Removal rates
To calculate phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) removal rates in corn grain and
soybean seed, multiply yield by estimated P and K removal constants.
CORN
P Removal Rate = corn yield bu. X .35 (P
2O5 /bu. removal constant)
K Removal Rate = corn yield bu. X .25 (K
2O/bu. removal constant)
SOYBEAN
P Removal Rate = soybean yield bu. X .85 (P
2O5 /bu. removal constant)
K Removal Rate = soybean yield bu. X 1.3 (K
2O/bu. removal constant)
Source: G. Randall, University of Minnesota
applied for corn each year followed by
no additional P for soybeans the next
year. All other inputs were similar across
both STP regimes.
Table H shows the economic penalty
(nearly $120 per acre per year) of low-
testing compared to very-high-testing
soils even when P fertilizer is applied.
This illustrates further that managing
soil phosphorus levels is critical as
farmers attempt to maximize the
return on their fertilizer dollar. Knowing
the soil test P status of soils is espe-
cially important on rented or recently
acquired acres. Simply said, high yields
require high P uptake, which requires
Table H.
Soil Test P Impact on Yield, Economic Return
LOW STP
7 PPM
VERY HIGH
STP 25 PPM
YIELD
DIFFERENCE
ECONOMIC
BENEFIT PER
ACRE FOR VERY
HIGH STP
P2O5 prior to corn 50 lbs /A 50 lbs /A
Corn yield 3-yr avg. 167 bu 193 bu 26 bu
$117
($4.50/bu)
Soybean yield 3-yr avg. 39 bu 49 bu 10 bu
$97.50
($9.75/bu)
Source: G. Randall, University of Minnesota
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 19
othing to Chance An Edge That Leave Edge That Leaves Nothing to Chanc
MANAGE ME NT PROF I L E
Kriss Schroeder
Colby, Kansas
Corn
Wheat
Sorghum
Sunfower
Dryland, no-till, intensive management
from 0 to 6 inches and also 6 to 24 inches.
In years in which nutrient leaching is sus-
pected, N, Cl and S are evaluated at 24- to
48-inch depths.
NUTRIENT PLAN ADJUSTED,
BALANCED EACH YEAR
Using a spreadsheet built following nutri-
ent recommendations from Kansas State
University, Schroeder develops a balanced
nutrient program for each feld, each
year, adjusting the rates up or down a bit
depending on expectations for the growing
season. He stresses the importance of
formulating a program every year on every
feld and balancing nutrition for his crops.
If youre taking vitamins, you dont load
up on vitamin C and forget about vitamin
A, calcium and other nutrients, he says.
Plants are no different. If you load up one
nutrient and another nutrient is limiting,
that will limit your yields. I strive to make
sure nothing I can control limits my yields.
At planting, granular fertilizer is applied
as a starter with the planter or drill. He uses
MicroEssentials

SZ

as his source for P,

N, Zn, S and supplements it with additional
K as needed. Liquid nitrogen in the form
of UAN is streamed on in a band every
15inches in the fall or winter after the
soil temperature drops below 50 degrees.
If moisture conditions are favorable for a
bumper crop, additional N is occasionally
applied in the spring.
Yields are proof Schroeder has found the
edge he needs for success. His whole-
farm averages for each crop are well above
average for the area.
year, he studies seed and fertilizer test
plots and does his own on-farm testing of
new genetics as well as other crop produc-
tion products.
On-farm research is the fun part of
farming. There are a lot of differences
in soils, and something that might work
200miles from here may not work here,
he explains. On-farm research is risk
management. Before you spend thousands
of dollars on something, youd better know
it works.
SOIL TESTING EVERY YEAR
Another risk-management tool Schroeder
employs is annual soil testing of every feld.
While he has experimented with 2.5-acre
grid sampling, he currently samples every
8 to 10 acres and combines samples from
like soils within each feld.
Through the years, the greatest variabil-
ity weve seen from a nutrition standpoint
is due to mineralization of nutrients from
the previous crops residue, Schroeder
explains. Some years we have a fair
amount of rain and heat. That mineralizes a
lot of nutrients. If the following year is dry,
we may not have as much mineralization,
so well need to apply more fertilizer. He
estimates this variability can range from a
nearly insignifcant amount to the crops
full requirement from the lowest to highest
years; therefore, he is not confdent in
building a nutrient program based strictly
on estimated crop removal.
Levels of mobile nutrients, nitrogen (N),
chloride (Cl) and sulfur (S), also are hard to
predict without annual soil tests because of
leaching. Soil samples typically are pulled
In 1991, when Kriss Schroeder put away
his veterinary license and came home to
farm near Colby, Kan., he knew hed need
an edge to make a living in the dryland-
cropping region.
Schroeder adopted an intensive manage-
ment program that took a 180-degree
approach to traditional summer-fallow
wheat production. By switching to continu-
ous no-till, he now raises a crop every year,
on every acre.
Water is by far our number one limiting
factor to crop production. By switching to
no-till, I felt I would be able to conserve
enough moisture to grow a crop every
year, relates Schroeder. We do this by
keeping as much residue on the surface as
possible and not letting anything grow that
doesnt produce income.
With 70 percent of his acres in corn, he
follows a two- to three-year cycle of the
same crop, rather than rotating yearly. This
enhances weed control and reduces the
risk that can come from needing to drill
wheat immediately following the combine
in the fall.
Residue preservation involves stripper-
headers during wheat harvest and keeping
the header as high as possible during corn,
sorghum and sunfower harvest so more
residue stands longer. Stubble and stalks
are moisture-management assets providing
shade, snow-holding capacity and protec-
tion from drying winds. Weeds are killed
before they can steal moisture.
Beyond conserving moisture, the north-
west Kansas farmer believes good genetics
and a balanced soil fertility program are the
most important facets of his success. Each
20 This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company.
MagnesiumOften Forgotten, but Most Essential
Increasing rates of needed K fertil-
izers will put greater stress on Mg
absorption. This places more K ions
in the soil solution to compete with
Mg ions for uptake by plant roots.
Root uptake diffculties brought on
by soil acidity, by soil fooding or
compaction, or by reduced-tillage
practices.
Greater removal of Mg from the
feld occurs due to increasing yields
and multiple cropping. (Nutrient
uptake values for individual crops
are presented on page 12.)
Higher crop yield and quality
Magnesiums contributions to yield
and quality are both crop and site
specifc. Scientists in Minnesota, for
example, pay special attention to the
Mg status of forage crops to help avoid
an Mg shortage in the diet of ruminant
animals. Magnesiums contributions to
crop quality are seldom visible since
it works behind the scenes regulating
enzyme systems, producing sugars or
helping with other vital crop activities.
University specialists in the Southeast
United States point out that a shortage
of Mg is most likely for high-yield crops
growing on acidic, sandy soils of the
Coastal Plain.
Vegetable crops are often responsive
to fertilizer Mg. For example, Mg
improved the protein content of potatoes
and reduced internal discoloration while
increasing frmness. Color disorders in
tomatoes were reduced by balancing
Mg and K in the fertilization program.
Yield response has been noted for
different crops growing on low-testing
soils: 1) Mg increased potato yield from
6.7 to 8.7 tons per acre in Michigan;
2) 50 lbs/acre of Mg increased tomato
yield from 16.5 to 20.3 tons/acre; and
3) Mg increased corn grain yield at three
locations on low-Mg coastal plain soils.
To learn more about the role of
magnesium in crop production,
visit www.Back-to-Basics.net.
Without photosynthesis, plant life would
not exist. And without magnesium (Mg),
there would be no photosynthesis.
Plants could not produce our food, and
hunger would become our number one
concern.
Often the forgotten nutrient, Mg is
the most essential of the 17 nutrients
needed for plant growth. It is a vital
team player working with other nutri-
ents and is essential for top-proft crop
production.
Contributions to plant growth
As the central ion in the chlorophyll
molecule, Mg is essential for photosyn-
thesis. It works with phosphorus (P) to
transfer energy needed within the plant
for growth, and it works with nitrogen
(N), sulfur (S) and potassium (K) to build
quality protein. Seed formation requires
both Mg and P.
Crop and soil needs for Mg
are science based
Soil tests are the most reliable way
to determine Mg availability from soil
reserves. The soils Mg status should
be updated whenever pH, P and K
levels are checked. Remember, crop
response to fertilizer Mg occurs most
often on acidic, low-exchange-capacity
soils that are low in organic matter and
soil test Mg.
Plant analysis can help to detect a
shortage of Mg. Sample the whole plant
at the seedling stage for corn, small
grains or soybeans. As plants approach
their reproductive stage, specifc leaves
become a better measure of the Mg
status. For many crops, a rule of thumb
is to sample the youngest fully mature
leaves. If possible, collect a soil sample
at the same time and from the same
area of the plant sample.
Increasing yields will require
higher Mg levels
Higher plant populations per acre will
require more nutrients to meet growth
needs.
Time-proven source of Mg
Crop advisors often address the need
for Mg by incorporating potassium
magnesium sulfate (K-Mag

) into a
balanced fertilization program. Also
known as langbeinite or double sulfate
of potash, K-Mag is sourced from ore
beds deep beneath the earths surface.
Langbeinite, an evaporite mineral, is
one of the most soluble salts in the
ocean. As a result, K-Mag is virtually
100 percent water soluble and the Mg,
K and S it provides are immediately
available to crops.
B Y N O B L E U N D E R W O O D
I P NI Re t i r e d
A g r i - Te c h S e r v i c e s L L C, P r e s i d e n t
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 21
BA L A NCE D CROP NUT RI T I ON
Understanding Zinc Defciency
B Y D A N F R O E H L I C H , P h . D .
T h e Mo s a i c Co mp a n y
lower soil temperature and higher soil
moisture level. These conditions put
stress on a small root system, making
it diffcult to uptake required Zn, as
well as P and Mg.
Low organic matter. Zinc availability
also has been linked to soil organic
matter content. The soil test for Zn
usually increases as the soil organic
matter content increases. So, Zn
defciency symptoms will usually
appear frst on eroded portions of the
landscape where the organic matter
content is low.
Early crop-planting windows.
Corn and certain vegetables are
being seeded earlier in the spring,
when soils are cool and moist. This
compounds the stress on seed-
lings caused by reduced tillage, and
makes a readily available supply of Zn
and other nutrients even more impor-
tant to ensure early plant growth.
Soils testing low in Zn and high
in P. Soil-test each feld to help
identify where crops will respond to
Zn. Fields that test low in Zn and high
in soil pH and P need attention frst.
University scientists report that a low
Zn level, teamed with a high soil pH,
can increase crop uptake of P to an
excessive level. A shortage of Zn
severely impairs the plants ability to
regulate P accumulation. This triggers
excess uptake of P and the develop-
ment of Zn defciency symptoms.
Getting ready for next years
crops starts now
Soil and plant analysis labs provide
guidelines for sampling felds, evaluating
crop need for Zn and determining the
amount of fertilizer Zn needed to correct
a defciency.
Soil-sample felds carefully, and
analyze the lab reports on a feld-by-
feld, crop-by-crop basis with your
agronomic advisor. Remember, a Zn
defciency is often not visible at the high-
yield level. Thus, soil and plant analysis
are key detection tools. Knowing the
other conditions that create resis-
tance to root uptake of Zn will help to
determine when Zn should become a
member of the balanced nutrient team.
To learn more about zinc, visit
www.Back-to-Basics.net.
Zinc (Zn) has been put to work on farms
for decades. Fencing wire and nails are
galvanized with zinc to prevent rust.
Metal buckets are coated with zinc to
last longer. However, zincs most impor-
tant job is in the feld, as one of the 17
essential elements in plant growth.
Zinc defciency is growing in the
Midwest, and it is more likely to occur
in corn than soybean felds. This is
due in part to earlier planting of corn in
cool and moist soil. Also, more residue
resulting from conservation tillage and
higher grain yields places added stress
on seedlings to absorb Zn from soil.
Zinc is heavily involved in enzyme
systems that regulate the early growth
stages, and is vital for fruit, seed and
root system development, photosynthe-
sis, formation of plant growth regulators
and crop stress protection. In addition,
Zn is a team player with nitrogen (N),
phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).
However, Zn is required in very small
amounts compared to N or K. Only
about a half-pound of Zn is needed per
acre for high-yield (180 bu/acre) corn
production. Sixty-bushel wheat needs
about 0.28 pound of Zn per acre. Yet,
lack of Zn can limit plant growth, just
like N or K, if the soil is defcient or crop
uptake is restricted.
Give plants a good start
Crops need readily available Zn,
especially when plants are young and
growing vigorously. Zn does not move
in the soil, so the small seedlings root
system may have diffculty fnding and
taking up Zn reserves. Zinc availability
and uptake also can be limited by other
environmental and crop management
practices, including:
Liming to reduce soil acidity.
Availability of Zn to plants declines as
soil pH increases. Zinc is usually more
available as soil pH movesto the acid
side of 7.0. Be alert for a Zn shortage
for sensitive crops growing on soils
with pH 6.0 or higher.
Low soil temperature. The solubility
or availability of Zn in soil is affected
by soil temperature, and solubility
decreases as soil temperature drops.
Reduced-tillage systems. Crop
residues on the soil surface at plant-
ing time shade the soil, resulting in a
The photo above illustrates symptoms
of zinc defciency in corn.
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company. 23
Grain-based biofuels have both pas-
sionate proponents and opponents,
but political support for these programs
looks solid, particularly if energy prices
trend up as predicted this decade
and grain and oilseed prices remain at
moderate levels due to expected yield
increases. For example, corn used for
ethanol production in the United States
is projected to increase to more than
135million tonnes, or about 5.4billion
bushels, in order to meet blending man-
dates by the middle of this decade.
Given this positive demand outlook,
the challenge for farmers around
the world is to produce another
500million tonnes of grains and
oilseeds per year by the end of
the decadeequal to another U.S.
harvestand to boost global produc-
tion by more than 70percent by the
middle of this century. Farmers will
need to harvest record area and reap
ever-increasing yields in order for grain
and oilseed supplies to keep pace with
accelerating demand.
Put another way, the horse race
between grain and oilseed supply and
demand looks like a nearly dead heat.
Supply will inch ahead and stocks will
grow when harvests exceed trend as was
the case in 2008 and 2009. Demand
Global demand for the leading grain
and oilseed crops is projected to
increase from about 2.6 billion tonnes
today to 3.1 billion tonnes in 2020 and
to more than 4.5 billion tonnes in 2050.
In fact, demand growth has accelerated
despite the Great Recession and linger-
ing fears about the global economy.
Demand has increased at a 2.2 percent
per-year clip during the last fve years
compared to a 1.8 percent per-year pace
during the frst half of the last decade.
Grain and oilseed demand is fueled
by three key drivers: 1) steady popula-
tion growth, 2) increases in income and
the upgrading of diets by a swelling
middle class, especially in the populous
and rapidly developing countries of
Asia, and 3) the expansion of grain-
based biofuels production, particularly
the exponential growth of corn-based
ethanol output in the United States.
All of these demand drivers look
positive. Global population is projected
to increase from 6.7 billion today to
7.6billion by the end of the decade
and to more than 9.0billion by 2050.
Global population currently increases
about 75million people per yearthe
equivalent of adding another Ethiopia to
the world each year.
Based on IHS Global Insight fore-
casts, global GDP per capita in 2005
dollars is projected to increase from the
Great Recession low of $7,200 to more
than $9,300 in 2020 and to about
$18,700 by 2050. Statistics show
people spend a large percentage of
the increase in income on protein-rich
and more grain-intensive foods such
as meat, eggs and dairy products as
they move from low to moderate levels
of income.
will inch ahead and stocks will fall
when harvests fall below trend growth
as is the case this year. Never theless,
farmers and crop input suppliers
will need to whip the supply horse
in order for it to keep pace with the
demand horse. That is exactly what
futures prices for most agricultural
commodities are signaling today for the
next several crop years: Keep whipping
the supply horse by planting record
area and harvesting record yields year
after year.
Yet, as highlighted throughout this
supplement, achieving the next genera-
tion of yields will require a complete
bundle of high-technology inputs
including not only promising new seed
varieties but also more sophisticated
crop nutrient products and practices.
For example, feeding 45,000 corn plants
per acre will require innovative products
that uniformly deliver suffcient amounts
of primary as well as secondary nutri-
ents and micronutrients. This also likely
will necessitate more precise placement
or even multiple applications. One thing
we can say with certainty: Meeting
future demand will require fnding the
most synergistic combination of innova-
tive production technologies with which
to drive tomorrows high-yield systems.
;OL 7YVK\J[PVU *OHSSLUNL
B Y M I K E R A H M , P h . D .
T h e Mo s a i c Co mp a n y
24 This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company.
With every new generation, population continues to grow. This means we need more food.
Todays farmers are leading the way to meet the increasing food demands of the future.
MicroEssentials

is the next generation of fertilizer designed to meet the needs of your

advanced farming operation. Demand more;
demand MicroEssentials. For more infor mation,
go to MicroEssentials.com.
2010, The Mosaic Company. All rights reserved. MicroEssentials is a registered trademark of The Mosaic Company. MES-0169
The next generation of fertilizer
for the next generation of farming.
Every MicroEssentials
granule contains nitrogen,
phosphorus and sulfur. This
ensures uniform distribution
and better nutrient uptake.
neration of fertilizer
Are You Ready
for Higher Yields?
Achieving the next generation of yields will require a complete
package of high-technology inputs, new management practices
and crop fertility. Review the checklist below to see if your crop
production program is ready for the higher yields needed to meet
future demand for food, feed, fber and fuel.

I have a fertility plan for every feld. Page 20

I have made management changes to ensure Im optimizing
the return on my investment in seed. Page 8

I agree the triple-stack hybrids Im planting yield more and need
a higher level of fertility to fulfll their yield potential. Page 2

My fertilizer application rates have increased as my yields
increase. Page 2

I have a regular, systematic plan to soil-test every feld on my
farm to make sure soil nutrient levels have not decreased
below critical levels. Page 13

I am experimenting with higher plant populations on my farm.
Page 8

In the past three years, I have seen corn plants on my farm
showing pale striping of the leaves. Page 22

Sulfur is a nutrient that may be needed on my farm. Page 14
For more information, turn to the page
listed after each statement, visit
www.Back-to-Basics.net
This information produced and presented by The Mosaic Company.