When implementing the Systems Approach for higher yields, reach into the farmer’s toolbox for the technologies and practices to help you take yields higher. The soil test is one of those tools, according to Farm Journal Associate Field Agronomist Missy Bauer in the second episode of Corn College TV.
“The soil test is important for the foundation in the basic of our systems approach pyramid,” Bauer says. “The soil test helps understand management zones, yield capabilities, soil types, and elevations.”
For the procedure Bauer and her team use a GPS device mounted on ATVS to help direct in a specific management zone in the field. They pull 10 to 12 cores within each zone.
According to Bauer, the sampling depth will be dictating by the lab you send it to.
“But each sample should be a good, uniform core,” she says. “Soil tests need to be done every two years.”
You can learn more in Episode 2 of Corn College TV.
