Author: Edwin Ritchey
Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences
Major Program: Soils
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Many privatesoil testing labs routinely recommend the addition of sulfur for cropproduction. However, the soil test used (e.g. Mehlich 3) is not correlated or calibratedfor crop response in Kentucky or surrounding states. One focus of my research programhas been sulfur fertility work in row crops (corn and wheat) and alfalfa. Tissuesurveys were conducted over a four-year period for wheat and alfalfa encompassedthe majority of Kentucky for wheat and alfalfa did not show strong evidencethat sulfur was lacking. Response trials in alfalfa, wheat and corn indicatedthat sulfur fertility was not liming crop yield. I have talked to severalfarmers that were planning to apply sulfur that decided to use that fertilizermoney on other inputs, thus saving them money and potentially allowing forother inputs to be applied that are of greater need. We continue to monitor andresearch sulfur nutrition in Kentucky and are trying to develop a method toprovide sound advice for sulfur application rates when it might be needed.
Specialists, researchers, and support staff came together tocreate a wheat field school training ser... Read More
We initiateda new training series at UKREC beginning in 2016 to provide real life scenariosfor crop ... Read More
During the 1800s up until the early 1900s and during World War II, Kentucky led the nation in indust... Read More
In order for people in eastern Kentucky to have and maintain economic stability (now that coal produ... Read More
SITUATION:People, animals and plants are dependent on our Earths natural resources. Everything from ... Read More
The success of any crop requires planning and efficient use of all required resources.One of the mos... Read More