June Nitrate Soil Test

June Nitrate Soil Test

Professor DeBacco


June Nitrate Test
June Nitrate Test also goes by the name of Preside-dress nitrate test (PSNT)
Developed in the mid-1980’s and was the first soil test for nitrogen in humid regions like New England.

June Nitrate Intended For Corn, but…
The June Nitrate test is commonly associated with corn production but it can be applied to other field grown crops.
So the data generated from this test can be applied to other crops and field conditions.



Soil Nitrate
The test is based on concentrations of nitrate-N (NO3-N) in the soil sample.
When the soil nitrate concentration is greater than 25 ppm, the probability of increased yield from N fertilizer applied to the field is very low.

Test Provides…
The test provides an indication of how much N will be available to the crop during the growing season.
It measures nitrate in the soil at a point in time.
Sampling is timed to match before corn goes into the high requirements for nitrogen which is why it is commonly referred to as the June nitrate test.
The goal is to minimizes the uncertainty and make fertilizer recommendations.
However, this test can be performed during other months.

Sample Collection…
Unlike a traditional (mineral based) soil test, a June Nitrate Test soil sample should be collected from the surface foot (12”) of soil.
Then the samples should be placed in a paper bag and gotten to the lab as soon as possible.
Results are also send to the growers with-in 24hours of being processed by the lab (typically only during the month of June)
This is because soil samples are collected when corn is 6-12inches tall and it is actively growing so farmers need to be able to get equipment in the field (if necessary) to add fertilizer before the plants get too tall.



What is the Optimum Rate?
Excessive = greater than 30ppm
Optimum = 20-30ppm
Deficient = less than 20ppm
Knowing your field history and keeping records can help you dial in your nitrogen and maximize yields while minimizing potential for environmental contamination and overall costs.





Link to Lecture Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1heot...

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