Fine-tuning P and K Fertilizer Recommendations for Winter Wheat

We are looking for cooperators to host P and K fertilizer response trials in wheat planted this fall. Have you ever had a field that tested low in P but did not respond to P fertilization, or a field testing high in P that responded to P fertilization? These trials are helping us refine our P and K fertilizer recommendations to maximize wheat yield and profitability. Results will translate to practical recommendations for Pennsylvania farmers. Preliminary data from this national project (FRST) can be found online.

The farmer cooperator is responsible for:

• Indicating to us which field(s) is suspected to be low in P and/or K. We will take soil samples from these fields before planting to confirm that soil test levels are low.
• Not applying P or K fertilizer on the experiment area (1/4 acre or less).
• Manage the experiment area as business-as-usual, except for P or K fertilization.
• Let our research team know when planting and harvesting operations will be conducted a few days ahead of time. This is needed so we can plan our research activities, all of which will take place around planting and harvesting.

The research team is responsible for:

• Coordinating research activities around the cooperator's schedule.
• Hand-applying P and/or K fertilizers on the experimental area according to the research protocol.
• Hand-harvesting samples from the experiment area (approximately 300 square feet or 3% of the total experiment area) before the field is harvested by the cooperator. Hand-harvested grain will not be returned to the cooperator. The remainder of the experiment area shall be harvested (and grain is kept) by the cooperator.
• Providing the cooperator with research results, including yield and grain quality data, at the end of the season.

Are you interested in being a cooperator this fall? Please reach out to Daniela Carrijo at [email protected] or 814-863-2535.