Small Grains - Soil Management

Small Grains Soil Management

Nutrient Budget Calculator

The Nutrient Budget Tool is a resource for growers who are interested in adequately providing the correct amount of nutrients for their crops for the optimal yields. This tool allows growers to choose crop type and yield goals into a spreadsheet that will then output the needed fertilizer levels of N, P, K needed to meet projected yield goals. Soil test, irrigation water test, and manure nutrient test analysis results can also be input to calculate the overall results of a crop’s nutrient/fertilizer needs. This tool is designed to help promote soil testing and analysis and to help growers be more cost and nutrient efficient. We plan to expand the Nutrient Budget Tool in the future to incorporate soil salinity levels (EC) and pH to better service the nutrient budget users and provide greater information.

Download:

Nutrient Budget Tool

1. Choose the crop from the list of tabs at the bottom of the screen.

2. Fill in the “Plan Area” field in acres and “Yield Area” field in lbs/acre or tons/acre. Doing this will provide the needed N, P, and K requirements of the specified plan area.

3. Additional numbers from irrigation water analysis, soil analysis and fertilizer analysis from a plan area can be input to factor in to the overall needed requirements for N, P, and K in lbs/plan area.

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Soil Management Publications

May 2015

Fertilizing Small Grains in Arizona

Publication (PDF, 454KB)

Authors: Michael J. Ottman and Tom Thompson

Nitrogen is the primary fertilizer nutrient required by wheat and barley. This article describes the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate, nitrogen fertilizer scheduling, and how to boost grain protein content.
May 2015

Planting Methods For Small Grains in Arizona

Publication (PDF, 320KB)

Authors: Michael J. Ottman

Small grains are planted for a variety of reasons, but their rotational benefit makes them a popular crop all over the world and influences the way they are planted. One of the major benefits of small grains as rotational crops is that they cover the soil and suppress weeds
Jun 2014

Sensor-based management of Nitrogen of irrigated durum wheat in Arizona

Publication

Authors: Pedro Andrade-Sanchez and Michael J. Ottman

It can be difficult to accurately apply the proper amount of nutrients to wheat due to their varying sizes and densities. Current field equipment can already vary the rate of fertilizer dispersal, but it needs to be controlled by an algorithm. An algorithm is being developed for that purpose.
Feb 2014

Diagnosing Nutrient Deficiencies Quick-Reference

Publication (PDF, 429KB)

Authors: Shawna Loper

Nutrient deficiencies can be identified in field through visual observations. However, additional analysis, either plant or soil testing is often necessary to confirm nutrient stress. The following is a quick-reference flow chart that can be used in field to identify potential nutrient deficiencies. Each nutrient has unique deficiency symptoms. Deficiencies will appear in many ways. It can be confused with other plant problems like pathogens or spray damage. But nutrient deficiencies can often be recognized because they tend to form symmetrical patterns, where both sides of leaf or plant parts show the same pattern.
May 2012

An Introduction to the Use of Reference Strips for N Management in Durum Wheat

Publication (PDF, 642KB)

Authors: Guangyao (Sam) Wang

A proper application of nitrogen fertilizer can be somewhat difficult for Arizona growers due to a varying amount of nitrogen needed from year to year. This article explains the use of reference strips for assessing the proper amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed that year.
Oct 2011

Pre-plant Soil Testing for Small Grains

Publication (PDF, 893KB)

Authors: Guangyao (Sam) Wang, Shawna Loper, Mike Ottman, and James Walworth

Pre-plant soil sampling is critical for profitable crop production. Soil analysis can help decide pre-plant fertilizer application. Generally only nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer applications are ever needed in Arizona.
May 1991

Nitrogen Management Guide for Small Grains

Publication (PDF, 334KB)

Authors: Thomas A. Doerge, Robert L. Roth, Bryant R. Gardner

The level of nitrogen fertility has more influence on the growth and yield of Small Grains than any other single plant nutrient because it is the nutrient most often deficient in Arizona soils.

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Soil Management Presentations

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ARIZONA PEST MANAGEMENT CENTER