Enhanced Nutrient Management in Virginia: Precision Soil Phosphorous, Potassium, and pH Management

Demonstrate the utility and economic feasibility of using variable rate precision agricultural technologies for phosphorus, potassium, and lime recommendations in Virginia through an aggressive education and information dissemination program. 1) Partner with one or more commercial fertilizer applicators in Virginia that have variable rate application equipment (multi-bin fertilizer trucks for granular phosphorus, potassium, and lime applications), GPS technology, and technology expertise. 2) Validate current Extension recommendations for lime, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer recommendations by establishing demonstration sites on one or more production fields. 3) Determine the appropriate soil management zone establishment technique for phosphorus, potassium, and lime based on the current environmental and economic situation (zone size and zone shape) on one or more production fields. 4) Demonstrate field nutrient variability in Virginia, especially in fields that have historic manure applications. We will use a minimum of three fields that will include one each of historic manure applications, no-tillage, and/or conventional tillage. 5) Increase phosphorus removal from over-saturated fields by increasing yields via appropriate liming and potassium recommendations that will be documented by a field map and predicted removal on one or more fields.