PPI PUBLICATION PRESENTS 2005 SOIL TEST SUMMARY UPDATE FOR NORTH AMERICA
March 1, 2006—Norcross, GA—The Potash & Phosphate Institute (PPI) has released a new 45-page publication which summarizes soil test levels for phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and pH for the 2005 crop season in the U.S. and Canada. Prepared with the cooperation of about 70 public and private soil test laboratories, results of approximately 3.4 million soil samples collected in the fall of 2004 and spring of 2005 were compiled.
“This summary can be viewed as an indicator of the overall nutrient supplying capacity of soils in North America. This is the ninth summary completed by the Institute since the 1960s,” explains Dr. Paul Fixen, PPI Senior Vice President, Americas Program Coordinator, and Director of Research. “The summary offers a snapshot view of soil test levels in 2005, but also provides a comparison to the previous summary which was completed in 2001.”
Since the 2005 edition is the second summary in which laboratories were asked to contribute complete frequency distributions of soil test results, temporal changes in soil test level distributions can be viewed for the first time for states and provinces. Also for the first time, the 2005 report includes data on magnesium and sulfur soil test results.
Dr. Fixen noted a few of the key findings detailed in the summary:
The median P level for North America is 31 parts per million (ppm), with 42% of samples testing less than 25 ppm, a “middle of the road” critical level.
The median K level for North America is 154 ppm, with 33% of the samples testing less than 120 ppm and 53% testing less than 160 ppm.
The median pH level for the U.S. and Canada is 6.3, with 31% of the samples testing less than 6.0.
Findings of the summary are described in more detail in Better Crops with Plant Food, Issue Number 1, 2006. The publication (Soil Test Levels in North America, 2005…PPI/PPIC/FAR Technical Bulletin 2005-1) is available for purchase at $US25.00 plus shipping cost. A related CD is also available for purchase with the publication or separately.
An order form (PDF) and more information about the summary can be found at this link: >Soil Test Summary<. Or contact Circulation Department, PPI, 655 Engineering Drive, Suite 110, Norcross, GA 30092-2837; phone 770-825-8082; fax 770-448-0439.
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Note: Technical questions related to content or interpretation of data in this summary should be directed to: Dr. Paul Fixen, PPI, 772 22nd Av. South, Brookings, SD 57007 — e-mail: pfixen@ppi-far.org — phone: 605-692-6280 – fax: 605-697-7149.
PDF of this press release:
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