Back-to-Basics

Home

EFU Manual

Quick Tips

Fertility Facts


	— Why Back-to-Basics?
	— Nutrient Balance Information
	— Soil Test Summary
	— Agri-Briefs
	— Agri-Facts
	— Agronomic Tips
	— Crop Nutrient Utilization
	— Fertility Issues
	— Environmental Steward
	— Fertility Checklist
	— Fertility Quizzes
	— IPNI Insights
	— Narrowing The Gap
	— News Briefs
	— Nutrient Deficiency
	— Regional Updates
	— Soil Fertility Links
	— Comments

Spring 2005

"Unlocking the Potential"
Have you unlocked the incredible yield potential offered by modern corn hybrids, or have you just settled for Steady Eddie yield increases? Take this quiz to see if you possess the key to loftier yields and profits, or if you're locked behind the doorway to a field of dreams.

1. Who can hit this nail on the head? What is the current corn yield average?

A. 123 bu/A/yr
B. 143 bu/A/yr
C. 163 bu/A/yr
D. 183 bu/A/yr

2. What have a number of farm experts warned might impact future yields?

A. A blight of locusts
B. Dust Bowl
C. Widespread declines in soil test levels of P and K
D. Crop circles

3. The "yield gap" that crop experts speak of is the difference between your current yields and____.

A. Yields in Iowa
B. The attainable yield under local conditions
C. Yields in university studies

4. Let's see if you know your corn from your kernels. From 1961 to 2003, what was the average increase in corn yields?

A. 0.075 bu/A/yr
B. 1.75 bu/A/yr
C. 17.5 bu/A/yr
D. 7.5 bu/A/yr

5. Given the probable increase in future extreme weather events, extreme droughts are not out of the question. Which fertility approach do you think will have the most success in an extreme drought season?

A. "I'm maintaining my conservative fertilizer applications-why bother trying to second guess the weather"
B. "Global warming, global schwarming! I need to save money on fertilizer inputs if a drought could wreck my yields!
C. "I want to increase my crop's chances of survival and replace necessary nutrients by adding additional K this year."

6. True or False. Most North American soils have plenty of P & K reserves.

A. True
B. False

7. Which technological and management advances over the past 20 years have contributed to the slow, but steady, increase in yields?

A. Yield protection from GMO technology
B. Improved input application technology
C. Increase plant populations
D. Removal of poorer ground from production via government programs
E. All of the above

8. Now for the basics…When should you apply additional fertilizer?

A. When the crop starts showing signs of deficiency
B. When crop growth seems stunted
C. When the soil test indicates that nutrients are approaching less than adequate levels

9. Fill in the blank. You can increase a crop's water-use efficiency by ____ if nutrient levels are high.

A. 25%
B. 66%
C. 100%
D. 200%

10. With the "maize" of new technologies and tools available, corn growers may find the path to increased yields a long and winding one. But now there's a new tool developed by the University of Nebraska - the Hybrid Maize - that helps growers find their way to profitability faster! This new tool helps growers ____.

A. Develop site-specific soil and crop management plans
B. Predict corn silking date
C. Define the site-specific yield gap that is available to exploit
D. All of the above

Site Map | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Home