October 2025 issue

Volume 58, Issue 10

Fertilizers are an important tool for improving yields and quality in crop production. Soil tests are often an important component of fertilizer recommendation calculations, but different soil analysis methods used, interpretations of soil test results, and recommendation philosophies cause fertilizer recommendations for the same crop to vary greatly. 

In this month's cover story, fertilizer recommendations from commercial and university soil-testing labs in Utah forage systems were compared with wide variation found in nutrient rates and costs, driven mainly by differences in recommendation philosophies rather than soil test results. Commercial labs generally recommended higher fertilizer rates, especially micronutrients, leading to much greater costs without consistent yield or quality benefits. More efficient, science-based recommendations can help growers optimize production while reducing unnecessary expenses and environmental impacts.