AREA 28 SOIL AND WATER SAMPLES REQUIRED BY DECEMBER 31ST

Soil and water sampling are two of the requirements for residents of Area 28, a strip of the Lower Loup NRD south of the Loup River stretching from Columbus to west of Fullerton. For a map of the area, click here.

Producers in Area 28 must complete a deep soils analysis and water analysis for nitrogen content. The analyses are needed for all fields where corn, soybeans, sorghum, or potatoes were raised and a soil sample from 36 inches deep must be taken for every 40 acres. The NRD requires an annual report each crop year prior to December 31st. Laboratory reports for soil and water analyses are required attachments. For a copy of the form, click here.

Although not a requirement for the rest of NRD, soil and water testing can be beneficial tools for all farmers. As prices for nitrogen fertilizer remain high, knowing how much residual nitrogen is contained in the soil and water is important in determining the quantity required for the next crop year. Soil testing will also determine the levels of phosphorus, another nutrient in the soil needed for good corn yields. When planting corn in ground previously planted to corn, the University of Nebraska recommends you test annually for residual nitrate in the soil to a depth of four feet.

Soil testing gives farmers the knowledge they need regarding the current nutrient status of the soil, and helps to determine the safest and most economical way of supplying nutrients to the plants.

This page last modified on 10/23/06.