Excessive or low nitrogen levels in soil may not just pose serious threats to the environment but also may lead to huge economic loss for the producers of corn.
If the nitrate levels in the soil rise, it’s drainage to the water bodies may lead to subsequent death of fish, which is found to have occurred in the Gulf of Mexico and the Neuse River of North Carolina.
So, to cut back on the amount of nitrogen-based fertilizer added to soil, various soil-based tests are currently available. But, how accurate they are?
To meet this confusion and query, the North Carolina State researchers have come up with a new test — Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test — that can quickly predict the levels of nitrogen in the humid soil conditions of the southeastern United States.
The Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test is capable of assessing the soil’s nitrogen levels with more accuracy,compared to the current soil-based tests – scientists claim.
Despite moderate weather variation of southeastern soils during the collection period, the new test can measure the economic optimum nitrogen rates accurately.
Besides, the Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test can also serve as a model for predicting economic optimum nitrogen rates on both well and poorly drained soils.
Hope, the new test would be an effective tool for managing nitrogen accurately.