Title: Create soil amendment recommendations for a given crop or land use.
Course: Agricultural Production Technology (18301-I) > Section: Using Soil Science in Agricultural Production

Creation of soil amendment recommendations should be based on soil analysis results and should consider the quality (chemical, physical, and biological) of the soil tested and result in the calculation of the amount of fertilizer to apply to a given area of land.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What results/information are given in a soil analysis?
- How many pounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) are present in 1,000 lbs. of a 10-10-10 fertilizer product?
- How many pounds of a 26-5-10 fertilizer product will one need to apply to a lawn to achieve a rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet?
- How much phosphate and potash are applied (on a per acre basis) when one applies 150 pounds/acre of a 50-25-100 fertilizer?
- How much area can be covered with a 50-pound bag of 26-5-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet?
- What are the differences between chemical, physical, and biological properties of the soil?
- Why is knowledge of a plant species important when making nutrient recommendations?
- What main fertilizer products are commercially available for the farmer to purchase?
- What is the format by which nutrients are prescribed, recorded, and sold?
- What is the average nutrient content of manure (e.g., from cattle, chickens)?

Teacher Resource:

Nutrient Management for Small Farms, Publication 442-305, Virginia Cooperative Extension