SOIL FERTILITY FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Goals of nutrient management - Correct Answers -1. Cost effective
2. Efficient (conserve resources)
3. Maintain/enhance soil quality
4. Protect the surrounding environment
Build-up and maintenance - Correct Answers -add extra fertilizer to replace and build-up
soil fertility
Yield goal based systems - Correct Answers -based on yield goal and crop requirement.
Adjusted for soil organic matter and other factors
pre-plant or pre-sidedress nitrate tests - Correct Answers -adjusts yield-goal
recommendations based on soil nitrate testing
Maximum return to N (MRTN) - Correct Answers -uses hundreds of N fertilizer corn
yield response studies to develop an equation for average response. Adjusts equation
to include the current fertilizer and grain prices to calculate the N rate that returns the
most profit or economically optimal N rate (EONR)
Crop growth models - Correct Answers -use crop growth simulation models such as a
maize N to determine EONR
Canopy reflectance sensors - Correct Answers -assesses the size and color of plants to
calculate N fertilizer rates
Tool Fusion - Correct Answers -use multiple tools such as a crop growth model to
develop initial recommendation and then adjust with canopy reflectance
nutrient content of a plant tissue dependent on - Correct Answers -1. type of plant
sampled
2. plant part sampled
3. stages of growth
sustainable agriculture - Correct Answers -the successful management of resources for
agriculture to satisfy changing human needs while maintaining or enhancing the quality
of the environment and conserving natural resources
, elements of sustainable agriculture - Correct Answers -1. long-term productivity and
stability
2. economic viability
3.conservation and enhancement of environmental quality
4. improved quality of life
5. socially acceptable
instruments of soil fertility evaluation - Correct Answers -1. chlorophyll meter
2. penetrometer
3. soil characterization lab
objectives of soil testing - Correct Answers -1. provide information on soil characteristics
that will affect growth and yield (available plant nutrients)
2.to recommend nutrient amendments when needed to improve soil fertility and profits
for growers (fertilizer and lime)
3. to minimize the potential for environment pollution
advantages of soil testing - Correct Answers -1. measure available plant nutrients
contained in soil
2. insufficient or excessive use of fertilizers or manures can be avoided
3. timely testing allows for amending soils in time to improve crop growth
4. Effects of management can be observed overtime
5. profits can be increased
advantages of plant testing - Correct Answers -1. directly measures nutrient taken up by
plant
2. can detect "hidden hunger"
3. sufficiency levels can be established for each crop
4. nutrient levels in perennial crops can be monitored
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Goals of nutrient management - Correct Answers -1. Cost effective
2. Efficient (conserve resources)
3. Maintain/enhance soil quality
4. Protect the surrounding environment
Build-up and maintenance - Correct Answers -add extra fertilizer to replace and build-up
soil fertility
Yield goal based systems - Correct Answers -based on yield goal and crop requirement.
Adjusted for soil organic matter and other factors
pre-plant or pre-sidedress nitrate tests - Correct Answers -adjusts yield-goal
recommendations based on soil nitrate testing
Maximum return to N (MRTN) - Correct Answers -uses hundreds of N fertilizer corn
yield response studies to develop an equation for average response. Adjusts equation
to include the current fertilizer and grain prices to calculate the N rate that returns the
most profit or economically optimal N rate (EONR)
Crop growth models - Correct Answers -use crop growth simulation models such as a
maize N to determine EONR
Canopy reflectance sensors - Correct Answers -assesses the size and color of plants to
calculate N fertilizer rates
Tool Fusion - Correct Answers -use multiple tools such as a crop growth model to
develop initial recommendation and then adjust with canopy reflectance
nutrient content of a plant tissue dependent on - Correct Answers -1. type of plant
sampled
2. plant part sampled
3. stages of growth
sustainable agriculture - Correct Answers -the successful management of resources for
agriculture to satisfy changing human needs while maintaining or enhancing the quality
of the environment and conserving natural resources
, elements of sustainable agriculture - Correct Answers -1. long-term productivity and
stability
2. economic viability
3.conservation and enhancement of environmental quality
4. improved quality of life
5. socially acceptable
instruments of soil fertility evaluation - Correct Answers -1. chlorophyll meter
2. penetrometer
3. soil characterization lab
objectives of soil testing - Correct Answers -1. provide information on soil characteristics
that will affect growth and yield (available plant nutrients)
2.to recommend nutrient amendments when needed to improve soil fertility and profits
for growers (fertilizer and lime)
3. to minimize the potential for environment pollution
advantages of soil testing - Correct Answers -1. measure available plant nutrients
contained in soil
2. insufficient or excessive use of fertilizers or manures can be avoided
3. timely testing allows for amending soils in time to improve crop growth
4. Effects of management can be observed overtime
5. profits can be increased
advantages of plant testing - Correct Answers -1. directly measures nutrient taken up by
plant
2. can detect "hidden hunger"
3. sufficiency levels can be established for each crop
4. nutrient levels in perennial crops can be monitored
