Penn State Seeks Farmers for Wheat Fertilizer Trials

By Blake Jackson

Penn State researchers are seeking farmer collaborators this fall to host phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer response trials in wheat. These trials are part of a national project designed to refine fertilizer guidelines, helping farmers boost wheat yields and profitability through more precise nutrient management.

Many farmers have experienced inconsistent responses to fertilizer applications, such as fields testing low in phosphorus that show little yield benefit from P fertilization, or high-testing fields that unexpectedly respond to additional nutrients.

The goal of these trials is to better understand such cases and translate the findings into practical recommendations for Pennsylvania wheat growers.

Preliminary results from the broader Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool (FRST) project are already available online.

Farmer cooperators will:

• Identify fields likely to be low in phosphorus or potassium, where soil tests will be taken before planting.
• Avoid applying P or K fertilizer on the designated trial area (about ¼ acre or smaller).
• Manage the trial area as usual, except for nutrient applications.
• Inform the research team a few days before planting and harvest so activities can be coordinated.

The research team will:

• Schedule activities around the farmer’s field operations.
• Apply P and/or K by hand in line with research protocols.
• Collect hand-harvested grain samples from about 300 square feet of the trial plot, while the rest is harvested normally by the farmer.
• Share yield and grain quality results with the cooperator at the season’s end.

Farmers interested in hosting a trial are encouraged to contact Daniela Carrijo at daniela.carrijo@psu.edu or 814-863-2535 for more information.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-milos-cirkovic