CRITICAL SOIL TEST LEVELS (CL) FOR VARIOUS AGRONOMIC CROPS

Crop Critical Soil Test Levels
P K at CEC1
5 10 20 30
ppm (lb/acre) ppm (lb/acre)
Corn 15 (30)2 88 (175) 100 (200) 125 (250) 150 (300)
Soybean 15 (30) 88 (175) 100 (200) 125 (250) 150 (300)
Wheat 25 (50) 88 (175) 100 (200) 125 (250) 150 (300)
Alfalfa 25 (50) 88 (175) 100 (200) 125 (250) 150 (300)

1 Critical level for ppm K = 75 + (2.5 x CEC) for all crops

2 Values in parenthesis are lb/acre.

Note: A CEC of 15 is used to calculate the K2O recommendation for calcareous soils (soils with pH equal to or greater than 7.5 and a calcium saturation of 80% or greater) and organic soils (soils with an organic matter content of 20% or greater or having a scooped density of less than 0.8 grams per cubic centimeter).


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Corn, Soybean, Wheat, and Alfalfa Field GuideBulletin 827