UK Horticultural Research Farm, Lexington KY

Fertility management in crop production systems involves the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological conditions. Ongoing monitoring of soil nutrients and composition can help growers to

determine the appropriate amount of manure, compost, or other nutrient inputs to apply;
select cover crops to build soil organic matter, conserve soil nutrients, or manage weeds;
understand how management practices are affecting nutrient availability.

UK Extension Vegetable Specialist Rachel Rudolph and Sustainable Agriculture Professor Krista Jacobsen will walk producers through these and other tools and strategies in developing efficient and targeted nutrient budgets and fertility management plans for open field and high tunnel production.

Fertility, Cover Crops, and Soil Testing