A Farmer Survey of Phosphorus Issues
ISSN 2158-9429
Volume 6, Issue 2 - December 2013
Editor: Linda Chalker-Scott
Abstract
Farmers (N=133) were electronically surveyed at the Conservation Tillage Conference, Ada, Ohio (March 2013) about phosphorus (P) management practices, knowledge, and attitudes. As farm size increases (Chi Square, p<0.0273), farmers use more intensive soil sampling including grid soil sampling (50%, N=65) on 2.5 acre parcels and zone sampling by soil type (21.5%, N=28). The majority of farmers (72.6%, N=93) agreed that P runoff is an issue in Ohio. Farmer attitudes had 17.8% (N=22) agreeing that Tri-State Fertilizer recommendations limit crop yields. Farmer P knowledge for Bray P1 was fairly low with only 12.3% (N=14) knowing when to stop applying P fertilizer. Farmers reported applying P mostly in the spring (47.2%, N=59) or fall (41.6%, N=52). Farmers (32.0%, N=41) reported broadcasting P with no incorporation.
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