From September 16th - October 15th, we asked No-Till Farmer readers: "How often do you soil test your no-till fields?"

In recent years, sulfur (S) deficiency in wheat has become common in many areas, particularly in no-till wheat. Classic S deficiency symptoms, confirmed by soil and plant analysis, have been observed in many no-till wheat fields during periods of rapid growth in the spring.

Soil testing for nitrate-N in the fall for making nitrogen (N) recommendations on winter wheat is a valuable practice, particularly when using 24-inch profile sampling.

It's important that producers not overreact to lower crop prices for wheat by cutting back this fall on phosphate (P) fertilizer, if it's needed, for the wheat crop.

The keys to maximizing the economic returns from phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer applications are a comprehensive soil testing program and maintaining P and K soil test levels above their respective critical levels. The critical level for a given nutrient is the soil test level at which 95% to 97% of the crop’s yield potential will be reached with no additional inputs of the nutrient.

If you're planning on seeding new alfalfa into ground that has been in row crops for many years, it’s wise to get a "special" soil test before planting.