ServiTech Makes Recommendations Regarding Drought Conditions
Senior Lab Expert Expects Growers to Deal with High Nitrates and Low pH Fred Vocasek Areas of the country are in a severe drought, with conditions so extreme some growers are taking their soil conditions day by day. ServiTech, the nation’s leading independent crop consulting and agriculture lab, is making a prediction growers should lean in to hear. In a cyclical pattern that comes with extreme drought, ServiTech expects to work with its grower customers to manage a uniquely high level of nitrates in the soil as well as potentially lower pH levels. ServiTech’s Senior Lab Agronomist Fred Vocasek said it may be to a grower’s advantage to help blunt the effects of severely dry conditions with zone-specific soil tests to help make nitrogen management decisions. “Drought conditions have been present for an extended time in many areas and with that drought comes a cyclical effect to soil microbial activity,” Vocasek said. “Optimum soil temperature is between 60 and 95 degrees for micro...