Correlations of Soil and Hay Micronutrients

• Purpose: Is there a correlation between soil micronutrients and those in the hay crop?

Rationale for Study

• Producer’s perspective– Protein– Lower Costs– Enhance soil quality

Rationale for Study

• Agribusiness Marketing Perspective– Lower feed costs– Can sell micronutrients to producers who are

using compost– Commission for salesmen

Hay Sampling Procedure

• Collected samples from fields after hay was cut

• 7 samples collected • Hay was then dried

and sent to the Ag. Analytical Lab at Penn State

Soil Sampling Procedure• Soil samples collected in

June before hay harvest

• Soil samples analyzed by A & L Laboratories for:

• B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, Na, S, Zn

• Fields with and without

compost did not differ significantly

Soil Tests

• B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, Na, S, Zn

• Fields with and without compost did not differ significantly

• Soil pH 6.0-6.5

Soil and Hay Copper

Copper

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

6 7 8 9 10 11

Cu

HCu

Cu

All Measurements in ppm.

Soil and Hay Zinc

Zinc

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

5.5

14 16 18 20 22 24

Zn

HZn

Zn

Soil and Hay Calcium

Hca

0200400600800

100012001400160018002000

0.6 0.8 1 1.2

Ca

Hca Hca

Limitations of the Research

• Small sample size & small micronutrient differences among fields

• Few samples from fields without compost

• Maturity?