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Geographic North America Soil Data

Nutrient Balance Trends & Soils Below Critical Level Snapshot

The eKonomics nutrient balance analysis is the industry’s first to annually assess state-by-state nutrient removal records, fertilizer consumption information and manure data. Findings reveal that a large percentage of soils are becoming depleted of nutrients at an alarming rate, causing many areas to fall below the critical level for K and P. Is your farm among them?

Percentage of farms in that area have fallen below the critical levels for P and K. < 20 ppm of P is considered below the critical level for phosphorus in majority of areas. < 120 ppm of K is considered below the critical level for potassium in majority of areas.

Canada
Province P K
Alberta 41 12
Manitoba 46 13
New Brunswick 6 41
Nova Scotia 7 44
Ontario 26 38
Prince Edward Island 2 61
Quebec 35 68
Saskatchewan 59 7
United States
State P K
Alabama 36 75
Arizona 55 15
Arkansas 60 54
California 32 27
Colorado 50 10
Connecticut 29 70
Delaware 16 70
Florida 20 91
Georgia 17 94
Idaho 31 16
Illinois 44 28
Indiana 45 43
Iowa 40 15
Kansas 55 16
Kentucky 63 54
Louisiana 78 57
Maine 12 45
Maryland 32 65
Massachusetts 13 76
Michigan 28 47
Minnesota 48 19
Mississippi 62 48
Missouri 56 43
Montana 63 3
Nebraska 49 7
Nevada 45 15
New Hampshire 17 81
New Jersey 19 63
New Mexico 54 6
New York 31 62
North Carolina 8 54
North Dakota 77 6
Ohio 53 41
Oklahoma 68 37
Oregon 15 34
Pennsylvania 26 52
Rhode Island 10
South Carolina 12 90
South Dakota 62 8
Tennessee 68 73
Texas 68 24
Utah 39 26
Vermont 66 70
Virginia 34 75
Washington 19 15
West Virginia 52 60
Wisconsin 37 52
Wyoming 45 13

Nutrient Balance Trends Sources:

1.) USDA-NASS: P2O5 and K2O nutrient removal obtained from harvested tonnage of crops from each state. Manure applied nutrients subtracted from harvest removal.

2.) AAPFCO: Fertilizer consumption data subtracted from the removal information to obtain a mass balance of nutrient levels for each year for each state. “Commercial Fertilizers 2014” is available; all earlier versions are still available. National fertilizer use data are available in a hard-copy publication, “Commercial Fertilizers 2014”, which is available from The Fertilizer Institute (TFI). The Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO), in partnership with TFI, has published the 2014 edition of the Commercial Fertilizer Report.

Percentage of Soils Below the Critical Level Sources:

International Plant Nutrition Institute: Data presented is based upon percent of samples testing below established critical levels for P and K for major crops in 2015. This includes results of P and K analysis performed on approximately 4.4 million soil samples. Critical Bray P1 equivalent levels for the soils and crops of the Great Plains and Corn Belt are usually around 20 ppm and increase to 25 to 50 ppm for the eastern U.S. Critical ammonium acetate K equivalent levels are generally in the 120 to 200 ppm range. Some crops may require substantially higher soil test levels than the critical level used in this analysis (consult your local university/agronomist for more information).

Important to Note: Soil testing is statewide and can differ within regions of every state and province. Nutrient management should occur on a site-specific basis where management objectives and the needs of individual fields and, in many cases, areas within fields, are recognized. Therefore, a general soil test summary like this one cannot reflect the specific needs of individual farms. Its value lies in calling attention to broad nutrient needs, trends, and challenges, and in motivating educational and action programs that are in turn relevant to growers and their advisers.