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Thumb of Michigan | Excellent information, Mike.
Nutrient stratification HAS to happen. Its not from the top down- its from the bottom up. Only reason a root exists in anything other than root crops is to support the above ground plant. The only reason the above ground plant exists is to reproduce. Make seed. And, it takes a lot more nutrients to keep the plant alive than the grain removes. The excess nutrients pulled into the above ground plant from the below ground root not hauled off in seed/grain is going to be on top after harvest. Not sure why that seems to be a mysterious phenomenon to some.
The real question is simply whether this natural process is something that needs to be fixed. Many seem to try to prove it does: but they always add to many variables into the mix to make a valid claim either way.
I believe wholeheartedly that placing nutrients in the correct location is a worthy cause. Its just that "correct" leaves a lot of opinions open to interpretation. In our soils, I just hated the thought of broadcasting a few things- phosphorus and nitrogen being the biggest 2- on top. Not because of nutrient stratification concerns, as much as economic and environmental concerns. With that said, there are very few ways to get fertilizer under the surface at whatever magic depth someone feels they need to place it with zero tillage. But- there's MANY ways to get fertilizer below the soils surface beside inverting the entire soil profile. | |
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Stratification
