Agribusiness Phosphorus Survey On Knowledge, Attitudes, and Management.

Agricultural dealer managers (N=34), employees (N=37), company agronomist (N=33), crop consultants (N=25), and others (N=25) were electronically surveyed at the 2013 Conservation Tillage Conference in Ada, Ohio. Agribusinesses (N=188) were surveyed about phosphorus management practices and the results were significantly different (Chi-Square, p<0.0179). Agricultural dealer managers (82.4%) and crop consultants (79.7%) used intensive soil sampling methods (grid soil sampling and zone soil sampling) more intensively than agricultural dealer employees (70.3%) and company agronomist (72.7%) on their client acres. Crop consultants also soil sampled fields with less than 25 acres on 20.3% of their client acres.  Agricultural dealer managers reported soil sampling less than 25 acres per sample on 11.8% of client acres but also 5.9% had more than 25 acres per soil sample.  Agricultural dealer employees (29.7%) and company agronomist (33.8%) also reported using less intensive soil sampling techniques on client acres with 2.7% and 6.1% doing zero soil sampling. Agribusinesses reported spreading phosphorus fertilizer primarily in the fall (September-November, 50.6%) and spring (March-May, 43.9%) with 5.0% spread in the winter (December-February). Agribusiness knowledge and attitudes were not significantly different from each other but only 64.5% (N=183) recommended the correct application of phosphorus fertilizer.  Approximately 12.5% recommended phosphorus fertilizer applications for rates exceeding150 PPM Bray P1.  Agribusiness attitudes indicated that 65.4% strongly agreed or agreed that phosphorus loss is a significant problem in Ohio but 27% believe that Tri-State fertilizer recommendations limit crop yields and 27.6% are neutral.  Education of agribusiness in needed to improve phosphorus management.