Impact of Fertigation on Corn and Soybean Health in Indiana.

Plant health is a topic that is continuously talked about in the agriculture industry. The methods in which nutrients are provided to the plant, the source of nutrients, and ways to keep plants nourished are significant concerns. Recently, crop producers in Indiana have asked if fertigation will provide an increase in plant health and ultimately higher crop yields. To answer this question different methods of fertigation were investigated. Fertigation is the distribution of nutrients through an irrigation system. In most parts of Indiana, fertigation is not a common practice. Our primary objective was to determine the best rate and fertilizer product to maximize plant health. Corn and soybean trials were established in production fields in Indiana. Vigor ratings, phytotoxicity and disease ratings were assessed throughout the growing season to monitor plant health. The severity of diseases such as grey leaf spot in corn and frogeye leaf spot in soybean were rated. At the end of the growing season, yield estimates were collected for each treatment. The second objective is to determine if this method of nutrient delivery is economical and efficient in corn and soybean production. Nutrient management and water quality concerns are critical issues facing crop production in the Midwest. If this research shows fertigation can help with nutrient conservation, this method may become a more popular practice in this region.