Farmers’ costs continue to rise, just as profits continue to fall. Fortunately, there are ways to improve yields and increase crop profitability through efficient use of nutrients and water.
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), it has never been more important for farmers to “strategically manage” nutrients, especially given the high price of fertilisers and other inputs. The USDA also stresses that effective nutrient management is “specific to individual soils, crops and many other factors that change over time”.
The USDA’s message to farmers insists that they never stop learning about the land they manage: the soil, rainfall, pest pressure, etc. Always consider all crop conditions and how they influence each other to improve nutrient management.
Increase water use efficiency to improve crop yields: Farmers are looking for ways to irrigate more efficiently, especially given the high cost of getting water to their fields. Maintaining crop yields with less water is therefore a challenge.
There are tools to achieve this, and one of them is technology, such as soil sensors, which can monitor the amount of water used and help understand when and how to reduce water use to improve crop yields. Another tool is cultural practices such as cover crops (from grasses to legumes) that work to keep field surfaces cooler and wetter. According to the USDA, cover crops also improve soil health, and healthy soil equals healthy plants that require less water.
Looking for solutions to help you improve the hormonal and nutritional balance to enhance the growth of your crop? Stoller’s plant performance products help maintain optimal growth even in adverse weather conditions. Contact us for more information on how we can help you increase the yield and quality of your crops.