Performing Department
Crop & Soil Sciences
Non Technical Summary
What: The Modernizing Fertilizer Recommendations: Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool, or "FRST", project aims todevelop a soil-test and crop-response-to-fertilization searchable web-based tool that provides more consistent, transparent, andscience-based decision support for nutrient recommendations across the USA for major crops, including but not limited to corn,cotton, grain sorghum, peanuts, soybean, and wheat.Why: Soil testing provides the backbone for nutrient management programs in modern, intensive agricultural productionsystems. Most science-based soil fertility recommendation systems derive phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer guidancefrom soil-test results. While soil testing has the common goal of determining where fertilizer is needed and how much to apply,soil testing laboratories in the USA differ in soil analytical methods, interpretative terminology, and philosophical approaches tofertilizer recommendations. These differences often result in different fertilizer recommendations among labs within and acrossstates, leading to end user confusion and reduced confidence in soil testing, which ultimately proves detrimental to applicationand educational efforts that encourage 4R Nutrient Stewardship.How: We are building a stable database of soil-test correlation and calibration trials from published literature, theses anddissertations, and state records. Results from both short (single year), intermediate (2-6 years), and long-term (>6 years) trialsare included. As of May 2020, we have compiled data from over 900 soil test P or K correlation trials from 29 states; we haveover 100 additional studies not yet cataloged and more leads for additional data. This is a very collaborative project.Initially the data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet, but it now resides in SQL Server format. To aid in the collection ofdata, we are building an automatic data upload function and we will provide an Excel template to colleagues for data collection.To ensure proper credit, original authors will receive attribution for their data contributions through DOIs. The database will becataloged by and accessible through the National Agricultural Library so that it is available by all and provides perpetuity of thisresource.We have started the next phase of the project - the development of a web-based, front-end platform that provides basic dataanalysis by end users to identify critical soil-test nutrient ranges (correlation) and potential sufficiency approach interpretationsfor nutrient rate calibration. This data analysis tool will allow interpretative analyses at various levels, segregated by userselectedfactors that could influence the correlation and calibration outcome (e.g. physiographic region, soil properties, croppingsystem, irrigation, and yield level).Who: The FRST effort is currently comprised of over 70 individuals from across the US; all have volunteered to be part of thisproject. There are 30 land-grant universities, one private university, nine ARS scientists, two Natural Resources ConservationService personnel, two private not-for-profit individuals, and one State Department of Agriculture employee engaged in thisproject.
Animal Health Component
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Research Effort Categories
Basic
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Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
The goal of the Modernizing Fertilizer Recommendations: Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool, or "FRST" project is todevelop a soil-test and crop-response-to-fertilization searchable web-based tool (decision support system) that provides moreconsistent, transparent, and science-based decision support for nutrient recommendations across the USA for major crops,including but not limited to corn, cotton, grain sorghum, peanuts, soybean, and wheat.
Project Methods
1. Building a national group of soil fertility and nutrient management specialists from land-grant universitites, ARS, and NRCS towork together, crossing state lines, to provide better recommendations for farmers and other stakeholders.We started with soil fertility and nutrient management faculty from 12 southern states working on this project. Through word ofmouth, working meetingspresentations, and symposium, we have of over 70 individuals from across the USA. There are 30land-grant universities, one private university, nine ARS scientists, two Natural Resources Conservation Service personnel, twoprivate not-for-profit individuals, and one State Department of Agriculture employee engaged in this project.2. A survey of all land grant soil fertility and nutrient management specialists on the state of soil testing in the U.S. at researchinstitutions.An initial survey of the 12 southern state faculty was reworked by adding multiple colleagues from other regions to providecomment and content to a national survey. The survey was distributed in early February. Almost all 50 states will haveparticipated by the end of May 2020. Presentations around the data will be provided in fall 2020 through 2021 and a researchpaper and fact sheet released in 2021. Information from this survey can help inform NIFA of the need for resources around soiltesting and provide feedback for the minimum data set.3. Development of a minimum data set for soil testing correlation and calibration experiments that would set the threshold fordeveloping, publishing, and using data in a national soils data base.This work started over 1.5 years ago and the minimum data set is being vetted by the FRST team (70+ scientists). Theminimum data set will be finalized, presentations made, and journal articles and fact sheets developed and released in fall 2020through 2021.4. Accumulating and cataloging soil test correlation and calibration studies across the US and focusing on, but not limitedto,corn, cotton, grain sorghum, peanuts, soybean, and wheat.Soil test correlation and calibration data have been collected for about 10 months. We have over 5000 records and many in theFRST team have contributed theses, dissertations, etc. We expect to collect at least 3 to 4 times this amount of information inthe next three years. This work is being accomplished through post-doctoral fellows.5. Development of a decision-support tool (FRST - Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool) that will allow soil test correlationand calibration queries and graphical output to aid in nutrient recommendations.We will begin programming the decision support system using the model from Australia. We will hire a software engineer towork with the core FRST team, and throughout the proces, we will have Beta Testing to ensure the tool is intuitive andinterpretable. Using tools in AgCross, FRST will provide some geographical capabilities to help users visualize locations. Weexpect the development of FRST, including testing, to take two to three years.6. Development of accompanying apps that support the functionality of the decision tool.ARS is a partner on this project and willing to support accompanying apps. As FRST is built, we will determine our app needs.