Soil Fertility and Management

Soil fertility and nutrient management are two of the most important factors that have a direct impact on vegetable crop yield and quality. Use Penn State Extension’s extensive resources on soil fertility and management of vegetable crops, including quality assessment. Find tips on crop rotation, compost, growing a cover crop for nitrogen and organic nutrient sources.

Soil Health and Fertility for Vegetable Production

There are two factors that have a direct impact on a farmer’s vegetable yield and quality. The health of the soil and effectively managing the nutrient content are the foundation of a profitable, productive, and environmentally sound vegetable growing business. Penn State Extension has a wealth of information to help both beginners and experienced vegetable farmers, much of which is also available in Spanish.

Whatever the size of your operation, whether it’s raised beds in your home garden or commercial vegetable production on a much larger scale, supplying the right nutrients at the right time is key. To achieve this, the first step is to monitor soil nutrient levels through yearly soil tests. Understanding the physical properties of your soil is also crucial if you want to manage it successfully.

There are many types of tests you can perform to ascertain the quality of your soil. Cation Exchange Capacity is a measure of the soil's ability to hold cations such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium, or elements with positive charges. You should also test the soil for soluble salts levels. Penn State Extension has been working with several farmers across the state to get a better understanding of the soil quality in high tunnels.

Popular ways of improving soil quality, health and fertility include moldboard plowing, using cover crops and crop rotation, applying fertilizers or organic nutrient sources such as composts and manures.

Vegetable Garden Nutrition and Fertilizers

Nutrients are essential for maintaining soil health and soil fertility whether you’re growing crops commercially or on a few acres. Incorporate the 4Rs and you can improve soil fertility. The 4Rs are:

• Right fertilizer source: match your fertilizer type to the needs of your crops
• Right rate: match the amount of fertilizer to meet crop needs, which is a vital part of successful hydroponic production
• Right time: ensure nutrients are available when needed
• Right place: make nutrients available where crops can make use of them

Use soil test reports to determine the nutrient levels of your soil. Vegetables require nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the highest quantities. They also need nutrients such as iron, copper, manganese, and zinc, but in much smaller amounts. However, zinc deficiency in vegetable crops has become more common in recent years.

Throughout the growing season, vegetables need different nutrients. During fruit production, tomatoes need high levels of potassium, plus nutrient management can help decrease problems such as tomato fruit cracks, shoulder checks, radial cracking, and blossom-end rot. Salts in the fertilizer bands can be a problem for potatoes. You can use cover crops to recycle or add nitrogen to the soil, as well.