Soil Fertility and Manure Management A soil fertility program
for corn silage should maximize yields of high quality forage
without using excess nutrients, which wastes money and can lead
to nutrient runoff or leaching. Corn harvested for silage
removes large amounts of nutrients (figure 1), resulting in
substantial fertilizer recommendations. Corn silage is often
grown in rotation with legume forage crops and on land that has
a history of manure applications. Therefore, it is essential to
consider the nutrient contributions of previous crops and
manures to avoid excessive fertilization and keep production
costs down. These soils may also have high residual levels of
phosphorus and potassium from repeated manure applications.
Consequently, soil testing is an essential aspect of soil
nutrient management for corn silage. Many state and private
laboratories can provide soil testing services and
recommendations. Good soil fertility management can improve the
forage quality of the silage. The protein content of co