Fertilizer Information
Determining Fertilizer Rates:
MSU Extension Resources:
Source: Adobe Stock dvande
- Look through Clain's presentations
- Developing Fertilizer Recommendations for Agriculture (MT200703AG) (Revised July 2019): Developing fertilizer rates specific to your soil and crops should improve crop yield and profit.
- Interpretation of Soil Test Reports for Agriculture (MT200702AG) (Revised November 2023): Soil testing and interpreting soil test results are critical for determining optimum fertilizer rates.
- Fertilizer Guidelines for Montana Crops (EB0161) (Reprinted December 2023): This booklet provides fertilizer guidelines for Montana agricultural producers, with a view to protecting water quality. Tables for each crop include fertilizer rates for a range of yield potentials, available N, and soil analysis values for P, K and micronutrients.
- Soil Scoop: Fertilizer Rate Calculations
- Fertilizer Facts - links to published Fertilizer Fact sheets
Other Resources:
- Enhanced Efficiency N & P fertilizers - recorded seminar by Dr. Bryan Hopkins, Brigham Young University
- 4R Plant Nutrition: A Manual for Improving the Management of Plant Nutrition - an International Plant Nutrition Institute publication in support of 4R Nutrient Stewardship
- Nutri-Facts - fact sheets written by scientific staff of the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) that focus on essential plant nutrients and their use.
- Nutrient Stewardship - a website to enhance understanding, adoption and promotion of 4R nutrient stewardship
- Orchard Nutrition - guide from the Western Agricultural Research Center in Corvallis, MT
Calculators:
- Fertilizer Calculator - generate fertilizer recommendations using soil test results, from the Southern
Agricultural Research Center
- Small Grains Nitrogen Economic Calculator - determine fertilizer application rates for winter wheat, spring wheat, and spring barley
Fertilizer Economics:
MSU Extension Resources:
- Fertilizer Fact No. 4: Winter Wheat Response to Available Nitrogen and Water
- Fertilizer Fact No. 20: Economic Value of Late-Season N Applications to Irrigated Spring Wheat
- Fertilizer Fact No. 53: A Tool to Determine Economically Optimum Nitrogen Rates for Small Grains
- Fertilizer Fact No. 72: Long-term Profitability of Pea-Wheat Systems, Managed at High and Low N Fertility
- Fertilizer Fact No. 82: Crop Rotation and N Rate Effects on Net Returns and Soil pH
MSU Press Releases:
- MSU Extension soil and farm specialists suggest ways to manage rising fertilizer costs - MSU Press Release - April 2026
Podcasts:
- Soil Health and Fertility Effects on Agricultural Profitability - MSU Extension podcast - March 2026
Calculators:
- Small Grains Nitrogen Economic Calculator - determine fertilizer application rates for winter wheat, spring wheat, and spring barley
Other Resources: