Estimating nitrogen requirements for irrigated malting barley

Abstract

The production of marketable malting barley requires careful N management to meet the quality standards set by the malting industry. Nine field trials were conducted over an eight‐year period at four locations to develop N fertilization guidelines for irrigated malting barley. Residual soil NO₃‐N (0 to 60 cm) ranged from 15 to 103 kg N/ha. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied preplant as either urea or NH₄NO₃ at rates ranging from 0 to 269 kg N/ha. Maximum yields were obtained when the sum of residual plus applied N (available N) was above 110 kg N/ha. However, the percentage of plump kernels generally fell below acceptable levels (85%) when available N exceeded 135 kg N/ha. Grain protein exceeded acceptable levels (12%) when available N was above 210 kg N/ha. Stem NO₃‐N sufficiency levels were determined from high‐yielding barley with acceptable quality parameters. At the three‐leaf stage, the barley stem NO₃‐N sufficiency level was approximately 6,000 μg/g and decreased to about 1,000 μg/g at the eight‐leaf stage.     

Preliminary studies on triticale,wheat, barley,and rye responses to lime and N.

Abstract

The lime and N requirements for triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) have not been established because of the relatively short history of the crop. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of lime and high N rates on triticale, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and rye (Secale cereale L.) on Dickson silt loam (Typic Paleudult) and Decatur silty clay loam (Rhodic Paleudult) in 1974–1976. The soils had pH values of 4.9 and 5.5 with no lime and 5.4 and 5.8, respectively, when limed as recommended. The fertilizer rates were 112, 140, and 170 kg N/ha. Yields and N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Al, Zn, Cu, and B were determined in straw and grain. Liming the Dickson soil increased the straw yields of barley at 112 kg N/ha and grain yields of the cultivars generally at the 170 kg N/ha rate. Liming the Decatur soil did not have consistent effects on straw yields but increased the grain yields of the wheat and rye cultivars. Increasing N rate increased the straw yields of wheat on Dickson but decreased the grain yields of barley in the same soil with no lime. Nitrogen fertilization did not have consistent effects on the Decatur soil. The N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Mn compositions suggested that more differences occured at the species level than at the cultivar level.     

Chlorophyll meter as nitrogen management tool in malting barley

Abstract

Variable precipitation in many regions makes it difficult to predict yield goals and nitrogen (N) rates for malting grade barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). During years with below normal growing season precipitation, barley fertilized at the recommended rate often exhibits grain protein concentrations exceeding what is acceptable for malting. A study was conducted to evaluate the chlorophyll meter as a N management tool. Barley was grown under several N rates in the field. Chlorophyll meter readings and N additions were made at the Haun 4 to 5 growth stage, and grain yield and protein concentrations were evaluated at maturity. Chlorophyll meter readings, normalized as meter reading from treatment plot divided by that from a plot receiving a full N treatment at the Haun 4 to 5 growth stage, were correlated with grain yield (r²=0.67). Stands having normalized chlorophyll meter readings below 95% responded to N additions with yields equivalent to the fully fertilized stand and grain protein concentrations acceptable for malting. A N management strategy is proposed whereby 40 to 50% of the N calculated for the yield goal is applied at planting and a fully fertilized reference strip is included for each variety or soil type. At the Haun 4 to 5 growth stage, chlorophyll meter readings are taken in the reference strip and in the field. Normalized chlorophyll meter readings below 95% of the reference strip indicate a need for additional N fertilizer. This strategy will provide producers with additional time (up to a month) to evaluate growing season conditions before investing in additional crop inputs and will improve the likelihood that a barley crop acceptable for malting will be produced.     

Yield,forage quality,and nitrogen recovery rates of double‐cropped millet and ryegrass

Abstract

Pearl millet and annual ryegrass were continually doubled‐cropped on Olivier silt loam soil for seven years at six levels of N, applied as ammonium nitrate in three applications to millet and in two applications to ryegrass. Forage yields increased as N application rates increased. During seven years at the 0 and 448 kg/ha N rate, millet produced 35% and 95%, respectively, as much yield as it produced at the 800 kg/ha N rate, while comparable values for ryegrass were 19% and 83%. At 448 kg/ha of N the two grasses produced a combined yield of over 20 Mg/ha of dry forage per year. Ryegrass yields following millet were consistently lower than yields previously obtained at this site.

Nitrogen applications consistently increased concentrations of N, Ca, and Mg in both forage grasses, while effects on P and K were variable and S concentrations were unaffected. The amounts of all nutrients removed in the forages were increased as yields increased with N application rates. Nitrate‐N levels considered to be toxic to ruminant animals occurred only where N applications exceeded 170 kg/ha at any one time. In vitro digestibility of each grass was consistently increased by N applications.

The percentage of fertilizer N that was removed in the crops ranged from 66% to 68% for millet and from 35 to 52% for ryegrass as N applications increased up to 448 kg/ha. Residual ammonium and nitrate levels in the top 1.2 m of soil were not increased by N rates of 448 kg/ha or lower. At the 800 kg/ha N‐rate, the apparent N recovery rate decreased and residual ammonium and nitrate levels increased throughout the soil profile.     

Cropping sequence and nitrogen fertilizer effects on the productivity and quality of malting barley and soil fertility in the Ethiopian highlands

The productivity and quality of malting barley were evaluated using factorial combinations of four preceding crops (faba bean, field pea, rapeseed, and barley) as main plots and four nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 18, 36, and 54 kg N ha^?1) as sub-plots with three replications at two sites on Nitisols of the Ethiopian highlands in 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons. Preceding crops other than barley and N fertilizer significantly improved yield and quality of malting barley. The highest grain yield, kernel plumpness, protein content, and sieve test were obtained for malting barley grown after faba bean, followed by rapeseed and field pea. Nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased yield, protein content, and sieve test of malting barley. All protein contents were within the acceptable range for malting quality. Inclusion of legumes in the rotation also improved soil fertility through increases in soil carbon and nitrogen content. We conclude that to maximize yield and quality of malting barley, it is critical to consider the preceding crop and soil nitrogen status. Use of appropriate break crops may substitute or reduce the amount of mineral N fertilizer required for the production of malting barley at least for one season without affecting its quality.     

Nitrogen effects on yield,beta‐glucan content,and other quality factors of oat and waxy hulless barley

Abstract

Oat (Avena sativa L.) and waxy hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) are important sources of water soluble plant fiber (ß‐glucan) needed in human diets to lower serum cholesterol. Recent studies have shown grain ß‐glucan content is influenced by soil type and environment, however, nitrogen (N) response data for oat and waxy hulless barley are lacking. In this study, we evaluated N effects on grain ß‐glucan content and yield; grain yield, protein content, and test weight; and total dry matter production and N utilization of oat and waxy hulless barley. Rates of applied N were 0, 34, 67, and 101 kg N/ha at three field environments in central Montana during 1989 and 1990. Nitrogen increased all variables except test weight and ß‐glucan content. Waxy hulless barley grain yields fluctuated from 0.82 to 4.11 Mg/ha, ß‐glucan content from 62 to 76 g/kg, and ß‐glucan yields from 51 to 354 kg/ha. Oat yields ranged from 0.85 to 3.83 Mg/ha, ß‐glucan content from 37 to 51 g/kg, and ß‐glucan yields from 35 to 178 kg/ha. Oat ß‐glucan content was positively related to grain protein content, and waxy hulless barley ß‐glucan content was positively related to test weight. ß‐glucan content appeared more related to environmental factors other than N.     

秋延迟番茄氮、磷、钾优化施肥方案研究

采用三因子二次饱和D-最优设计(310),研究了氮、磷、钾配施对秋延迟番茄产量和品质的影响,并建立了以氮、磷、钾用量为变量因子,番茄产量和品质为目标函数的三元二次数学模型。通过对模型解析表明,氮、磷、钾对番茄产量和品质均有显著影响,且两两间存在显著的互作效应,但以钾肥对番茄产量、品质的影响较大。在低水平条件下,番茄产量、品质均随氮、磷、钾使用量的增加而提高;当氮、磷、钾用量过多,则导致产量、品质降低。通过计算机模拟运算得出,本试验条件下,番茄产量达140 t/hm2、品质综合评分达95分以上的施肥方案为N 520.2～758.4 kg/hm2、P2O5294.8～367.3 kg/hm2、K2O 1051.5～1299.8 kg/hm2,适宜的N、P2O5、K2O施用比例约为1∶0.52∶1.84。     

长期水稻-大麦轮作体系土壤供氮能力与作物需氮量研究

通过18年稻麦轮作,7个施肥处理,研究了水稻-大麦轮作系统中土壤生产力、氮素自然供应能力、作物氮素内部利用率及氮肥表观利用率。结果表明,在水旱轮作下,土壤对大麦产量的地力贡献率平均为69%,水稻为75%～81%; 肥料的增产贡献率分别为31%和19%～25%,可维持每年生产大麦2.3 t/hm2、稻谷6～7 t/hm2。土壤氮素自然供给力在大麦上平均为75.9%,比水稻的低3.3%～7.2%。在一年三熟水旱轮作制中,土壤和环境年供氮118～299 kg/hm2; 在一年二熟轮作制中为86～199 kg/hm2。施氮肥条件下,大麦的氮素内部利用率为31.0～56.3 kg/kg; 水稻在23.6～50.2 kg/kg之间变动; 大麦的氮肥利用率变幅在27.5%～41.2%,水稻为14.6%～41.2%。在稻麦轮作系统中,如果想获得作物产量12 t/hm2（4 t大麦和8 t 单季稻）,需要每年施氮肥 N 226～337 kg/hm2。为获得更高的作物产量,在氮肥推荐时不但要考虑作物的目标产量,作物对氮素的需要量,还要充分考虑土壤和环境氮素供应能力。     

Nitrogen Uptake by Malting Barley Grown under Conditions Found in Buenos Aires Province,Argentina

Abstract

There is a lack of data associated with applications of nitrogen (N) fertilizer to increase yield while not increasing seed protein to levels exceeding those acceptable for malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in the Buenos Aires province of Argentina. The effect of rates and timing of N application on yield and grain N concentration of malting barley was evaluated at eight sites in 1999 and 2000. Aboveground dry matter accumulation and N‐uptake pattern through the growing season were evaluated. Dry matter production and N-uptake were measured at four sampling times: tillering, head emergence, grain filling, and maturity. The N fertilizer increased grain yield, but its response varied between sites. Under appropriate conditions, the yield increased and maintained the grain N concentration within a desirable range for malting barley. Split applications were as effective in increasing grain yield as one addition at emergence, but they invariably increased grain N concentration. The season affected the yield response to N fertilizer and its levels in the grain, but the nitrogen harvest index was not affected by the rate of N application.     

Effect of N supply on apparent recovery of fertilizer N as crop N and Nmin in soil during and after cultivation of winter cereals

Field trials were conducted over two years to investigate the effect of increasing N supply on apparent fertilizer N recovery by winter cereal crops (4 × wheat and 2 × barley) and on non‐recovered N. Apparent fertilizer N recovery was calculated by comparing N in fertilized and unfertilized crops. Non‐recovered N is defined as N which was neither found in crops nor soil mineral N (N_min = NH₄‐N + NO₃‐N). At N supply levels according to common farming practice (N_cfp = 190 to 220 kg N/ha), 60— 93% of the fertilizer N was recovered in crops at harvest, while at high N supply levels of 265 to 273 kg N/ha 58—76% of fertilizer N was recovered. There were small differences in soil N_min in 0—200 cm between N_cfp and unfertilized plots, but substantial increases in N_min occurred at the highest N supply. Amounts of non‐recovered N differed substantially between sites (maximum value of 84 kg N/ha). Non‐recovered N increased with increasing N rate on only 3 out of the 6 sites, indicating that N immobilization was not necessarily dependent on N rate. The fate of non‐recovered N was studied for a further year by growing catch crops on the sites after cereal harvest. N re‐mineralization deduced from changes in catch crop N and in N_min indicated that non‐recovered N had been immobilized in the soil. At three sites, crop N uptake was found between milk‐ripe stage and harvest (19 to 60 kg N/ha) suggesting substantial uptake of N mineralized from soil. However, grain yields were lower with N rates below N_cfp, indicating that late net soil N mineralization could not compensate for reductions in N fertilizer rate in these trials.     

Soil chemical properties after long‐term n fertilization of bromegrass: Nitrogen rate

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) fertilizers increase yield and quality of grass forage, and may also alter soil chemical properties. A field experiment was conducted in south‐central Alberta to determine the effect of long‐term application of ammonium nitrate to bromegrass on concentration and downward mobility of soluble NO₃‐N, extractable NH₄‐N, P, Ca, Mg, and K, and total C and N in a Thin Black Chernozemic loam soil. The fertilizer was applied annually in early spring for 16 years at 0 to 336 kg N/ha. There was little accumulation of NO₃‐N in the soil at N rates of 112 kg/ha or less. However, at rates higher than 112 kg N/ha there was accumulation of NO₃‐N in the 15–30 and 30–60 cm layers, but very little in the 90–120 cm depth. The NH₄‐N accumulated in the 0–5 cm layer when the fertilizer was applied at rates between 168 to 280 kg N/ha and in the 5–10 cm layer at N rates exceeding 280 kg/ha. There was a decline in extractable P in soil with N application up to 84 kg N/ha rate, while it increased with high N rates. The increasing amounts of applied N resulted in a decline in extractable soil Ca, Mg and K, and this decrease was more pronounced in the 0–5,5–10,10–15, and 15–30 cm layers for K, 0–5 and 5–10 cm layers for Ca, and 0–5, 5–10, and 10–15 cm layers for Mg. There was a build‐up of total C and N in the surface soil with increasing rate of applied N.     

Effects of artificial drainage on soil mineral nitrogen dynamics in winter wheat on the southern piedmont

Abstract

Excess soil moisture is believed to cause reduced levels of soil mineral N and crop production in winter wheat on the Southern Piedmont. Artificial subsurface drainage was used to relieve excess soil moisture and soil mineral N levels, mineralization, nitrification, denitrification and a group of soil properties were analyzed in both drained and undrained treatments. Drainage increased rates of mineralization and nitrification and decreased rates of denitrification, leading to higher levels of soil mineral N in drained plots than in undrained plots. Wheat yields were not affected by drainage, probably because the rate of N applied in spring (80 kg‐N/ha) was high enough to counteract the effects of decreased soil mineral N levels in undrained treatments.     

Heavy metals in crops as affected by soil types and sewage sludge rates

Abstract

A municipal sewage sludge was applied at three application rates to three soils in field lysimeters to study the effects of soil and sludge application rate on cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) absorbed by ‘Larker’ barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and by Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. ‘Cicla'). Sludge applied at 20, 40, and 100 Mg/ha oven‐dry equivalent were mixed into the top 0.15 m of soil in each lysimeter. In addition, a nil sludge rate (control) received 125 kg N/ha. Metal contents were relatively low in barley grain, higher in barley straw, and highest in Swiss chard. Metal contents in plants increased with increasing sludge loading. Most plants grown on soil amended with the higher sludge rates were too high in Cd (greater than 0.5 mg/kg of dry feed material) to be suitable for animal consumption. No plant materials tested exceeded the suggested maximum Zn, Cu, or Ni levels.     

不同氮素用量对杭白菊养分累积、转运及产量的影响

通过田间小区试验,研究不同施氮量对杭白菊养分积累、转运及产量的影响,以确定杭白菊最佳氮肥用量。试验设5个处理,氮素用量分别为0、90 kg/hm2、120 kg/hm2、150 kg/hm2、180 kg/hm2,以N0、N1、N2、N3、N4表示,5次重复。结果表明,不同氮素用量影响杭白菊不同时期干物质和养分的阶段积累量,但不影响其积累趋势,整个生育期内杭白菊氮、磷、钾积累量为钾氮磷。不同施氮量影响茎叶氮、磷、钾的转移效率和在不同器官中的分配比率,以不施肥处理最高,N3(150 kg/hm2)次之。在氮、磷、钾三种元素中,转运效率磷氮钾。收获期氮、磷、钾在不同器官的分配比率不同,氮素、钾素分配比率为茎花叶根,磷素分配比率为茎花根叶。各处理杭白菊花的产量在1746.232~211.3 kg/hm2之间,以N3(150 kg/hm2)处理产量最高。在本实验条件下,杭白菊的推荐施氮量为150 kg/hm2。     

Evaluation of N,P, S and B fertilization of Kentucky bluegrass seed in northern Idaho

Abstract

Current nitrogen (N) fertilizer recommendations for Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) seed production in northern Idaho are based on potential yield and annual precipitation. Soil test correlation information collected for other northern Idaho crops provide the basis for P, S and B recommendations. The objective of this paper is to assess the current recommendations with a series of forty field trials conducted on ten sites during four seed production seasons. All field trials were conducted on Alfisols and Mollisols initially containing less than 60 kg N/ha, 3.5 μg/g NaOAc extractable P, 40 kg extractable SO₄‐S/ha and 0.5 μg/g extractable B. Fertilization rates evaluated included: 0, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 and 200 kg N/ha; 0, 30 and 60 kg P₂O₅/ha; 0, 25, and 50 kg SO₄‐S/ha, and 0 and 1.5 kg B/ha. Five field sites contained the cultivar ‘Argyle’ Kentucky bluegrass seed, while the other five sites contained the cultivar ‘South Dakota’.

Excellent relationships between percent maximum Kentucky bluegrass seed production and the sum of inorganic soil N + fertilizer N applied were observed for the ‘Argyle’ (R²=0.65) and ‘South Dakota’ (R²=0.72) cultivars. Phosphorus applications of 30 kg P₂O₅/ha improved seed yields from 10.0 to 51.6% when initial soil test values were less than 3.0 6 μg/g NaOAc extractable P. When initial SO₄‐S soil values were less than 32 kg/ha fertilizer additions increased seed yields from 12.6 to 107.3%. Boron applications did not improve seed yields. Analysis of these trials indicates that adequate information is available to make satisfactory P, S and B fertilizer recommendations; however, additional soil test correlation information is needed for N recommendations.     

Effect of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium on yields,protein cohtents and otrient levels in soybeans,field peas and fababeans

Abstract

Soybeans, Glycine max (L.) Merr., field peas, Plsum sativum I., and fababeans, Vicia faba L., were each grown at either three or four locations. Fertilizer treatments consisted of three rates of N, three of P and three of K applied in all possible combinations.

In general fertilizers had minimal effects on yields and on the percentages of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in leaf tissue. The most consistent effect was a decrease in leaf Mg with application of increasing; rates of K.

Average yields at different locations ranged from 1735–2997 kg/ha for soybeans, 2940–3246 kg/ha for field peas and 1569—4435 kg/ha for fababeans. The results suggest, however, that factors other than soil chemical properties probably had an appreciable effect on yields.     

新疆石河子地区玉米产量及氮素平衡的施氮量阈值研究

【目的】合理施用氮肥不仅会提高肥料利用率,还会降低氮素面源污染的风险。通过2年田间肥料定位试验,研究北疆灰漠土区不同氮肥用量下,土壤无机氮积累量、 氮素平衡和玉米产量间的相互关系,为氮肥合理施用提供依据。【方法】研究采用肥料田间定位试验,小区试验于2011-2012年开展,设计6个氮肥（N）用量水平: 0、 225、 300、 375、 450、 600 kg/hm2,分别以N0、 N225、 N300、 N375、 N450、 N600表示,其中300 kg/hm2为当地玉米农田氮肥推荐用量,磷肥（P2O5）施用量为75 kg/hm2,钾肥（K2O）施用量为37.5 kg/hm2。【结果】 1）施用氮肥增加了土壤硝态氮和铵态氮残留量,硝态氮主要残留于060 cm土层,铵态氮主要分布在020 cm土层深度。2011年试验中,土壤无机氮残留量随氮肥用量增加而显著增加,与对照相比,施氮处理无机氮残留量增幅为12%~102%,与施氮量呈指数增长关系。2012年氮肥用量对土壤无机氮残留量的影响与2011年相似。2）施氮量 225 kg/hm2时,0100 cm土层深度土壤无机氮积累量降低,表现为负积累效应,N0和N225处理下2012年土壤无机氮积累量分别较2011年降低165%和170%; 施氮量高于 300 kg/hm2时,土壤无机氮积累量显著增加,表现为富集现象,其中,N375、 N450和N600处理下2012年土壤无机氮积累量分别较2011年增加17%、 388%、 170%。土壤无机氮积累量与施氮量显著呈二次抛物线关系,2011年回归方程为y=0.0001x2 + 0.1013x－22.537（R2 = 0.9288）,无机氮无积累时施氮量为187 kg/hm2; 2012年为 y = 0.0003x2 + 0.1417x - 52.78（R2 = 0.9583）,无机氮无积累时施氮量为245 kg/hm2。土壤氮素表观损失量和氮素盈余量的增加幅度随氮肥用量增加而显著加大。3）氮肥投入可提高玉米产量,产量与施氮量呈显著的二次抛物线或线性加平台的关系,施氮量高于300 kg/hm2时,玉米产量与最高产量差异不显著; 产量与无机氮积累量呈二次抛物线形关系,当土壤无机氮达到平衡时,玉米产量显著低于最高产量,当玉米产量达到最大时,土壤无机氮有一定积累。氮肥利用率则随氮肥用量增加呈指数关系显著降低。施氮量270 kg/hm2为产量与氮肥利用率的交点,施氮量340 kg/hm2 是土壤无机氮残留量与氮肥利用率的交点。【结论】利用产量效应、 环境效应与肥料效应函数的交点确定氮肥投入阈值,是较为优化的方法。合理的氮肥投入不仅能获得玉米高产,降低氮素面源污染风险,还能获得较高的氮肥利用率。因此,施氮量260340 kg/hm2为本研究区玉米高产与环境友好的氮肥投入阈值。     

Soil nitrogen and carbon status following clover production in louisiana

Abstract

Field studies were conducted for four to seven years on two soils, Tangi silt loam (Typic Fragiudalf, fine‐silty, mixed, thermic) and Dexter loam (Ultic Hapludalf, fine‐silty, mixed, thermic), to determine the effects of phosphorus (P) applications on growth and nitrogen (N) content of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranum L.) and on ammonium (NH₄ ⁺)‐ and nitrate (NO₃ ^‐)‐N, total N, and organic carbon (C) levels in the soils at the end of the study. Phosphorus applications consistently and significantly increased forage yields and led to significantly higher N yields by the clovers. Increases in plant yields and N₂‐fixation, however, were not reflected in higher soil N and C levels. On Tangi soil, NH₄ ⁺‐ and NO₃ ^‐‐N levels were lowest where no P was applied but no statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were found among P rates above 20 kg/ha. On the Dexter soils, no significant differences were found at any P application level. Significant differences due to higher clover yields at increasing P rates were not found in total N or organic C . levels in either soil. Greenhouse evaluations showed no differences in bermuda‐grass yield, N concentration, or total N recovery despite increasing subclover yields in the field during the previous seven years. Harvesting nearly all above ground clover growth caused plant roots to be the major N and C contributor to the soil. It is possible that root production was not increased in proportion to forage production as P applications increased. Perhaps increased microbial activities and some leaching losses also minimized accumulations of N and C released by clover roots.     

Yield response of corn to lime and urea application on an acidic tropical soil

Abstract

The effects of liming (7 500 kg CaCO₃/ha) and rate of urea application (0,50,100, and 200 kg N/ha) and its placement at the surface or at 5 cm depth on grain yield and nutrient uptake by corn grown on an acidic tropical soil (Fluventic Eutropept) were studied. Liming significantly increased grain yield, N uptake, and P and K uptake although Ca and Mg uptake, generally, were unaffected. Sub‐surface application of urea increased N uptake only. Yield response to applied N was observed up to 50 kg N/ha when limed but at all rates in the absence of liming. It therefore, reduced the fertilizer N requirement for optimum grain yield. Liming the acidic soil also reduced exchangeable Al but increased nitrification rate and available P in the soil profile (at least up to 0.6 m depth).     

Nitrogen,Phosphorus, and Potassium Fertilization of a Coastal Plain Cotton–Peanut Rotation

Abstract

A cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)–peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) rotation is widely practiced in the southern coastal plain following the reemergence of cotton as a major crop in the 1990s. Very few plant nutrition studies have been conducted in the coastal plain (CP) with modern cotton varieties and none with the cotton–peanut rotation. Experiments with varying rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were conducted to determine if the recommendations from soil tests provide adequate nutrition for maximizing profit when yield goals are Georgia state averages, due to other conditions. From 1996 through 1998, N, P, and K experiments were conducted in cotton crops, and P and K experiments were conducted in peanut crops on Tifton loamy sand. Initial Mehlich‐1 P was 2 to 3 mg/kg (“low”) and Mehlich‐1 K was 50 to 64 mg/kg (“medium” for cotton and “high” for peanut). Each crop was grown each year. State average yields of cotton and peanuts were produced. There was no response in cotton yield to N rates from 34 to 136 kg N/ha. Lack of response may have been due to the fact that the field had not been in production for several years prior to 1996 and there was ample soil mineral N. In 1997 and 1998, residual N provided by N fixation by the previous peanut crop appeared to be sufficient. Maximum profit from P fertilization in cotton was attained at 50 kg P/ha, the recommendation from the soil test. However, a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service recommendation to double the P rate for new land with a “low” Mehlich‐1 P soil test was not validated. Cotton yield did not respond to K fertilization even though an application of 55 kg K/ha/year was recommended from the soil test. Peanut yield and grade did not respond to either P or K fertilization. The recommendation from the soil test was 40 kg P/ha/year and no K. Estimates of P removal were 11 kg/ha for cotton and 8 mg/ha for peanut crops. Estimates of K removal were 25 kg/ha for cotton and 22 kg/ha for peanut crops. Over 3 years, soil P was not depleted, but soil K was depleted. Approximately 12 kg P/ha were required to raise soil test P 1 mg/kg and 18 kg K/ha were required to raise soil test K 1 mg/kg (49 lb. P₂O₅ to increase the P test 1 lb./acre, 38 lb. K₂O to raise the K test 1 lb./acre). Additional studies are needed, but the current studies suggest that revisions in recommendations are needed for both cotton and peanut crops.