Iowa · Soil test

Iowa soil-test fertilizer recommendations

Zone Forge reads your Iowa soil test in Iowa's own calibrated language — the critical levels and rate logic come straight from Iowa State PM 1688, not a national average.

Critical soil-test levels

  • P: critical 16 ppm (Bray-1)
  • K: critical 120 ppm

Per Iowa State PM 1688 — below the critical level, a yield response to the added nutrient is expected.

Published source: Iowa State PM 1688

Frequently asked

What soil-test method does Iowa use?

Iowa State PM 1688. Zone Forge cites the publication on every recommendation.

Is the Iowa soil-test calculator free?

Yes — the Iowa soil-test recommendation calculator is free and needs no signup. Enter your lab values for source-cited P, K and lime guidance.

Zone Forge reads every Iowa soil test in its own state's language, then builds source-cited fertilizer and lime recommendations and full variable-rate prescriptions. See the science →