North Carolina · Soil test

North Carolina soil-test fertilizer recommendations

Zone Forge reads your North Carolina soil test in North Carolina's own calibrated language — the critical levels and rate logic come straight from NCDA&CS Agronomic Division — Mehlich-3 + Humic-Matter Lime + Orange Book Crop Fertilization, not a national average. Lime has its own live calculator for North Carolina with method-specific lab inputs.

See North Carolina recommendations → North Carolina lime guide

Critical soil-test levels

  • P: critical 60 ppm (Mehlich-3)
  • K: critical 98 ppm (Mehlich-3)
  • Mg: critical 50 ppm (Mehlich-3)

Per NCDA&CS Agronomic Division — Mehlich-3 + Humic-Matter Lime + Orange Book Crop Fertilization — below the critical level, a yield response to the added nutrient is expected.

Crops covered

NCDA&CS Agronomic Division — Mehlich-3 + Humic-Matter Lime + Orange Book Crop Fertilization rates these crops in North Carolina:

AlfalfaAsparagus establishmentAsparagus maintenanceBahiaBahiagrassBarleyBeetsBermudagrassBlueberryBlueberry establishmentBlueberry maintenanceBluegrassBroccoli brussels cauliflowerCabbageCanolaCantaloupeChile peppersCloverCornCorn silageCottonCucumbersDry beansFescueForage legumesGamagrassGrapesGrass hayKenafMustardOatsOkraOrchardgrassPeanutsPeasPotatoesPrairiegrassPumpkinRadishRaspberry blackberry establishmentRaspberry blackberry maintenanceRyeSmall grainsSorghumSorghum silageSoybeansSquashSquash pumpkinStrawberryStrawberry establishmentStrawberry maintenanceSunflowerSweet cornSweetcornSweetpotatoSwitchgrassTimothyTobaccoTomatoesTurnipVegetables (general)WatermelonWheat

Published source: NCDA&CS Agronomic Division — Mehlich-3 + Humic-Matter Lime + Orange Book Crop Fertilization

Frequently asked

What soil-test method does North Carolina use?

NCDA&CS Agronomic Division — Mehlich-3 + Humic-Matter Lime + Orange Book Crop Fertilization. Zone Forge cites the publication on every recommendation.

Is the North Carolina soil-test calculator free?

Yes — the North Carolina soil-test recommendation calculator is free and needs no signup. Enter your lab values for source-cited P and K; North Carolina's live lime calculator is available separately with its own required lab inputs.

Can Zone Forge calculate a North Carolina lime rate?

Yes — the free soil-test calculator covers source-cited P and K. North Carolina also has a live lime calculator on Zone Forge that uses the state's published method. Open the North Carolina lime guide or lime calculator for tons of CaCO3-equivalent per acre.

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