North Dakota · Soil test

North Dakota soil-test fertilizer recommendations

Zone Forge reads your North Dakota soil test in North Dakota's own calibrated language — the critical levels and rate logic come straight from NDSU SF-882 — North Dakota Fertilizer Recommendation Tables and Equations + simple-rule lime, not a national average. Lime has its own live calculator for North Dakota with method-specific lab inputs.

See North Dakota recommendations → North Dakota lime guide

Critical soil-test levels

  • P: critical 8 ppm (Olsen P)
  • K: critical 81 ppm (ammonium acetate)

Per NDSU SF-882 — North Dakota Fertilizer Recommendation Tables and Equations + simple-rule lime — below the critical level, a yield response to the added nutrient is expected.

Crops covered

NDSU SF-882 — North Dakota Fertilizer Recommendation Tables and Equations + simple-rule lime rates these crops in North Dakota:

AlfalfaBarleyBuckwheatCanolaCornCorn silageDry beansField peasFlaxGrass hayMustardOatsPea, field, lentil and chickpea — ChickpeaPea, field, lentil and chickpea — LentilPotatoesSoybeansSugar beetsSunflowerWheat

Published source: NDSU SF-882 — North Dakota Fertilizer Recommendation Tables and Equations + simple-rule lime

Frequently asked

What soil-test method does North Dakota use?

NDSU SF-882 — North Dakota Fertilizer Recommendation Tables and Equations + simple-rule lime. Zone Forge cites the publication on every recommendation.

Is the North Dakota soil-test calculator free?

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

Can Zone Forge calculate a North Dakota lime rate?

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

Zone Forge reads every North Dakota 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 →