Wisconsin · Soil test

Wisconsin soil-test fertilizer recommendations

Zone Forge reads your Wisconsin soil test in Wisconsin's own calibrated language — the critical levels and rate logic come straight from UW Madison Extension A2809 — Nutrient Application Guidelines for Field, Vegetable, and Fruit Crops in Wisconsin, not a national average. Lime has its own live calculator for Wisconsin with method-specific lab inputs.

See Wisconsin recommendations → Wisconsin lime guide

Critical soil-test levels

  • P: critical 20 ppm (Bray-1)
  • K: critical 130 ppm (Bray-1 NH4OAc K)

Per UW Madison Extension A2809 — Nutrient Application Guidelines for Field, Vegetable, and Fruit Crops in Wisconsin — below the critical level, a yield response to the added nutrient is expected.

Crops covered

UW Madison Extension A2809 — Nutrient Application Guidelines for Field, Vegetable, and Fruit Crops in Wisconsin rates these crops in Wisconsin:

AlfalfaApple establishmentAsparagusBarleyBlueberry establishmentBrassica forageBroccoliBrussels sproutsBuckwheatCabbageCanolaCarrotsCauliflowerCeleryCherry establishmentChile peppersCloverCornCorn silageCranberry establishmentCucumbersDry beansField peasFlaxForage legumesGinsengGrapesGrass hayGreen beansHopLettuceLima beansLupineMelonMilletMint oilOatsOnionsPasturePeasPopcornPotatoesPumpkinRaspberry establishmentReed canarygrassRyeSmall grainsSod turf establishmentSorghumSoybeansSpinachSquashStrawberry establishmentSugar beetsSunflowerSweet cornSwitchgrassTable beetTobaccoTomatoesTriticaleTruck cropsVetch crown hairyWheat

Published source: UW Madison Extension A2809 — Nutrient Application Guidelines for Field, Vegetable, and Fruit Crops in Wisconsin

Frequently asked

What soil-test method does Wisconsin use?

UW Madison Extension A2809 — Nutrient Application Guidelines for Field, Vegetable, and Fruit Crops in Wisconsin. Zone Forge cites the publication on every recommendation.

Is the Wisconsin soil-test calculator free?

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

Can Zone Forge calculate a Wisconsin lime rate?

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

Zone Forge reads every Wisconsin 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 →