Corn silage is the predominant crop in Idaho used for
recovering phosphorus (P) that has accumulated in soils
from dairy manure applications. However, little is known
about how much P and other nutrients are being recov-
ered under Idaho conditions. The objective of the study
is to estimate P removal by irrigated corn silage crops
cultivated throughout southern Idaho with variable soil
test P concentrations, and to identify effects of increasing soil test P on tissue concentrations of P and on plant
P uptake.
Forty-two different corn silage fields in 2008 and
2009 were selected throughout southern Idaho for soil
and whole plant sampling at harvest. Soils were ana-
lyzed for Olsen P, plant tissue was measured for total P
content, and dry and wet yields were calculated based
on field weights and drying of plant tissue
