Correlation and Calibration

Correlation and calibration are the terms scientists use to classify the research needed to develop a
soil test. The distinction between correlation and calibration is explained below.

Correlation is a relationship between the amount of nutrient extracted from soil by a laboratory test
and nutrient uptake by plants in the greenhouse or field and/or crop yield. If such a relationship cannot
be established, the chemical procedure has little or no usefulness. Sometimes the relationship can be
established only for one nutrient and one crop and on a particular group of soils. If this limitation is
known and recognized, then the soil test should only be used for those limited conditions.

A useful correlation has been established between the Bray and Kurtz No. 1 phosphorus test and
percent of maximum yield of soybeans, corn, and wheat grown under Nebraska climate conditions
and non-calcareous soils. The correlations shown in Figure 9.2 are useful in determining when soil
phosphorus, as assessed by soil test, is adequate for maximum yields.

Figure 9.2.

Correlation between extractable phosphorus and

percent of maximum yield for soybeans, corn, and
wheat. The intersections of the dotted and solid
lines indicate the critical point where further
fertilizer additions will not economically increase
yields.

Crops vary in their responses to the amount of phosphorus in the soil measured by the Bray and
Kurtz No. 1 procedure. Corn and soybean yields change rapidly with small differences in the amount
of phosphorus extracted. For corn or soybeans grown on soils with a Bray and Kurtz #1 of 5 ppm
phosphorus, fertilization would be expected to increase yield from about 65 percent of maximum to
close to maximum for that site. When soil tests are above 15 ppm, yield is already at about 95 percent
of maximum. The rate of change in the yield of wheat or other small grains is not as large. At 15 ppm,
wheat is still only at 75 percent of maximum yield. In order to get these types of response curves,
correlation research must be conducted with many crops at many sites over many years.

Calibration is a means of establishing a relationship between a given soil test value and the yield
response from adding nutrient to soil as fertilizer. The data in Table 9.2 give the pounds of alfalfa hay
produced from several rates of applied phosphorus when the assessed soil phosphorus level was
eight ppm. Such field experiments are repeated where soil phosphorus levels will range from two to
30 ppm. Optimum P2O5 application would be from 60 to 80 pounds per acre at this site. However,
many trials are needed to establish general recommendations for a region. When similar experiments
are conducted over many sites, analysis of crop response allows researchers to predict needed
fertilizer at various soil phosphorus levels. The result of the calibration effort is to determine the
amount of fertilizer phosphorus needed at various soil levels to produce maximum yields.
Table 9.2. An example of calibration showing the relationship
between a given soil test and the yield response from adding a
nutrient to a soil1 (Alfalfa)

18 ppm Bray and Kurtz #1

The critical point is shown in Figure 9.2. The critical point is where soil test values delineate
responsive soils — those where fertilizer additions increase yields — and nonresponsive soils. There
are many ways to determine critical values, but their calculation is beyond the scope of this lesson.

When the calibration procedure is completed, one can place soil phosphorus levels into categories
of very low, low, medium, or high. These categories simplify recommendations and probably reflect
the reality of the variable nature of soils. Table 9.3 gives an example interpretation for small grain.

Table 9.3. Categories of soil phosphorus levels showing chances of small

grain yield increases from fertilzers applications.

The increase in yield expected from a specific nutrient application will change as soil test index levels
change from low to medium to high. The amount of nutrient needed from fertilizer in each soil test
index is illustrated in Figure 9.3.
 Figure 9.3. Theoretical crop response by soil test level to applied nutrients.

By combining correlation and calibration research, we can predict the probability of a response from
applying a given nutrient. In addition, we can suggest the most probable fertilizer to produce
maximum economic yield. Due to the changing value of a specific crop and cost of fertilizer,
recommendations may change over time for the same soil test value.

By conducting many of these experiments, scientists can determine the probability of increased yields
at a specific soil test level and the amount of fertilizer needed to achieve that yield. Due to other
factors besides soil test level, there will be considerable variability in crop response at any soil test
level. Proper interpretation of soil test results includes other management factors such as risk, climate
and economics. Without a research database, these recommendations are not possible, and
maximum economic returns are not going to be achieved.