Fertility Challenges with Saturated Soils

NDSU Extension Soil Specialist Dave Franzen says the excessive rains over the past few weeks can possibly reduce sulfur and nitrogen in the soil. “On the sandier soils on either side of the (Red River) Valley, leaching is a problem; sulfur, nitrate, so that’s a possibility,” said Franzen. “The higher clay soils when you get closer to the river and have those really high, close to 50 percent clay soils, the movement of water through those is only maybe a third of an inch a day.” That means soils can remain saturated for an extended time.