K-STATE RESEARCH & EXTENSION

Field Diagnosis Check List

Things to take to the field: shovel, moisture probe, soil test probe, soil sample bags, plastic bucket, zip lock bags and trash bags with twist ties, hand lens, pocket knife, camera, collection of crop production handbooks and diagnosing production problems booklets, plant disease and weed books.

Cooperator__________________________________ County______________________

Field name or # _______________________________ Soil series ___________________

Present crop ________________ Planting date ____________ Planting rate ____________

Variety/hybrid _____________________ Type of planter __________________________

Soil condition at planting____________________________________________________

Problem Assessment

Date symptoms first appeared __________

Visible symptoms: Stunting_______ Wilting ______ Leaf tip dieback __________

Discoloration (what color, which leaves or parts of leaves) ____________________________

Leaf spots or injury __________________ Abnormal/twisted growth __________________

Mosaic pattern _______________ Damage to roots ___________________

Insect damage ________________ Disease symptoms __________________

Field pattern of symptoms: Thin stands _____________ Yellowing ______________

Browning ______________ Strips in field ____________ Edge of field ________________

Width of pattern ______________ Does pattern match equipment width? _______________

Could previous crop management have caused problem? _________________________

Have there been any recent weather conditions that could have caused the problem?____________________________________

Are there any areas in the field that look normal?______

Describe growth stage and relative size of normal plants compared to affected plants _____________________________________________

Current management practices

Herbicide(s) ______________________ When & rate applied _______________________

Method of application __________ Other herbicide considerations _____________________

Fertility program: List source and amount of N  P₂O₅  K₂O   S  Zn  Other

preplant _________________________________________________

planting time starter ________________________________________

topdress/sidedress ________________________________________

Total __________________________________________________

Other fertility considerations (such as manure applications) _____________________________

Insecticide(s) ________________ When & how much applied ________________________

Method of application ___________________

Other insecticide considerations _________________________________________________

Seed treatment (including inoculants) _________________

Field History

Tillage: type and number of operations _____________________________________________

Any compaction problems (tilled wet?) _____________________________________________

General soil conditions (such as, eroded, sides slopes, thin & shallow, alkali or sodic spots, deep/good, etc.) _______________________________________________________________

Was previous crop residue distributed uniformly? _____________________________________

Soil test results: nutrient levels N_________ P _________ K __________ pH ________

Organic matter ______ year sampled ______ sampling depth ____________

Other considerations about soil test ________________________________________________

Irrigation: Type __________________ Amount _________________

Water electroconductivity ____________

Any irrigation problems _________________________________________________________

Previous crop _________________________

Fertility __________________________

Herbicides ________________ When applied & rate _______________________________

Level of weed control ___________________ Weather conditions ________________

Type of tillage _________________________ Harvest conditions _________________

Compaction ____________________ Yield level ______________________

Draw a map of where the damaged areas occur in the field:

For more information and help, please contact your local County Research & Extension agent.

Developed by: James P. Shroyer, Robert Bowden, David A. Whitney, Dale L. Fjell, and Dallas E. Peterson