07/21/2026
Soil Testing, Liming, and Fertilizing Wildlife Food Plots 🌿🦌
Maximizing crop yields and producing the most nutritious and attractive browse is important for wildlife managers, especially when planting smaller acreages. Growing high-quality food attracts white-tailed deer and other wildlife to these plots more frequently.
To achieve this, land managers should always have their soil tested for nutrient and pH levels before planting.
Key Management Insights:
Test Before You Plant: A basic soil test reports the soil pH along with current levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). It provides exact per-acre recommendations for lime and fertilizer to achieve maximum yield for your specific crops.
Fix pH First: When soil is acidic, nutrients become less available to plants. Raising the soil pH to the optimal range of 6.0 to 6.5 improves plant growth and ensures that subsequent fertilizer applications can actually be absorbed.
Plan Ahead for Lime: While lime begins to alter soil pH within a few weeks, its full neutralizing effects take 6 months or longer to achieve.
Watch for Deficiencies: Wildlife managers can identify nutrient deficiencies by looking at plant appearance. Nitrogen-deficient plants often turn yellow, while phosphorus-deficient plants may display a purple or red discoloration.
Low-cost soil testing services are available through the Soil, Forage, and Water Testing Laboratory at Auburn University, and sample boxes can be found at any local county Extension office.
👉 Read the full publication to learn how to interpret your soil test report and properly apply amendments for maximum plot impact:
https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry-wildlife/soil-testing-liming-and-fertilizing-wildlife-food-plots/
