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ASFMRA AFM practice questions

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Question 1Agricultural Land Management 1

Which soil property is most directly improved by maintaining a high level of soil organic matter in a crop field?

  1. Bulk density and soil color only
  2. Cation exchange capacity and water-holding capacity Correct answer.
  3. Slope gradient of the field
  4. Depth to the water table

Explanation

Organic matter contributes negatively charged exchange sites and increases aggregation, which raises both cation exchange capacity and water-holding capacity. These are the principal agronomic benefits tracked in soil health assessments.

Question 2Agricultural Land Management 1

A soil test reports a cation exchange capacity of 18 cmol(+)/kg and a base saturation of 70 percent. What is the approximate total exchangeable base capacity in cmol(+)/kg?

  1. 18.0
  2. 12.6 Correct answer.
  3. 7.0
  4. 25.7

Explanation

Exchangeable bases equal CEC multiplied by base saturation: 18 times 0.70 equals 12.6 cmol(+)/kg. Base saturation expresses the share of exchange sites occupied by basic cations.

Question 3Agricultural Land Management 1

Under the universal soil loss equation, which factor represents the combined effect of rainfall and runoff on soil erosion?

  1. The cover and management factor
  2. The rainfall erosivity factor Correct answer.
  3. The support practice factor
  4. The soil erodibility factor

Explanation

The rainfall erosivity factor (R) accounts for the energy of rainfall and associated runoff that drives detachment. The other factors represent soil, cover, slope, and conservation practices.

Question 4Agricultural Land Management 1

A 200-acre field loses soil at an estimated 4 tons per acre per year. If the soil loss tolerance (T value) is 3 tons per acre per year, what is the total annual soil loss above tolerance for the field?

  1. 200 tons Correct answer.
  2. 400 tons
  3. 600 tons
  4. 800 tons

Explanation

The excess loss is 1 ton per acre per year (4 minus 3), multiplied by 200 acres, giving 200 tons per year above tolerance. Exceeding the T value signals a need for additional conservation practices.

Question 5Agricultural Land Management 1

Which conservation practice is designed primarily to reduce sheet and rill erosion on long, uniform slopes by interrupting the flow path of surface water?

  1. Subsurface tile drainage
  2. Prescribed burning
  3. Terraces Correct answer.
  4. Deep ripping

Explanation

Terraces break long slopes into shorter segments and intercept surface flow, reducing the velocity and erosive energy of runoff. This directly targets sheet and rill erosion on sloping cropland.

Question 6Agricultural Land Management 1

A center-pivot irrigation system applies water faster than the soil's infiltration rate. Which problem is most likely to result?

  1. Increased deep percolation below the root zone
  2. Reduced evapotranspiration demand
  3. Runoff and reduced application uniformity Correct answer.
  4. Higher soil cation exchange capacity

Explanation

When application rate exceeds infiltration capacity, water ponds and runs off, reducing uniformity and wasting water. Matching application rate to infiltration rate is a core irrigation design principle.

Question 7Agricultural Land Management 1

Which measure best quantifies the efficiency with which irrigation water is stored in the crop root zone?

  1. Leaching fraction
  2. Application efficiency Correct answer.
  3. Water conveyance loss
  4. Consumptive use ratio

Explanation

Application efficiency is the ratio of water stored in the root zone to water applied, directly measuring storage effectiveness. It is the standard metric for evaluating irrigation performance.

Question 8Agricultural Land Management 1

In a grazing management system, which practice most directly supports uniform forage utilization across a pasture?

  1. Grazing only during the wettest months
  2. Rotational grazing with paddock subdivision Correct answer.
  3. Continuous season-long grazing
  4. Complete rest from grazing for the entire season

Explanation

Subdividing pastures and rotating livestock controls the timing and intensity of defoliation, which reduces patch grazing and promotes more uniform use. Rest periods also allow forage recovery.

Question 9Agricultural Land Management 1

A ranch has 1,000 acres of rangeland producing an average of 600 pounds of usable forage per acre per year. If a cow consumes 30 pounds of forage per day for 365 days, how many animal unit months of grazing does the forage supply? (Assume one animal unit equals 1,000 pounds of forage per month.)

  1. 720 AUMs
  2. 400 AUMs
  3. 500 AUMs
  4. 600 AUMs Correct answer.

Explanation

Total usable forage is 1,000 acres times 600 pounds, or 600,000 pounds. Dividing by 1,000 pounds per AUM gives 600 AUMs of carrying capacity.

Question 10Agricultural Land Management 1

Which factor most strongly determines the proper stocking rate on native rangeland?

  1. The long-term forage production and its sustainable use level Correct answer.
  2. The market price of feeder cattle
  3. The number of water sources available
  4. The age of the grazing lease

Explanation

Stocking rate should be based on sustainable forage production, typically using the take-half or similar utilization guideline. Forage supply, not market or infrastructure factors, sets the biological limit.

Question 11Agricultural Land Management 1

A farm operator wants to reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater while maintaining crop yields. Which practice is most effective?

  1. Applying all nitrogen in a single fall application
  2. Matching nitrogen timing and rate to crop uptake with split applications Correct answer.
  3. Increasing irrigation to flush salts below the root zone
  4. Applying nitrogen to frozen ground

Explanation

Split applications synchronize nitrogen availability with crop demand, reducing the pool of nitrate vulnerable to leaching. This is a core principle of the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship.

Question 12Agricultural Land Management 1

Which best describes the purpose of a nutrient management plan on a livestock operation?

  1. To balance nutrient inputs from manure and fertilizer with crop removal and environmental limits Correct answer.
  2. To increase the number of animals per acre
  3. To maximize the total quantity of manure applied per acre
  4. To eliminate all commercial fertilizer use

Explanation

A nutrient management plan balances nutrient sources with crop needs and environmental constraints to avoid excess application. It considers manure credits, soil tests, and sensitive areas.

Question 13Agricultural Land Management 1

Which drainage practice is most appropriate for removing excess subsurface water from a poorly drained cropland field?

  1. Subsurface tile drainage Correct answer.
  2. Surface ditching only
  3. Contour terracing
  4. Grassed waterways

Explanation

Subsurface tile drainage lowers the water table and removes excess soil water from the root zone, improving trafficability and crop growth. Surface practices address runoff rather than subsurface saturation.

Question 14Agricultural Land Management 1

A field has a seasonal high water table within 12 inches of the surface for part of the growing season. Which management response is most directly indicated?

  1. Increase nitrogen application rates
  2. Convert to a lower-value forage crop
  3. Install or improve subsurface drainage Correct answer.
  4. Reduce soil organic matter

Explanation

A shallow seasonal water table restricts root growth and field access, so drainage is the direct remedy. Nutrient or crop changes do not address the underlying hydrologic limitation.

Question 15Agricultural Land Management 1

Which land classification system is commonly used to rate the suitability of land for agricultural use based on limitations such as slope, erosion, and wetness?

  1. Hydrologic soil group classification
  2. Section-township-range survey
  3. Soil taxonomy order classification
  4. Land capability classification Correct answer.

Explanation

Land capability classification groups soils into classes I through VIII based on the degree of limitation and risk of damage. It is used to guide land use and conservation planning.

Question 16Agricultural Land Management 1

A parcel of land is zoned for agricultural use but is adjacent to a rapidly developing urban area. Which appraisal concept best explains downward pressure on its agricultural value?

  1. Highest and best use Correct answer.
  2. Contribution
  3. Anticipation
  4. Substitution

Explanation

Highest and best use considers the most profitable legal, physically possible, and financially feasible use, which may shift to development and affect value expectations. The concept frames how competing uses influence value.

Question 17Agricultural Land Management 1

Which lease arrangement transfers the most production risk to the landowner?

  1. A crop-share lease Correct answer.
  2. A fixed cash rent lease
  3. A custom farming agreement
  4. A grazing lease paid per animal unit month

Explanation

Under a crop-share lease the landowner receives a share of production, so income falls when yields or prices fall. Cash leases and per-unit grazing fees shift price and yield risk largely to the tenant.

Question 18Agricultural Land Management 1

Which factor is most important when determining the agricultural value of farmland using the income approach?

  1. The assessed value set by the county
  2. The capitalized net income the land can generate Correct answer.
  3. The owner's original purchase price
  4. The average price of nearby residential lots

Explanation

The income approach capitalizes expected net returns from agricultural use into an indicated value. It reflects the productive earning capacity of the land.

Question 19Agricultural Land Management 1

A field has a slope of 6 percent and is being cropped up and down the slope. Which change would most reduce erosion risk?

  1. Removing crop residue after harvest
  2. Farming on the contour with residue cover Correct answer.
  3. Converting to up-and-down slope tillage
  4. Increasing tillage passes

Explanation

Contour farming with residue cover reduces slope length and protects the soil surface from raindrop impact and flow. Both practices lower the erosion factors in the soil loss equation.

Question 20Agricultural Land Management 1

Which statement best describes the role of legumes in a crop rotation?

  1. They prevent all soil erosion
  2. They increase soil bulk density
  3. They fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis with rhizobia Correct answer.
  4. They eliminate the need for phosphorus fertilizer

Explanation

Legumes such as alfalfa and clover form symbiotic relationships with rhizobia bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available forms. This reduces nitrogen fertilizer requirements for subsequent crops.

Question 21Agricultural Land Management 1

A producer is comparing two tillage systems: conventional tillage and no-till. Which outcome is most characteristic of long-term no-till?

  1. Lower soil organic matter and poorer aggregation
  2. Increased soil temperature in spring
  3. Higher erosion rates on sloping ground
  4. Improved aggregation and greater surface residue cover Correct answer.

Explanation

No-till leaves residue on the surface and minimizes soil disturbance, which builds aggregation and organic matter over time. Residue cover also protects against erosion.

Question 22Agricultural Land Management 1

Which water right doctrine allocates water based on the principle of first in time, first in right?

  1. Riparian doctrine
  2. Correlative rights doctrine
  3. Prior appropriation doctrine Correct answer.
  4. Reasonable use doctrine

Explanation

Prior appropriation grants senior rights to those who first put water to beneficial use, regardless of land adjacency. Riparian doctrine instead ties water use to ownership of land bordering the water.

Question 23Agricultural Land Management 1

A farmer is evaluating a field for a new irrigation well. Which information is most critical to determine whether the well can sustain the needed pumping rate?

  1. The aquifer's transmissivity and the local saturated thickness Correct answer.
  2. The type of crop grown the previous year
  3. The number of fence lines on the property
  4. The color of the topsoil

Explanation

Well yield depends on aquifer transmissivity and saturated thickness, which together determine how much water can move to the well. These are the key hydrogeologic parameters.

Question 24Agricultural Land Management 1

Which practice best protects a stream corridor from agricultural runoff while maintaining farm productivity?

  1. Removing all streamside vegetation
  2. Establishing a vegetated riparian buffer Correct answer.
  3. Plowing to the streambank
  4. Grazing streambanks year-round

Explanation

Vegetated riparian buffers trap sediment and nutrients and stabilize streambanks while allowing continued production on adjacent land. They are a widely recommended best management practice.

Question 25Agricultural Land Management 1

A land manager observes that a pasture's forage production has declined steadily over five years despite stable rainfall. Which explanation is most consistent with this trend?

  1. Seasonal variation in day length
  2. Increased fencing on adjacent properties
  3. A single-year change in cattle market prices
  4. Long-term overgrazing reducing plant vigor and desirable species Correct answer.

Explanation

Chronic overgrazing depletes root reserves, reduces desirable perennial species, and allows less productive plants to increase. With rainfall stable, this management-driven decline is the most consistent explanation.

Question 26Agricultural Land Management 1

A producer wants to estimate the plant-available water a silt loam can hold in the crop root zone. Which pair of measurements is required?

  1. Soil pH and lime requirement
  2. Saturated hydraulic conductivity and bulk density
  3. Field capacity and permanent wilting point Correct answer.
  4. Cation exchange capacity and base saturation

Explanation

Plant-available water is the difference between water held at field capacity and water remaining at the permanent wilting point, multiplied by root-zone depth. Both endpoints are needed to compute the available fraction.

Question 27Agricultural Land Management 1

Which conservation practice is designed primarily to slow surface runoff and trap sediment before it leaves a cultivated field?

  1. A winter cover crop terminated by frost
  2. A subsurface drain tile line
  3. A deep-ripping tillage pass
  4. A grassed waterway Correct answer.

Explanation

Grassed waterways are vegetated channels that convey concentrated flow at non-erosive velocities while filtering sediment. Their primary function is safe transport and filtering of runoff.

Question 28Agricultural Land Management 1

A land manager is selecting a tillage system for a sloping field prone to water erosion. Which outcome is most characteristic of moving from conventional tillage to no-till?

  1. Higher soil erosion rates during the establishment year
  2. Elimination of the need for nutrient management planning
  3. Increased soil disturbance and faster residue breakdown
  4. Greater surface residue cover and reduced soil loss Correct answer.

Explanation

No-till leaves crop residue on the surface, which intercepts raindrop energy and reduces detachment and transport of soil. Residue cover is the key mechanism linking the system to lower erosion.

Question 29Agricultural Land Management 1

A farm has a field with a high water table and poor internal drainage. Which approach best addresses the underlying limitation for row-crop production?

  1. Apply additional irrigation during the growing season
  2. Install subsurface drainage sized to the field's drainage coefficient Correct answer.
  3. Increase tillage depth to mix the wet soil layers
  4. Convert the field to a permanent pasture without drainage

Explanation

A high water table on poorly drained soil is corrected by removing excess subsurface water through a drainage system designed for the site's drainage coefficient. This lowers the water table and improves aeration for roots.

Question 30Agricultural Land Management 1

Which statement best describes the role of a perennial grass-legume mix in a pasture renovation program?

  1. It removes the requirement for soil fertility testing
  2. It eliminates the need for any stocking-rate management
  3. It guarantees uniform forage quality across all seasons
  4. It fixes nitrogen and extends the grazing season through varied growth Correct answer.

Explanation

Legumes in a grass mix can add nitrogen through symbiosis, and combining species with different growth patterns lengthens the period of usable forage. The mix supports, but does not replace, grazing and fertility management.

Question 31Agricultural Land Management 1

A producer is comparing two fields for a lease. Field A has a long-term average yield of 180 bushels per acre; Field B averages 150 bushels per acre. All other cost and price assumptions are equal. Which factor best explains the difference in the economic rent the two fields can support?

  1. The distance from the nearest paved road only
  2. Expected productivity and resulting gross revenue Correct answer.
  3. The number of years the landowner has held title
  4. The color of the soil series on the county map

Explanation

Economic rent reflects the residual return after costs, so higher expected productivity supports higher gross revenue and thus a larger residual for rent. Differences in yield potential are a primary driver of rental value.

Question 32Agricultural Land Management 1

Which practice most directly reduces soil compaction caused by field traffic on a wet field?

  1. Increasing tire inflation pressure on all implements
  2. Performing tillage while the soil is saturated
  3. Adding more axle load to improve traction
  4. Restricting heavy equipment to dry soil conditions Correct answer.

Explanation

Compaction risk rises sharply when soil is near or above field capacity, so confining traffic to drier conditions limits the pressure that causes structural damage. Timing traffic to soil moisture is the most direct control.

Question 33Agricultural Land Management 1

A landowner wants to protect a riparian corridor while continuing to graze the adjacent pasture. Which practice best balances these goals?

  1. Convert the entire corridor to bare cultivated ground
  2. Install a managed riparian buffer with controlled stream access Correct answer.
  3. Remove all vegetation along the streambank
  4. Allow unrestricted livestock access to the stream

Explanation

A vegetated buffer with limited, managed access filters runoff and stabilizes banks while still permitting grazing on the surrounding pasture. This balances water-quality protection with continued production.

Question 34Agricultural Land Management 1

Which land capability classification factor most directly determines the class assigned to a parcel?

  1. The age of the farm's equipment fleet
  2. The current market value of the parcel
  3. The degree of limitation for sustained agricultural use Correct answer.
  4. The owner's preferred cropping pattern

Explanation

Land capability classification groups soils by the kind and severity of limitations that restrict sustained use for crops, grazing, or forestry. The limiting factors, not management preferences, drive the class.

Question 35Agricultural Land Management 1

A producer wants to reduce nutrient loss from a field with a shallow water table while maintaining yields. Which practice is most appropriate?

  1. Irrigate heavily immediately after each application
  2. Apply all nutrients in a single fall application
  3. Apply a fixed high rate of nitrogen every year
  4. Apply nutrients based on soil tests and realistic yield goals Correct answer.

Explanation

Matching nutrient applications to soil test results and realistic yield goals avoids excess nutrients that can leach or denitrify. This approach maintains crop nutrition while limiting loss to groundwater.

Question 36Agricultural Land Management 1

A land manager observes declining forage production on a pasture over several years despite stable rainfall. Which assessment is the most logical first step?

  1. Apply a broad-spectrum herbicide to the entire pasture
  2. Increase stocking rate to utilize the remaining forage
  3. Assume the decline is due to climate change
  4. Evaluate grazing intensity and soil fertility trends Correct answer.

Explanation

When rainfall is stable, declining production usually traces to management factors such as overgrazing, loss of desirable species, or declining fertility. Checking grazing intensity and soil fertility identifies the likely cause before corrective action.

Question 37Agricultural Land Management 1

A producer must choose between two cover crop species for a field following corn. Species A produces abundant fibrous roots and rapid fall growth; Species B produces little top growth but a deep taproot. If the primary goal is reducing erosion over winter, which choice is better and why?

  1. Species B, because deep taproots alone prevent surface erosion
  2. Species A, because rapid ground cover protects the surface from raindrop impact Correct answer.
  3. Neither species, because cover crops do not affect erosion
  4. Either species, because erosion is controlled only by tillage

Explanation

Surface erosion is driven largely by raindrop impact and overland flow, so rapid, dense ground cover is the key protective mechanism. Species A's abundant fall growth and fibrous roots provide that cover.

Question 38Agricultural Land Management 1

A ranch has two pastures: one with gentle slopes and deep soils, another with steep, shallow soils. Which grazing strategy best matches forage use to the land's capability?

  1. Use the steep pasture more intensively because it is harder to reach
  2. Grazed the steep pasture only during wet periods
  3. Apply identical stocking rates to both pastures
  4. Use the gentle pasture more intensively and the steep pasture more conservatively Correct answer.

Explanation

Matching grazing intensity to land capability protects fragile sites while using productive land efficiently. Steeper, shallow soils are more erosion-prone and should carry lighter use.

Question 39Agricultural Land Management 1

Which water-quality concern is most directly associated with applying manure at rates exceeding crop nutrient removal on a field near a stream?

  1. Reduction in soil bulk density
  2. Depletion of soil organic matter
  3. Phosphorus accumulation and transport in runoff Correct answer.
  4. Increased soil pH above neutrality

Explanation

Applying manure beyond crop removal builds soil phosphorus, which can move with eroded sediment and runoff into nearby water. Managing application to crop removal limits this risk.

Question 40Agricultural Land Management 1

A land manager is converting a marginal, erosion-prone cropland field to a permanent forage cover. Which seeding approach is most appropriate for establishing the perennial forage on this site?

  1. Apply a heavy nitrogen application before seeding to push rapid seedling growth
  2. Prepare a firm, weed-free seedbed and drill the seed at the proper depth, then control competing vegetation during establishment Correct answer.
  3. Broadcast the seed on the undisturbed surface without any seedbed preparation or follow-up management
  4. Seed in mid-summer on dry soil to avoid spring weed pressure

Explanation

Perennial forage establishment depends on seed-to-soil contact, correct seeding depth, and suppression of weed competition during the slow establishment phase. A firm, weed-free seedbed with drilling at proper depth gives the best chance of a uniform stand. Heavy pre-seeding nitrogen favors weeds over the young seedlings, and seeding into dry soil risks failure.

Question 41Agricultural Land Management 2

Which soil characteristic is most directly improved by maintaining a high level of organic matter in a cultivated field?

  1. Slope gradient of the field
  2. Soil pH buffering against lime
  3. Water-holding capacity and aggregate stability Correct answer.
  4. Depth to restrictive bedrock

Explanation

Organic matter increases aggregation and the soil's ability to retain plant-available water. It also supports biological activity and nutrient cycling. Slope and bedrock depth are landscape properties unaffected by organic matter management.

Question 42Agricultural Land Management 2

A producer wants to reduce soil erosion on a steeply sloping row-crop field. Which practice most directly reduces sheet and rill erosion?

  1. Increasing tillage passes for seedbed preparation
  2. Contour farming with strip cropping Correct answer.
  3. Removing crop residue after harvest
  4. Planting rows up and down the slope

Explanation

Contour farming and strip cropping interrupt slope length and slow runoff, reducing soil detachment and transport. Residue removal and up-and-down slope rows both increase erosion risk. Additional tillage generally degrades structure and leaves soil exposed.

Question 43Agricultural Land Management 2

In a soil test report, cation exchange capacity (CEC) is best interpreted as a measure of which property?

  1. The total soluble salt content of the soil solution
  2. The soil's capacity to hold and exchange positively charged nutrient ions Correct answer.
  3. The amount of phosphorus fixed by iron and aluminum oxides
  4. The proportion of the soil volume occupied by pore space

Explanation

CEC reflects the number of negatively charged exchange sites that retain cations such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It is expressed in milliequivalents per 100 grams or cmol/kg. It is distinct from salinity, porosity, and phosphorus fixation.

Question 44Agricultural Land Management 2

Which irrigation scheduling approach bases timing on measured soil moisture depletion within the crop root zone?

  1. Irrigating whenever the pump operator is available
  2. Flooding continuously to keep the field saturated
  3. Soil moisture monitoring with a defined management allowed depletion Correct answer.
  4. Calendar-based interval irrigation

Explanation

Scheduling by soil moisture monitoring refills the root zone when depletion reaches a set management allowed depletion level. This ties applications to actual crop water use. Calendar intervals and operator convenience ignore soil and crop conditions, and continuous flooding wastes water and can waterlog soils.

Question 45Agricultural Land Management 2

Which document typically establishes the legal boundaries and acreage of a farm parcel for appraisal and management purposes?

  1. A recorded deed with its legal description Correct answer.
  2. A crop insurance policy
  3. A fertilizer recommendation sheet
  4. A pesticide application record

Explanation

A recorded deed contains the legal description that defines parcel boundaries and is the basis for acreage verification. Crop insurance, pesticide, and fertilizer records are operational documents that do not convey title or boundaries.

Question 46Agricultural Land Management 2

In a crop-share lease, which statement best describes how the landlord's and tenant's shares of expenses are typically structured?

  1. The landlord pays all costs and the tenant keeps the entire crop
  2. The landlord and tenant split selected input costs in proportion to their share of the crop Correct answer.
  3. No costs are shared because crop-share leases prohibit expense sharing
  4. The tenant bears all costs and pays fixed cash rent

Explanation

Crop-share leases commonly divide both production and specified input costs in proportion to the crop shares received. This aligns incentives between parties. Fixed cash rent is a different lease type, and crop-share leases do not prohibit cost sharing.

Question 47Agricultural Land Management 2

Which practice is a standard component of a conservation reserve or set-aside program on marginal cropland?

  1. Applying high nitrogen rates to maximize yield
  2. Establishing permanent vegetative cover Correct answer.
  3. Grazing the area year-round without a management plan
  4. Intensive annual tillage to control weeds

Explanation

Set-aside and conservation reserve practices typically establish permanent grass or tree cover to reduce erosion and provide wildlife habitat. Intensive tillage, high fertilization, and unmanaged grazing defeat the conservation purpose.

Question 48Agricultural Land Management 2

A farm manager is evaluating a field's productivity potential. Which factor most directly limits yield on a shallow soil over a fragipan or bedrock?

  1. Low bulk density throughout the profile
  2. Excessive cation exchange capacity
  3. Restricted rooting depth and reduced plant-available water Correct answer.
  4. High organic matter content

Explanation

A shallow restrictive layer limits root penetration and the volume of soil from which crops can draw water and nutrients. This constrains yield potential regardless of surface fertility. High CEC, high organic matter, and low bulk density are generally favorable rather than limiting.

Question 49Agricultural Land Management 2

A center-pivot irrigation system applies water faster than the soil's infiltration rate. Which management response is most appropriate?

  1. Reduce the number of irrigated acres without changing timing
  2. Raise system pressure to increase droplet size
  3. Decrease the pivot speed to apply more water per pass
  4. Increase the pivot speed to reduce application depth per pass Correct answer.

Explanation

When application rate exceeds infiltration, runoff occurs; increasing travel speed reduces the depth applied per pass so the soil can absorb it. Slowing the pivot worsens ponding. Larger droplets and acreage changes do not address the infiltration mismatch.

Question 50Agricultural Land Management 2

A soil test shows a pH of 5.2 for a field to be planted to alfalfa. Which management action is most appropriate before establishment?

  1. Apply gypsum to raise pH
  2. Take no action because alfalfa tolerates strongly acid soils
  3. Apply agricultural lime and incorporate it based on a buffer-pH recommendation Correct answer.
  4. Apply elemental sulfur to lower pH further

Explanation

Alfalfa is sensitive to acidity, and lime raises pH while supplying calcium. Lime rate should follow a buffer-pH or lime requirement test rather than a fixed rate. Sulfur acidifies soil, gypsum does not raise pH, and alfalfa does not perform well at pH 5.2.