The late-spring test is revealing some very low soil nitrate concentrations this year. Here are some suggestions to help you interpret the results. Low concentrations of nitrate should be expected after above-average amounts of spring rainfall. The basis for this expectation is summarized in the article Early season losses of nitrogen, which appeared in the February 2001 issue of this newsletter. Low concentrations of soil nitrate in the spring tend to be followed by low concentrations of nitrate in cornstalks in the fall. Yields also tend to be reduced, but yield reduction is more difficult to detect.