Yes, you can fertilize based just on crop removal. However, this should only be performed when soil tests show that nutrient levels are sufficient. It is always important to consider the amount of nutrients the previous crops removed from the soil. According to the International Plant Nutrition Institute, 180 bushels of corn removes 240 lbs of nitrogen, 102 lbs of phosphorus, and 240 lbs of potassium from the soil. A simple way of assessing nutrient levels is to equate it to balancing a checking account. If you want to keep $500 in your account, you need to deposit money to offset your withdrawals. The same concept applies to nutrient balances in the soil. Fertilizer applications need to be made to offset the nutrients that the previous crop removed. If soil tests show that there aren’t optimal levels of nutrients, additional fertilizer amounts will be needed for the next crop year to meet your expected yield.