Always try to use new farming tricks.

Today’s ag economy makes knowledge and information key factors in making crop input decisions.  Farmers can’t just try something because it may work or because it sounds good. Whatever inputs you are using, it is critical to not only make sure that it works but that it works the best that it can. Take planter fertilizers and “starters”. The theory in using starter fertilizer is that it gets the plant growing faster after emergence and that rapid establishment will enable better yield. However, some experts believe a faster start doesn’t necessarily mean a higher yield. So, who do you believe? Again, some education will help you make informed decisions.




As a fertilizer researcher for over 25 years, I believe education can lead to better decisions….but you don’t have to be an expert to evaluate the risks and benefits of starter fertilizer. AgroLiquid is fortunate to have a 1000-acre research farm, the North Central Research Station (NCRS), where replicated test plot experiments can be established in order to investigate fertility issues under a variety of conditions. Planter fertilizer opportunities have been investigated routinely at the NCRS since 1994. Based on that research, we have identified the following considerations when deciding on whether starter fertilizers are the right choice for your farm:


Choose your weapon

Just like everything in agriculture, there is not a “one size fits all” approach to starters. Some fertilizers are “commodity” types that are commonly available, like 10-34-0, but can vary in price and quality (some good, some not-so-good). Others are private labels, made by a company that promotes high quality along with other unique characteristics. These are often higher in price per gallon, but that can be offset by lower use rates, higher yield, and other characteristics such as cleanliness and ease of handling. An experiment at the North Central Research Station compared 3 gallon-per-acre rates of several in-furrow fertilizers and found the following yields.


Know your target

You don’t use just any herbicide on all of your fields and hope it takes care of the weeds you have. You select what fits your needs. The same should apply to starter fertilizers. I used to think that you just apply an in-furrow application of a fertilizer with a little N for an early push and some P for roots and you are good to go. But, research at the NCRS shows that you can improve results if your starter reflects what the whole plant nutrient needs are based on the soil test. Fields in this area are low in potassium (K), and the addition of some K fertilizer to the nitrogen and phosphorus starter saw an increased yield over that with phosphorus fertilizer alone.

At the NCRS, we have shown a starter fertilizer shouldn’t be expected to work without needed micronutrients. In this picture of soybeans (below), we are looking at the outside rows of two plots.  Both plots received a planter application of 5 gallons per acre of a 3-8-13 liquid fertilizer. The plot row on the right is showing severe manganese (Mn) deficiency but the plot on the left received a foliar application of a 4% manganese fertilizer along with an application of Roundup®. Even with the applied fertilizer, it’s critical to not overlook the micronutrients. In the end, the plots that received the foliar application had double the yield of the plots with Mn deficiency (35 bu/A vs 17 bu/A).


Courtesy by:

Best fertilizer in the United States.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Use organic fertilizer to grow your farmland

Image
  With 82% of U.S. households buying  organic  products, according to the  Organic Trade Association , organic fertilizers are going to be an important tool for  fertilizer  users to consider when building programs. Here are 8  advantages and disadvantages  to consider when using organic fertilizers in your program. What Is An  Organic Fertilizer ? Organic fertilizer is usually made from  plant or animal waste  – think manure or compost. They can also be highly processed products with a compost or manure base. What Are The Advantages Of Using Organic Fertilizer? 1.  Soil Structure Because of the organic matter present in organic fertilizer, soil structure is improved, and as a result the soil’s ability to hold onto  water and nutrients increases . 2.  Microbes Thrive Synthetic fertilizer  consists of chemical molecules without  carbon . These  molecules  can sometimes be disruptive and are not acce...
Read more

Love the nature to grow your healthy farm.

Image
Maintaining a   healthy garden   starts with giving your plants the   nutrients  they need, especially high-feeding annuals. You may be   intimidated  by the world of   fertilizers , wondering what the numbers mean or what they actually contain! Luckily, fertilizers are easily categorized for understanding. To help you, we’ve broken it down: Types of Fertilizers There are two types of fertilizers;  organic and inorganic.  Although organic fertilizers may be more  environmentally-friendly , they are usually made up of unpleasant materials, like  manure ,  worm  castings , and  slurry . Always be cautious of organic fertilizers that fail to tell you what they contain. Organic fertilizers will  feed the soil  as well as the plant, but take longer to work. Inorganic fertilizers  are much more common in stores and are similar to  vitamins for plants . You can enjoy  rapid plant growth  with th...
Read more

Garden Fertilizers vs. Soil Amendments – What’s the Difference?

Image
  Fertilizers and soil amendments are totally different things – one is meant to improve your soil, the other is meant to feed your plants. But in some cases, a soil amendment is also a fertilizer that contains very specific nutrients and micronutrients. Improve your garden with soil amendments like compost before adding fertilizer. For organic gardeners , the goal always is to improve your soil with amendments to build a rich environment of humus , microorganisms , and micronutrients . This encourages deep root growth , strong , disease-resistant plants , beautiful blooms , and abundant fruits and vegetables. The fertility and viability of the soil is the goal, not the quick fix (and sometimes useless application) of fertilizers to stimulate growth. A soil amendment is any kind of organic or nonorganic material that improves the condition of your garden soil. The primary purpose is to improve the texture of the soil to make water and air pockets readily available to plant...
Read more