CultivAcing Knowledge:
Exploring the Fascinating World of Agriculture
Applying Phosphorus and Potassium - New Research
It is commonplace in many parts of the US to fall-apply phosphorus and potassium. Growers often think this practice can build soil P and K levels while increasing yield and maintaining soil nutrient availability.
Calcium – How Much Does the Soil Need?
How much calcium do we need in our soil? If you use a Morgan test, you should have a minimum of 2,000# per acre and as a percent of base saturation…
FREE pHOS 24
Why did we name this product FREE pHOS 24? Soil applied phosphate is terribly inefficient. Only about 5% to 10% of what is applied to the soil is available for use by the plant.
Less Applied and More Phosphate in the Plant
In early March of this year, the grower applied 10 gallons per acre of EVEN MORE 8-24-0 on pistachios thru drip irrigation. In prior years, they were applying a competitor 7-21-0 at 15 gallons per acre.
Calcium & Phosphate: Soil Nutrients that Deliver the Perfect Balance
There are two soil nutrients that have the strongest influence on plant growth and reproduction. These two are calcium and phosphate.
Increasing Fruit Size with Potassium and Manganese
Plants use a lot of potassium during the period when they are filling their fruit. One of potassium’s role in the plant is to expand the cells.
Spring Nitrogen Applications
We are rapidly approaching spring fertilizer applications. For the most part, this means applying high amounts of nitrogen on most crops.
Phosphate & Harvest Date
One function of phosphate in annual crops is to control the time from planting to harvest. If the plant does not have enough phosphate available, the time from planting to harvest will increase.
FREE pHOS 24 & pH
Why is FREE pHOS 24 spelled the way that it is? Because pH is very important when it comes to phosphate availability in the soil. First, we should define what pH is.
Phosphorus
How much phosphorus is in soils? There is about 1,000 parts per million of phosphorus in the earths crust. However, phosphorus is never found by itself in the environment, it is always attached to other elements.
Nutrient Interaction
When we apply fertilizer for crop production, we should be focused on getting our soil in balance. The biggest problem that I see is that growers think that if there is a problem, they need to apply a large dose of a nutrient.
Plant Nutrients That Can’t Totally Come From a Foliar
There are three nutrients that can’t totally be supplied by applications of foliar sprays. The three are calcium, potassium and phosphorous.
Soil Sampling
When is the best time to take a soil sample? The best answer that I have is to ask what you want to see from the soil. If you take it after harvest…
FREE pHOS 24 Trial
We just got the results from one of our trials on FREE pHOS 24. I was on field corn and the products were both applied as a pop up directly on the seed at planting.
Why Don’t Foliars Work Every Time?
Have you ever noticed that one time a foliar works and the next time or in a different field it doesn’t? Here are a few reasons why you may have the problem.
Soil Applied Potassium
What form and when should potassium be applied to the soil? The best answer to this question can be found in an article found on our website “Potassium Paradox.”
Diagnosing a Nutrient Problem
Sometimes things are not always as they appear at first glance. Your first assumption might have been that the FREE pHOS was not a very good phosphate product, but it actually was BETTER than the other products
Plant Nutrients for Free!
How many of you think that you can get something for nothing? Usually, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is, correct?
When Should Phosphate be Applied to a Crop?
When we think of applying phosphate, we always think of it as a nutrient that is used early in a growing plant. This is, as we all know, a nutrient that is essential for root growth.