In this article of our Groundwork series focused on Strategies to Deal with Rising Fertilizer Costs, we will dig a little deeper and focus on Banding Fertilizer and Starters. These are more time-proven management practices that can give you a leg up on the high input costs and produce a considerable ROI.
Banding
Banding your fertilizer applications is another way to improve nutrient use efficiency. According to the University of Illinois, you must apply 9 lbs of phosphate to build one pound and 4 lbs of potassium to build one pound — this is staggering!
Why can broadcasting fertilizer be so inefficient? The fate of most spread fertilizer is that it ties up with the soil. Banding overwhelms the soil's ability to fix (or tie up) nutrients, by keeping them more concentrated and readily available. Banding in the rootzone is extremely efficient and increases this effectiveness. Several universities have published guidelines showing that fertilizer recommendations for given soil fertility levels can be cut in half by banding versus broadcasting fertilizers.
Forms of Banding
Strip till applications, surface banding, stream applications, in-furrow placement, 2x2 placement, and side dressing are all forms of banding. Using combinations of these also allows spoon feeding the crop during the season to further increase nutrient use efficiency.
Starters
Liquid Starter Fertilizer is a very efficient fertilizer application because you can provide the right form of fertilizer at the right time and right placement, in turn reducing the total rate applied. Starter fertilizer can show big yield increases, especially in cool soils (no-tilled soils are usually cooler). Most starter fertilizers are high in phosphorus because phosphorus availability is greatly limited in cool soils.
Why is Liquid Starter so Efficient?
It is extremely important for all crops, especially corn, to have good plant nutrition in its early stages when yield potential is being determined. Starter fertilizer can play a critical role in meeting the plant's early needs. It can be especially beneficial to organic growers to bridge the gap between the early nutrient needs of corn and the time when soils warm up enough for the biology to release the organically bound nutrients they are counting on.
In-furrow starter is favored by many farmers because it requires less equipment on the planter and is usually applied at lower volumes, due to the ideal placement for early phosphorus needs and for biological products such as MVP.
Beside the row, or 2x2 placement is needed for higher nitrogen and potassium applications and for some micronutrients. Adding humic acid to starter mixes can improve the availability of phosphorus and some micronutrients. Adding a diverse microbial package with a product like MVP can also greatly enhance nutrient cycling and plant health and soil tilth. Agronomically, the best planter setup utilizes both in-furrow and 2x2 placement.
General Starter Programs
Organic Growers rely heavily on MVP to help with nutrient cycling. In-furrow, it's combined with one or more of the following products: Dramm O, PKT Blend 18 or NForce. More nitrogen can be added in a 2x2 starter and generally uses a combination of Pillar 15, 2-0-2, NForce, and K-Sulfate Solution, in addition to MVP.
Conventional Growers in-furrow product of choice is usually 4-21-4 along with MVP and selected micronutrients. In a 2x2 application, Starter Blend is the most common product, and additional Trace Minerals or Trace Pak is also added when appropriate. MVP is added to all starter programs whether in-furrow or 2x2.
Don't forget, the true "Start" to your fertility program is Wise Residue Management! Consult your AgriEnergy Dealer or representative to help you develop your Custom Mix Starter Program that is tailored to your specific farm and meets your fertility goals, equipment, and budget.
