21 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER SHIELD YIELD YOUR Shieldex® is a registered trademark of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd. Always read and follow label directions. Learn More At gowancanada.com STRONGER ON THE TOUGHEST WEEDS FLEXIBLE ON YOUR CROP ROTATION NEEDS BUY 4 - GET THE 5TH FREE! JANUARY 15TH - JUNE 30TH, 2024 FOR EVERY 4 JUGS OF SHIELDEX 400 SC PURCHASED BETWEEN JAN 15TH AND JUNE 30TH, 2024, GROWERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO IMMEDIATELY GET A 5TH JUG FREE OF CHARGE AT POINT OF SALE AT YOUR PREFERRED RETAIL. dug into the soil in the fall. It showed that Crystal Green remained available through freeze-up and spring thaw while more traditional MAP and DAP fertilizers had been significantly reduced through leaching. Another advantage over more traditional fertilizers is that the product doesn’t disrupt the microbiome around the crop. “Crystal Green is sparingly water soluble, so it’s not going to affect the fungi and bacteria in the soil,” he says. He also added that Crystal Green is recognized by the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program and noted that if the product isn’t taken up by this year’s crop, it’s available for next year’s crop. Synthos Nutrient Enhancer is a biological oil-based solution that is added to MAP or total NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) blends or any other fertilizer to increase P uptake. It doesn’t need refrigeration, and its use rate is 2.8 litres per metric tonne. It lasts two years in the container, survives for 18 months in the soil and can be added to either organic or inorganic fertilizers. “The best way to use Synthos is to get your retailer to apply it to the fertilizer when you’re picking it up,” says Bryce Geisel, senior agronomist, KOCH Agronomic Services. “It’s oil-based, so it helps reduce dust.” A Canadian study using five trials conducted by the University of Alberta showed an increase in P uptake in MAP treated with Synthos versus untreated MAP. The researchers used plant tissue tests to determine P uptake. CONSIDERATIONS During the question-and-answer part of the panel presentation, a number of factors emerged that growers should recognize when deciding whether to use new P improvement products. While most of the products presented were aimed at improving in-year crop performance, there could be a benefit of building P over time in the soil. “Regardless of which product you may use, as you grow bigger crops and you’re returning crops to the field through residue, as long as you’re applying more than is taken out through crop removal, you’re probably building your soil test P whether it shows up through the material being applied or through residues breaking down,” says Zettler. Determining the costs of using the products came down to understanding individual circumstances, including how the soil is managed, what kind of fertilizer is being used and the rate of application, among other factors. The yield effects of the new products on the crop can be compromised by problems later in the year. “Often people will avoid talking about yields with phosphorus because the benefits are seen in the early season, and there’s a lot that can happen through the rest of the year — disease, too much moisture, too little moisture, lodging issues and frost,” says Geisel. He added there are still many advantages to using the products that improve phosphorous uptake. “Have a conversation with your agronomist and your retailer, do the soil tests, look at new options and test them out where you think they’ll fit.”• Factors that reduce phosphorus uptake in plants include its low mobility in the soil, the P binding with other minerals like aluminum in the soil, and cold temperatures (below 10 °C). MARCH 2024
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