Tips For Trimming Fertilizer Costs

regurdless of location, the fertilizer prices are on the top of the list of everyone’s concerns. In 2009, except for land charges (cash rest or land payments) the majority of the input dollars will be used to purchase fertilizer. Growers and the ag-professionals who advise them are interested in trimming fertilizer costs and are looking for any type of help that they can find. Some thoughts on cost-cutting are described in the paragraphs that follow.

DON’T USE CROP REMOVAL AS A GUIDE: Recently, print and radio or TV advertising seems to be stressing the amount of P and K removed from the soil by high-yielding crops. This advertising implies that it is a mistake to apply less than the crop removes and, subsequently, yields will suffer. Research in Minnesota has shown that this implicattion is not true. In fact, the use of crop removal as a basis for making decisions about rates of phosphate and potash to apply will lead to the most expensive fertilizer program.

You can make two mistakes if you use crop removal. If soil test values for these immobile nutrients are in the medium, high, or very high range, too much fertilizer will be applied with added cost and no return. If soil test values are low or very low, this approach will lead to fertilizer applications that are less than adequate with a yield reduction as a consequence. There’s no doubt that use of the crop removal concept does sell fertiilizer. The only economic alternative is to base rate of immobile nutrients on the results of analysis of soil samples

BAND NOT BROADCAST While we’re focusing on the application of immobile nutrients, fertilizer dollars can be saved if banded, not broadcast, applications are used. In general, broadcast rates can be halved if a banded application is used. There will not be a decrease in yield. There will not be a dramatic decrease in soil test values if banded applications are used. The banding option reduces fertilizer-soil contact thereby increasing the efficiency of use with a reduction in cost.

ADOPT THE NEW CORN BELT N GUIDELINES Forget about yield goal when planning on the rate of fertilizer N to apply. A major volume of research shows that there is no relationship between “optimum N rate and “optimum yield”. Nitrogen use efficiency is now in the range of 0.7 to 0.9 lb. N per bu. of corn. So,take a close look at the the rate of fertilizer N that you intend to use.

GET FAMILIAR WITH NBMPs AND USE THEM The recently published Nitrogen Best Management Practices (NBMPs) were written to describe management practices that will keep loss of applied nitrogen to a minimum. Use of these suggested management practices should improve efficiency of use of N fertilizers. Using these NBMPs should improve the net income of crop producers.

DON’T FORGET TO USE N CREDITS Nitrogen credits for legume crops that preceed grain crops in rotation are important. Most producers are familiar with the n CREDIT FOR SOYBEANS (40 lb. N per preceeding corn and 20 lb.N per acre preceeding small grain). The N credits for alfalfa and other forage legumes can be substantial. Manure used in a rotation is important. Don’t forget the N credits for that important component of many rotations.

DON’T BUY WHAT YOU DON’T NEED Use the results of the analysis of soil samples as a guide for fertilizer purchases. For Minnesota soils, the routine test for soil pH, organic matter, P, and K are suggested. Zinc (Zn) use is easily guided by using a soil test for Zn. It is accurate. The soil test for sulfut (S) is not a reliable predictor of S requirements for crop production.

If fields have not been sampled, thake time to have them sampled this spring. Use of either grid sampling or sampling by management zones is appropriate. This one practice may produce a dramatic shift to reduced fertilizer costs.

ASK BEFORE YOU BUY There are always new products that appear with varied promises in the advertising. If they “enhance root growth”, “improve soil moisture”, “make fertilizer more anailable”, or do other magical things, (according to sales claims) they can be categorized as “foo-foo” juice. Save your money.

There are some advertised products that have not traditionally been used. The concept behind the marketing may be valid. They are new on the scene. Although evaluation is limited, the results have been conflicting and there is no general agreement as to the value of these products in a soil fertility program.

The “foo-foo” juice products have been around for years. Names change from time to time. Advice given in the past is still good today. Ask to see data that would support claims made on the label. If there is no data to support the sales claims, don’t buy.

IGNORE RATIOS There are some who believe that the ratio of one nutrient to another in soil is important, and fertilizer application should be based on these ratios. For example, some believe that the Ca/MG or the MG/K ratio is vitally important. This is not true. There is no research conducted by Land Grant Universities that supports the use of these ratios.

The plant does’t care about the ratio of one nutrient to another. The plant responds to the level of sufficiency of a nutrient in the soil system. If the concentration is not sufficient for optimum growth, some must be added in a fertilizer program. If concentrations are sufficient for optimum growth, none is needed in a fertilizer program. Soil testing is the tool that measures sufficiency.

FERTILIZE EACH CROP EACH YEAR In Minnesota, it’s been a common practice to fertilize the corn crop in the corn-soybean rotation and allow the soybean crop to use the residual of the amount applied to corn. The soil, however, is not a good place to store fertilizer. The immoble nutrients will be used more efficiently if applied in the year that the crop is grown. Even though this frequency of fertilizer application adds an application charge for some farms, it may not be necessary to fertilize ahead of each crop. For example, the level of soil test P for optimum soybean production is lower than the optimum level for corn production. With well fertiilized corn, there may not be the need for fertilizing the soybean crop. Take a soil sample to find out.

When thinking about trimming fertilizer cost, the soil test is the key. Some of the tips listed above may help you.

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