If you ask children why they need calcium, they automatically answer that it’s good for your bones.

But what would growers say? We all know plants need calcium – but how and why? Let’s look at all the reasons calcium plays an important role in crop development.

Building strong walls: Imagine calcium as the tiny bricks that make up plant cell walls. These walls provide structure and support, allowing plants to stand tall and resist wind, rain, and even their own weight. Stronger cell walls also help plants with disease, preventing it from spreading through the plant.

Stress resilience: Calcium acts like a stress reliever for plants. It helps them cope with environmental challenges like drought, extreme temperatures, and insect attacks. By stabilizing cell membranes and regulating internal processes, calcium keeps plants functioning even when conditions are tough.

Nutrient uptake: Calcium helps balance the soil and in a well-balanced soil, you have a neutral pH. A neutral soil pH is ideal for plants to absorb other essential nutrients.

Deficiency

A calcium deficiency will start by affecting the growing points of the plant resulting in new growth that looks stunted or withered. Tip burn is also common. Because of the role calcium plays in fruit development, a deficiency will appear as the premature shedding of blossoms and buds as well as water-soaked and discolored areas on fruits.

The role of lime

The primary source of calcium for crops is lime. Lime application serves a dual purpose:

Adjusting soil pH: Lime helps achieve a neutral pH range, which needed for the best nutrient uptake.
Balancing soil chemistry: By increasing the base saturation percentage, lime makes calcium sufficiently availability for crops.

“Ideally, we want to see that percent base saturation between 65 and 75 percent,” said AgroLiquid agronomist Stephanie Zelinko.

While lime covers the foundational needs, liquid calcium sources provide a targeted approach to nourish growing crops. These can be applied during planting or through foliar feeding.

Compatible?

However, a challenge with liquid calcium is its reactivity.

“The downside to having liquid sources of calcium is they are highly reactive, and they will often cause compatibility issues when mixing with other nutrients such as phosphorous,” said Stephanie.

This means growers have to make more trips across the field, using more fuel, causing more fuel compaction, and taking more time.

At AgroLiquid, we understand the challenges associated with traditional calcium sources. That’s why we developed LiberateCa. It offers a significant advantage: it’s compatible with other nutrients, so you don’t need multiple applications.

We can even demonstrate it in a simple lab experiment.

For instance, if you add Pro-Germinator, a phosphorus product, to two different beakers to mix with solutions, you can see what happens with the unprotected calcium.

“There is slight fallout in this solution, which means that this is not compatible,” said AgroLiquid product development chemist Maria Espinosa.

However, when it’s mixed with LiberateCa, you get different results.

“The result of the reaction – we see this is a clear solution. No fall out,” she said.

Certain crops, like soybeans, potatoes, tomatoes, and apples, have a higher calcium demand for optimal yield and quality. A soil test combined with an understanding of your specific crop needs will guide you toward the most effective calcium application strategy.

Calcium isn’t just for your bones…it’s for the backbone of your nutrient plan.

See the research on soybeans, apples and pears, and corn.

For more on calcium’s role in crop health and to explore the benefits of LiberateCa, contact your local AgroLiquid representative.

Check it out: In this Agronomic Advisor Focus, Agronomist Stephanie Zelinko and Product Development Chemist Maria Espinosa explain why calcium is good for your crops – and watch the experiment for yourself!

The post Calcium – How strong is your nutrient plan? appeared first on AgroLiquid.

Modern agriculture has given growers a variety of ways to apply fertilizers. All of them have the goal of providing nutrition when it’s needed, minimizing the risk of loss, and making it easily available when crops need it.  Sidedress application is the agricultural practice of fertilizing crops once the plants have begun growing, adding soil nutrients that help growth.

Let’s look at what sidedress is, how it works, and what the research shows. The Five W Questions – who, what, when, where, why – can help you make your decisions on sidedress application.

Who

Sidedress fertilizers are ideal for providing in-season nutrition and supporting strong plant growth. Sidedress application is especially effective in supplementing or restoring nitrogen, but that’s not all! Sidedress application can be used for many other nutrients.

What

By having the right nutrients at the correct developmental times, crops grow stronger, produce higher yields, and can be more resistance to drought, pests, and disease.

When

For example, nitrogen easily becomes tied up in the soil or leaches away through runoff where it’s unusable. Nitrogen is also more necessary at particular growth stages over others.

Signs of nitrogen deficiencies may not be immediately evident, so sidedressing nitrogen during the growth season helps to restore it when crops need it most.

Application of nitrogen (and other nutrients) depends on the crop, microbial activity, nutrient content, drainage, and other factors.

Where

Sidedress applications should be to moist soil, and it should happen prior to root expansion to avoid damage. To avoid snapping off plants, growers should apply nutrients before they are too tall for the toolbar.

Why

This is the meat of the issue. Sidedress fertilizer application is ideal for adding nitrogen at key stages for wheat, soybeans, corn, and other row crops. This gives the crops what they need to reach their full growth potential, delivered right to them in the soil.

It’s also helpful for restoring nitrogen after heavy rainfall or other leaching events.

Plus, sidedress fertilizer can also provide other beneficial nutrients, including supplement nutrition that wasn’t provided at planting time.

For orchards, this work particularly well for coordinating fruit development with nutrient application.

The best AgroLiquid fertilizers for sidedress application include:

• PrimAgro N, P, K, and C-TECH
• High NRG-N
• N-Response
• eNhance
• Pro-Germinator
• Sure-K
• Kalibrate
• accesS
• LiberateCa

AgroLiquid’s liquid fertilizer lineup helps address the possible deficiencies that can occur during the growing season. From essential macronutrients like phosphorus and potassium to vital micronutrients, our products can cover nutritional gaps.

Check out our research

We’ve researched multiple fertilizer application methods and conducted extensive research to help farmers optimize their nitrogen fertilizer for corn: see the results.

With crop yields continually on the rise, nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are being used up in growers’ soils—but so are micronutrients. Planting time is the perfect opportunity to replenish micronutrients, as well as primary nutrients. Here’s info about how to replace micronutrients and primary nutrients at planter time, using corn and soybeans as examples. Read the study.

Knowing how to use phosphorus fertilizer on crops, and knowing what to expect, can help you increase yields and get the most out of your fertilizer program. Let’s take a look at the research on how to use phosphorus fertilizer.

To develop a liquid fertilizer sidedress program to boost yields, work with an AgroLiquid agronomist, and we’ll help you develop a custom nutrition plan to produce the best yields possible.

The post Sidedress Applications – You have questions, we’ve got answers appeared first on AgroLiquid.

We’ve all seen the high jump track and field event, where athletes take turns jumping over a bar that’s placed higher… and higher…and higher. Athletes change shoes, jumping methods, step count, and anything they can do to gain a little advantage to reach the top.

It’s the same way with growing crops. Over the years, people have developed newer and better methods for meeting plant needs, and we know high-yielding crops require a complete nutritional package. While primary nutrients are of course the most important, secondary nutrients like sulfur and calcium play a huge role in plant health and productivity.

At AgroLiquid, we understand the importance of balanced nutrition, which is why we’re featuring accesS and LiberateCa – two products designed to maximize your crop potential.

accesS
accesS is a high-efficiency liquid sulfur fertilizer which allows plants to better absorb sulfur, while also keeping more plant-usable sulfur in the soil.

Why do crops need sulfur in the form of accesS? It plays a role in several processes that impact plant health and yield.

Consider:

• Better growth: Sulfur is a component of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Without the right amount of sulfur, protein synthesis is delayed, and it can lead to stunted growth and weak plants.

• Nitrogen: Sulfur works hand-in-hand with nitrogen, which helps plants utilize nitrogen efficiently, converting it into usable amino acids for protein production. This translates to better growth, stronger stems, and improved overall plant development.

• Photosynthesis: Sulfur is a key component of chlorophyll, and deficient sulfur levels can lead to pale leaves and reduced photosynthetic activity, ultimately impacting crop yield.

• Disease: Sulfur plays a role in plant defense mechanisms, helping them resist fungal diseases. Adequate sulfur levels can help with a plant’s natural resistance to pathogens, promoting overall plant health and reducing reliance on fungicides.

• Stress tolerance: Sulfur can contribute to a plant’s ability to withstand environmental stresses like drought or extreme temperatures. By promoting strong cell walls and efficient nutrient utilization, sulfur helps crops weather challenging conditions.

accesS doesn’t have just one correct time for application. It can be used to correct sulfur deficiencies at planting, or anytime through the year. Plus, it’s easy to apply with other nutrients or crop protection products.

In addition, an economic and environmental benefit is that accesS uses a lower concentration of sulfur at lower rates, but it provides the same – or better – results when compared to commodity fertilizers.

LiberateCa
LiberateCa is a liquid fertilizer designed to prevent calcium deficiencies or correct them when signs appear.
Even though calcium is categorized as a secondary nutrient, it’s necessary for crops to reach their full potential. It’s good for:

• Building walls: The right calcium levels result in stronger, more rigid cell walls. This helps with structural integrity, which allows plants to stand upright, resist wind and rain damage, and support the weight of fruits and vegetables.

• Fruit quality: Calcium helps maintain cell integrity and firmness, leading to improved fruit quality, size, and marketability.

• Stress: Strong cell walls also contribute to a plant’s ability to withstand stress. These stresses can be environmental, like drought or extreme temperatures, or biological, like pest or disease pressure. Calcium helps maintain plant health during challenging conditions.

• Water transport: Calcium plays a role in regulating the movement of water and nutrients within the plant. The right calcium levels can improve water uptake and utilization, especially during dry periods.

• Healthy roots: By regulating cell division and the growth of root hairs, calcium helps plants establish a strong root system for efficient water and nutrient uptake.

LiberateCa uses Nutriq Technology to deliver plant-usable calcium right to the plant roots, or also as a foliar. The benefit is that the plant-based polymer chains protecting the calcium prevent it from reacting with other nutrients. As a result, it still remains usable to plants. This makes LiberateCa compatible with other nutrients, which means it can be applied without an extra trip over the field.

Basically, giving your crops the best secondary nutrients helps them clear the ever-rising performance bar. Fly high with accesS and LiberateCa, and see where your crops can go.

Let’s get started! Talk to an AgroLiquid expert.

The post Raise the bar: Secondary nutrients accesS and LiberateCa appeared first on AgroLiquid.

Of course, macronutrients improve yield and quality in your crops…but don’t overlook the role of micronutrients. If micronutrient deficiencies occur year after year, they’ll damage crops regardless of the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium already present. As a result, AgroLiquid offers our microLink® line, which is helpful for assisting any crop.

Right amount, right time

MicroLink Boron is made to give crops the right amount of boron. Without boron, fruits lose their shape, color, and flavor, and lose seed numbers, grain numbers, and quality. AgroLiquid boron fertilizer can correct in-season boron deficiencies, as well as prevent crop damage in the first place.

“Boron plays many important roles within the plant,” said Stephanie Zelinko, AgroLiquid sales agronomist. “One of the most important is its part in the reproductive growth. It aids in flowering and pollination, which equals improved yield.”

Boron is derived from sodium borate, and it can be applied individually to correct boron deficiencies or used with micronutrient combinations to supply a variety of micronutrients.

It not only addresses deficiencies, but it also helps with nutrient uptake and use. Boron interacts with various enzymes and proteins involved in nutrient metabolism, so it improves absorption. By using it, growers can help the use of other nutrients, leading to a healthier crop.

Help for the whole crop

Boron also can assist with plant stress and disease tolerance. The right boron levels strengthen cell walls, making plants more resilient to drought, heat, and disease pressure. With microLink Boron, growers can improve their plants’ natural defense mechanisms, reducing the chance plants will be susceptible to stress-related diseases. This translates into more consistent yields, even under challenging growing conditions.

MicroLink Boron helps with:

• Precision nutrition: MicroLink Boron delivers the right amount of boron, addressing deficiencies and promoting plant growth.
• Improved pollination and reproduction: Helps with viability, fruit development, and seed development, leading to increased yields.
• Better nutrient uptake and use: Improves absorption and use of nutrients, helping with crop health.
• Resistance: Strengthens cell walls, making plants more stress tolerant and disease resistant.

“Adequate boron in the plant helps makes cell walls stronger, which creates a healthier plant,” said Zelinko.

Ask an expert

Before adding boron, it’s important to know what’s in your soil composition right now. Many micronutrient deficiencies present in the same way. It’s also possible that they could be caused by soil pH, moisture, temperature, or other compound or nutrient tie-ups in the soil. Some crops are sensitive to boron, so correct application is necessary.

“Boron is a tricky nutrient and moves through the plant rapidly, therefore a multiple application approach must be done it ensure there is enough boron throughout the season,” said Zelinko.

We’d also be happy to help you learn more about boron deficiency and correct application. If your crops aren’t reaching their potential, or you keep having the same problems, ask our agronomist experts for assistance.

Research

At AgroLiquid, we study crops to determine the best fertilizer combinations. All of our fertilizer research is carefully documented, including what fertilizers we use, when, on what crops, and how those crops grow. Much of our research is conducted at our 1,000 acre research facility, the North Central Research Station (NCRS). We also partner with growers across the country to conduct fertilizer research in other climates and soil types. This helps us perfect our fertilizer programs and develop the most efficient combinations for all types of crops.

See our research on MicroLink Boron here:

Foliar Boron Applications on Canola

Effect of microLink Boron on Soybean Yield 

Even though MicroLink Boron may be in the background, it’s just as necessary as the nutrients taking the lead. Take a look at your crop, your needs, and your goals to see if MicroLink Boron is the next step in your nutrition program.

The post Getting the work done: microLink Boron appeared first on AgroLiquid.

You’ve planned, you’ve researched, you’ve reviewed at all the inputs…How can you best help your crop reach its fullest potential? When you’re planning for planting, it’s time to look at Micro 500.

Micro 500
Micro 500 is designed to give plants the micronutrient base of exactly what they need. Micro 500 contains the micronutrients zinc, manganese, iron, copper, and boron, which cover multiple requirements for crops. Let’s break it down.

• Zinc – Zinc is an important component of various enzymes that are responsible for driving metabolic reactions in crops.
• Manganese – Manganese is a micronutrient to plant growth that sustains metabolic roles within different plant cell compartments.
• Iron – Iron is involved in the manufacturing process of chlorophyll, and it’s also required for certain enzyme functions.
• Copper – Copper is required for many enzymatic activities in plants, plus for chlorophyll and seed production.
• Boron – Boron plays an important role in regulation plants’ hormone levels and promoting proper growth.

Deficiencies
When there isn’t enough of a micronutrient in the soil, deficiencies happen. This might even happen if the micronutrient is present, but they’re bonded to other compounds in the soil, and as a result the plants’ roots can’t break them down. Depending on the micronutrient deficiency, plants might have curled or yellowing leaves, weak stems, weak flower, bud or seed growth, and grow slowly. Deficiencies to the eye look similar, so performing a soil test lets growers know which micronutrients are missing.

Let’s get synergized
Micro 500’s micronutrients are synergistic, which means growers get a better uptake and response from a micronutrient in Micro 500 than if they apply an equal volume of a nutrient alone. Plus, having this combination available is helpful in parts of fields where a grower might be unaware that a particular nutrient is lacking.

Trials prove that AgroLiquid micronutrients perform better than dry micros, because applicators can place them in a root zone band, in furrow or near the seed. Micro 500 also outperforms other conventional micronutrient fertilizers.

By improving chlorophyll production and the photosynthesis process, Micro 500 helps support every growth stage:

• Prevents micronutrient deficiencies that can stunt growth
• Supports protein synthesis and enzyme production
• Improves nitrogen fixation
• Supports lignin formation
• Supports strong cell growth

Nutriq
The Nutriq Technology contained in Micro 500 is what helps fight deficiency, stimulate long-lasting growth, and support long term nutrient uptake. Nutriq Technology uses plant-derived chelates to prevent the micronutrients from binding with other elements in the soil. When this happens, they can create bonds that plants can’t break, and then can’t use. But with Nutriq technology, the chelates form a protective shell around the micronutrients which plants can still break down. Then micronutrients to release slowly, allowing the plant to use them throughout its entire growth cycle.

Application options
Like many of our products, Micro 500 is designed for easy application. It’s easy to find the most efficient way, because there are a variety of application methods available to you. Plus, since Micro 500 is safe to apply with many other nutrition and crop protection products, so you don’t have to make an extra trip just to apply a zinc, manganese, iron, copper or boron product. Fewer trips, less manpower, better crops!

See the research

Not only does Micro 500 help your crops be the best they can be…we also have the research to prove it. Check out our resources to make this season your best one ever.

The post Planning for Planting: Micro 500 appeared first on AgroLiquid.

1. Soil Tests

Soil testing allows the grower to determine the current condition of the soil, including imbalances, deficiencies, and excesses. Soil tests also help identify how much nutrition is already available in the soil so that fertilizer applications can be optimized. A multi-year testing program allows the grower to monitor changes in the soil over time.

Yes, soil testing does cost money, but you get a complete test that includes soil characteristics, nutrient levels, and base saturation. However, if one soil sample represents 20 acres in a field and the field is sampled every three years, the cost of soil sampling averages out over time. Not a bad investment, considering the amount of information received from that test.

Simply applying the same fertilizer mix you have always applied may not provide the best production or economic return. A soil test report can be used to develop a complete nutrient management program for a field, including soil amendments to adjust nutrient imbalances as well as determine the fertilizer application needs for the crop. Using products that can be mixed to address the needs of a field will provide the best opportunity for economic return.

An excellent example of using soil test information to optimize crop nutrition choices is a field experiment conducted by MGS Farms (formerly AgroSpray Research Farm) near Innerkip, Ontario. The soil test report for the field showed low levels of both phosphorus and potassium. A common, standard program in the area is an application of 5 gallons/acre of 6-24-6 liquid fertilizer that provides phosphorus and a small amount of potassium. That treatment was compared to 2.5 gallons/acre of Pro-Germinator to meet the phosphorus need or 2.5 gallons per acre each of Pro-Germinator and Sure-K to meet the phosphorus and potassium need. Addressing the phosphorus and potassium need as indicated by the soil test provided higher yield and higher net return compared to either no phosphorus or phosphorus fertilizer alone.

2. Understand Nutrient Interactions

In addition to selecting nutrients needed to grow the crop, a soil test report will show relationships among nutrients in the soil. If one nutrient is in excess, other nutrients may not be available to the crop, even if the values of those nutrients are high. An excellent example of this is manganese and iron. If the manganese level is higher than the iron level, there is a risk that iron will be less available to the crop and supplemental iron nutrition is recommended. Excess levels of calcium can reduce the availability of several nutrients, including phosphorus, potassium and manganese, among others.

Mulder’s Chart of Nutrient Interactions graphically describes how some of these nutrient interactions work. Understanding these interactions can help dramatically in choosing the best nutrients and the best fertilizers for your crops.

3. Tissue Tests

Another great strategy to identify what your crops need is a tissue test analysis. This in-season snapshot provides a quick overview on the health of your crop. After soil testing, the nutritional tissue test analysis is the most important tool to understand what is happening in the plant regarding the nutritional effects on its physiology. Plant tissue analysis is the best way to identify the actual nutrient status of a plant.

Keep in mind that the plant analysis is just a snapshot of the nutritional status of the plant. Because plant physiology is dynamic, it is necessary to compare plant analysis results with what we expect to see in a plant at that growth stage.

4. Recognize Patterns

Once a nutrient deficiency is identified, you have to decide the next best step. First, look for patterns in the field. Is the deficiency related to a drainage issue? Are there inconsistencies with the planter fertilizer application? It’s important to consider all factors to make an informed decision.

Depending on the deficiency, foliar applications with liquid fertilizer is an effective method for quickly solving nutrient problems appearing in many plants. Since it is applied directly to plant leaves and absorbed through the plant’s stoma, foliar applications can move quickly through the plant’s leaves into the plant, improving health of the crop and yield.

5. Find the Right Fertilizer

There are many factors to consider when structuring a nutrient management plan. The foundation of a good fertilizer is using raw materials that don’t contain things that are harmful to plants. AgroLiquid uses the highest quality raw materials and puts them together in a clean formulation that is safe for the plant. We eliminate harmful bi-products that can cause crop injury and use proprietary formulation technology that improves uptake and utilization of our products within the plant. Those things together create high quality, efficient fertilizer products.

Another important consideration in choosing fertilizer is compatibility. Regardless of the reason, taking extra passes over the field to apply fertilizer is not an efficient use of resources. AgroLiquid products can be effectively applied at planting, side-dress, or foliar– when a pass will be taken over the field, anyway. In fact, AgroLiquid’s seed-safe formulations and chelation technology are representative of our commitment to generating the maximum crop response from applications of fertilizer. In addition, AgroLiquid has unmatched compatibility with most crop protection products and the full range of other AgroLiquid nutrients.

6. Focus on Research

Intensive research, development, and product testing have resulted in a full range of nutrient products that don’t solely focus on N-P-K. These nutrients work in harmony with phosphorous to make uptake, translocation, and utilization in the plant more efficient. This equates to more plant growth with less applied fertilizer. AgroLiquid employs this philosophy in products such as Pro-Germinator®, which uses a blend of phosphate, nitrogen, potash, and iron to maximize crop response at critical growth stages.

With over 25 years of scientific research completed at AgroLiquid’s North Central Research Station (NCRS), in addition to countless trials through contract researchers and grower field comparisons throughout the country, no other crop fertility product is more researched.

7. Find an Expert

If you are a producer facing the prospect of investing significantly in crop nutrition, it can be uncomfortable leaving a recommendation to someone’s good judgement. That’s why it is important to work with people who are committed to crop nutrition. Backed by years of research, AgroLiquid’s highly trained sales and agronomy team is skilled at helping growers make these management decisions. Beyond that, AgroLiquid partners with ag retailers who are dedicated to helping growers develop efficient and economical crop nutrition plans.

Talk with our experts about your crop nutrition plan: Contact us

8. Invest Your Time

It’s important to invest the time to listen to your crops. Recognizing these nutrient deficiencies not only benefit your crop nutrition plan, it helps ensure the return on investment of all inputs, including seed, fuel, crop protection, as well as fertilizer.

As always, if your crop is not reaching its full potential, or the same problems keep appearing, contact your crop nutrition expert to help investigate potential nutrient deficiencies. We’re here to help you develop a crop nutrition plan to meet your yield goals.

The post Top 8 Ways to Find the Right Nutrients for Your Crops appeared first on AgroLiquid.

The post Sulfur + Corn: What’s Important for Crop Production appeared first on AgroLiquid.

There was a time when fertilizer management only focused on N-P-K. As yields climb, we know have to increase the productivity of N, P and K through the supporting roles of secondary and micronutrients, such as sulfur and zinc all the way through molybdenum.

While we tend to focus on the cheaper inputs, we ask hard questions – like what if copper holds the yield of your wheat crop back and the 50 pounds of nitrogen you applied isn’t productive because it wasn’t supported by $5 worth of copper?

Economics and our biases sometimes interfere with our decisions. Remember: in most instances, balance is better than abundance.

Fertile Soil = Higher Yield, Right?

Improving crop yields and fertility is a start, but not the whole story. The expectation of a fertile soil is that it will share those nutrients with the crop. Fertile soils are generally productive, so there is a correlation – but not always:

• Excesses of some nutrients can interfere with the utilization of good levels of other nutrients.
• Higher rainfall amounts will cause some nutrients, such as potassium, to move down in the soil.
• With dry climates, high evaporation rates will keep cations at the surface.
• Arid areas are often receiving irrigation water. Since the irrigation water generally carries other nutrients, the top of the soil acts as a filter and the soil can take on the properties of the water. The result can be a potassium level that may have you gloating over how fertile the soil is, but could actually limit production.

These factors matter as we manage crop nutrition. We can manipulate levels, but then we’re back to economics to see if productivity will justify the expense.

Let’s get into the details by looking at some of the information report in a soil test analysis.

Cation exchange capacity (or CEC, and pronounced like a short phrase: cat-I-on)

The CEC shows us the nutrient and water holding capacity of the soil. This is the first indicator of the productive capability of a soil. The higher the number, the more water and nutrients it can store.

Soils with all levels of CEC can be productive. Low numbers can be challenging because they need rain or irrigation more often since these sandy soils don’t store much water. But crops root down well in a sandy soil, and with sufficient water, they will reward you with outstanding yields.

Higher CEC soils hold more nutrients and water, providing a buffer between rain events. A low CEC number would be 1, requiring superb management, and a high number might go as high as 50 if a lot of organic matter exists. Typical soils range between 10 and 30. Some tests factor the organic matter into the nutrient holding capacity and with other tests, you need to account for it separately.

Calcium (Ca)

Calcium levels heavily influence soil productivity, and growers sometimes aim for a a Ca base saturation range of 60-75%.

Higher numbers will tie up other nutrients. With a number higher than 75, growers can check if it is tying up phosphorus and crowding out the micronutrient cations like zinc, iron, and manganese. If it is, growers need to allocate budget for adding these inputs.

If it’s a case of a low nutrient base saturation, such as phosphorus or one of the micros, those low levels are related to an excess of something.

Phosphorus is very reactive with calcium and since zinc, iron, manganese and copper are cations, they can be displaced by high levels of calcium. Most commonly, you’d see associated low levels of zinc, iron and manganese . The importance of sulfur is elevated to counter high calcium levels. You aren’t only considering crop needs for sulfur, but also the ‘antidote’ effect it has on the elevated cation level of calcium.

Banding near the root zone is important to limit exposure of the nutrients to reactivity of the high calcium levels. On the other end of the spectrum,  at lower than desired calcium levels, below 60%, rhizobia bacteria don’t do their job as efficiently, so lime is needed, especially if growing legumes.

Magnesium (Mg)

Growers can aim for Mg to be between 10 and 20%. Over 20, and compaction is more of an issue. An anaerobic condition can develop under heavy rain or even with severe drought. Under 10%, deficiencies begin to occur and applications should be made. Magnesium is central to chlorophyll development, so it is important to have enough of this nutrient available to your crop.

Potassium (K)

It should be between 3 and 8%. A low C.E.C soil should be in the high side of this range to supply ample amounts. If not, then it needs addressed. Rare instances of levels over 8% can exist and can restrict water infiltration. These high levels would most likely be found in low rainfall areas with high applications of manure or with potassium being brought to the soil through irrigation.

Hydrogen (H)

Any amount of hydrogen present means we are on the acidic side of the pH scale, meaning under 7. The higher the hydrogen number, the more acidic the soil. Aim to keep your soil near the neutral level of 7. As soils become acidic, some nutrients are more readily released, such as iron and manganese.

Often, you see crops that like high levels of iron and manganese grown in acidic soils, such as blueberries. But many beneficial microbes can’t survive in an acidic environment, so generally lime is needed to raise the pH. This is done by adding lime with calcium and/or magnesium, which displaces the hydrogen and brings the pH up. Rain and snow (H₂O) bring H to the environment, so acidity slowly creeps back in. Also, various forms of nitrogen can contribute more than others. NH₃ and the conversion of urea to NH_4, then to NO₃ through the nitrogen cycle, contribute to acidity. These forms of nitrogen don’t cause a radical shift in pH, but over-applications do contribute additional hydrogen and creates some acidity.

Sodium (Na)

Sodium mostly comes into play in arid areas where irrigation water is being applied, but can be a factor in low areas of fields where water stands and in areas with a shallow water table. A base saturation of sodium over 2% can limit production when temperatures rise and water is demanded by the plant to cool itself. Sodium holds on to water and can limit its movement into a plant. Generally, elemental sulfur would be used to counter this situation. Also, winter annuals typically  do better if sodium issues are persistent. They are grown when transpiration rates aren’t as high, so the competition of sodium for water isn’t as critical. The source of sodium should be identified and treated if possible so that production options remain flexible.

Cation Management

Cation management greatly influences the productive capacity of your soil. Proper balance is important for other nutrient inputs to provide maximum return. Again, calcium in a range of 60-75%, magnesium between 10-20%, potassium between 3 and 8%, hydrogen less than 10% and sodium less than 2% will provide the most consistent yields through a variety of environmental conditions. Exceptions for specific crop reasons and economic limitations of amending soils can create a to manage around problems in this area. A perfect soil doesn’t always make sense. Where possible, it lowers risk of other stresses limiting production, but good production can come from less than ideal soils if they are properly managed.

Looking at Relationships Between the Nutrients

You can see that when looking at a soil test, there are many relationships that exist among nutrients and you shouldn’t just evaluate each nutrient on its own, or address it according to the number listed.

In the example shown, you’d be tempted to look at the weak bray phosphorus (P1) test and apply a very high amount of phosphorus. But if that phosphorus is broadcast, the excess Ca represented by the 84.2% is just going to tie it up, rendering it unusable by the crop you are intending to feed. So stay focused on what the crop will be able to use, and not what you are applying to the soil. Much of the phosphorus that is in the soil on the test with the high Ca will never be used by the crop. The calcium-phosphorus bond is too strong for the plant to be able to extract the phosphorus from the calcium. This just illustrates one of many possible reactions that can limit the ability of a crop to utilize nutrients in the soil. Over time, some of the phosphorus will separate when it rains and a fractional amount will be released.

Micronutrients

Now for another critical area of a soil test, which often growers don’t test for – micronutrients. At the bottom of the test shown, these levels are listed. The balance of the soil significantly impacts micronutrient levels. High levels of Ca, Mg, K and Na can crowd out micros. Often, zinc, manganese, and iron are the most common to have limited availability with excesses of cations. This can easily be seen when crops that have a high demand for these micronutrients are grown on these soils.

Soybeans grown on the soil test with 84.2% calcium would be highly likely to exhibit a chlorotic look because iron and manganese are limited in availability – as shown on the example soil test. Soybeans have a higher need for these nutrients than a crop like corn. Citrus is another crop that demands a lot of iron and manganese and would suffer in this soil.

Building Your Crop Nutrition Management Plan

There are a variety of reasons to routinely test your soil:

• The overview helps you prioritize investments into your asset of land.
• If you own the land, you can perform longer-term fixes, like implementing some practices to correct imbalances.
• If your asset is rented, the overall soil test can help with making these decisions, or even having a conversation with the landowner to ensure you can recover your investment into their asset.

Making Decisions

Decisions regarding crop nutrition can be complex as yield expectations rise and economics remain challenging. AgroLiquid takes measures to mitigate the impact of imbalances that exist by protecting our nutrition from many of the reactions that can occur.

Thinking about fertilizer in terms of how much is used by the plant rather than how much is applied to the soil is a critical step. A complete soil test is a good indicator of how much efficiency can be expected with applied crop nutrition. AgroLiquid’s unique protection improves efficiency dramatically. Couple that with a staff that has a thorough understanding of the nutrient relationships in the soil and you will receive a value that goes beyond the return on your investment.

Future investments into fertilizer should begin with a soil test; they should end with a decision to get the most value out of your fertilizer dollar. Contact your AgroLiquid representative to get started.

The post Does Fertile Soil Always Mean a Higher Yield? appeared first on AgroLiquid.

You’ve been farming for awhile, and minus the years where the weather won’t cooperate, you know what you’re doing. Your crops are good, you’re getting good quantity and quality, and you’re able to make a profit. Does it make sense to keep researching, evaluating, and updating your input decisions?

When the four-minute mile was broken by Roger Bannister in 1954, people didn’t think anyone would ever be able to go faster, but his record was broken a month and a half later by John Landy. Earlier this year, Track and Field News announced it would no longer update the list of Americans to break four minutes, because there were already 63 men this year.

So the short answer is: yes. Research on crops never stops, and there are valid reasons for people to continue making our crops bigger, better, and more effective.

At AgroLiquid, we study a variety of crops in detail to determine the best fertilizer combinations. All of our fertilizer research is carefully documented, including what fertilizers we use, when, on what crops, and how those crops grow. Much of our research is conducted at our 1,000 acre research facility, the North Central Research Station (NCRS). We also partner with farmers, growers, and ranchers across the country to conduct fertilizer research in other climates and soil types. This helps us perfect our fertilizer programs, and develop the most efficient combinations for all types of crops.

Tailoring solutions to change

Our fields are in a constant state of flux, influenced by weather, soil health, pests, and everything else in the environment. As crop varieties change and improve, our research lets us tailor fertilizer programs and formulations to address changing dynamics. As we test all over North America, this also helps develop solutions for their specific regional conditions. Whether adapting to different precipitation patterns or developing blends for new issues, continuous research helps us all stay ahead of the curve.

New challenges

New challenges constantly arise in agriculture, ranging from pest and disease resistance to shifts in market demands. Research on inputs plays a role in developing solutions to help growers successfully manage these challenges. By staying aware of scientific advancements, farmers can adopt fertilization strategies to mitigate risks.

Maximizing resource efficiency

Research lets us fine-tune crop nutrition to maximize nutrient uptake by crops. This improves the economics and also reduces the potential for nutrient runoff. By optimizing nutrient use, growers can achieve higher yields with fewer inputs. So yes, the research leads to doing more with less.

Sound science

Ongoing research provides growers with the latest insights, so they can make decisions based on sound scientific principles. Whether it’s choosing the most suitable nutrient blend for a specific crop or adopting precision agriculture techniques, the knowledge gained from continuous research lets people make choices that align with their economic goals.

Here are some examples of recent research:

Ten  Years of Permanent Plot Corn Research

The AgroLiquid crop nutrient program, as demonstrated through long-term research at the North Central Research Station, has proven to yield consistently higher results compared to conventional fertilizer programs in corn-soybean rotations. The longevity of this study is part of its value. AgroLiquid remains committed to trials throughout North America, as they allow researchers to make scientifically-based recommendations.

XtremeAg Trials

XtremeAg is very transparent with what they do on their farms, and will highlight products and practices that work – and not leave out the ones that don’t work. AgroLiquid has used this opportunity to test out-of-the-box ideas, push for high yields, and expand testing on crops we have little data on. This report contains all of the results for 2022 for each of the locations where testing was done.

Experimental Phosphorous Products in Corn

AgroLiquid is consistently looking for new opportunities to fill gaps in the fertilizer market. Phosphorus can be applied in many ways and is needed in both starter and slow-release forms. In this experiment, two experimental products: TDP-19 (a slow-release version) and UP-20 (a starter version), are tested against existing products, ProGerminator and springUP, to determine product efficacy differences.

Foliar Fertilizer Combinations in Soybeans

Potassium is one of the most important nutrients that can be supplied by foliar fertilizers. Phosphorus is another nutrient that may be beneficial when applied through foliar treatments. The objective of this trial was to evaluate combinations of fertiRain, Sure-K, and springuP applied at R2 growth stage of soybeans.

See all of our research.

AgroLiquid is your research partner

At AgroLiquid, our commitment to studying crops, optimizing fertilizer combinations, and conducting research makes sure growers receive tailored solutions for their specific conditions. We’re dedicated to this ongoing pursuit that helps farmers meet their goal for bigger and better yields, and greater profitability. Whether you’re running a (four-minute) race or you’re running a farm, it’s better to have the best research and training at your disposal.

The post Why is research important in making input decisions? appeared first on AgroLiquid.

You know there are certainties in life. Death and taxes are the normal answer, but what about positives? The sun rises, the ocean is pulled by the tides, and plants are going to need fertilizer to reach their maximum potential. Let’s look at how Sure-K works.

Sure-K
Sure-K is a soluble potash that gives plants the nutrients they need during key reproductive stages. Potash, or potassium or a potassium compound, has been used in agriculture for ages, as well as during the infancy of our country. In fact, in 1790, George Washington signed the first patent issued in the United States – and it was to Samuel Hopkins for making potash.
However, there’s always room for improvement.

Why AgroLiquid Sure-K?
Sure-K plays an important role in a variety of ways:

• Yield
The right potassium levels contribute to increased crop yields. Sure-K supports the development of fruits, seeds, and tubers, helping plants achieve their full yield potential.

• Stress tolerance
Potassium helps plants cope with various environmental stresses, like drought, disease, and temperature fluctuations. It also helps the plant’s ability to resist and recover from stress conditions.

• Nutrient uptake
Potassium plays a role in regulating nutrient uptake by plant roots. It can improve the plant’s ability to absorb and utilize other essential nutrients, promoting balanced nutrition.

• Water management
Sure-K helps regulate water uptake and loss in plants, contributing to better water use efficiency. This can be particularly beneficial when rainfall doesn’t keep up with demand.

• Quality
The right potassium levels can improve the quality of harvested crops. This may include attributes such as color, taste, and nutritional content.

• Balanced nutrient ratios
Maintaining proper potassium levels contributes to balanced nutrient ratios in the soil, preventing nutrient deficiencies or imbalances that can negatively impact plant growth.

• Improved disease resistance
Potassium has been linked to improved disease resistance in plants. Strengthening cell walls and promoting overall plant vigor can make plants more resistant to certain diseases.

In addition, the Sure-K formula provides for the best use at lower concentrations, and it has no chlorides or hydroxides. As a result, it preserves soil health long-term and makes it a safe potassium solution for any cropping system. Sure-K makes it easy to maintain the right potassium levels or correct potassium deficiencies. It can be applied in many different ways and safely combined with other nutrients or crop protection products, so growers can make fewer trips across the field. As with many AgroLiquid offerings, Sure-K also takes advantage of Nutriq Technology, which provides slow-release nutrient delivery exactly when plants need it.

Research
AgroLiquid has been performing trials testing the effectiveness of Sure-K for many years on different crops, in various parts of the county, on a variety of crops. Check out our records on:

• Soybeans – For 24 years, Sure-K has proven to provide a yield and economic benefit when foliar applied on soybeans.
• Ryegrass seed
• Corn
• Navy beans

“The biggest benefit of Sure-K is it’s a very flexible product,” said AgroLiquid national agronomist Stephanie Zelinko. “There are a number of different ways you can apply it, including in-furrow, foliar, and side dress. It works well on a number of different application processes. Plus, it also has years of research to back it up – our first data point with it is in 1998.”

Conclusion
The benefits and the research are clear: Sure-K gets essential nutrients to plants when they need it, resulting in better yields. It’s effective in improving growth and productivity across a wide range of crops and regions. If you’re not getting the results you want…it’s time to look into a product with a little more certainty. Find out more!

The post For certain: Sure-K appeared first on AgroLiquid.