Ask the Doctor
Ask your Ag related questions and one of our staff Ph.D.'s or agronomists will do their best to get you the answer you need. We will post the most current question and answer on this page. Past Q & A's can be found below.
Jerry Wilhm, Ph.D. |
Brian Levene, Ph.D. |
Stephanie Zelinko |
Nick Bancroft |
Current Question or CommentsMay 28th HH inquired: We are in a chicken litter part of east texas where we can get it for approximately $22 per ton delivered, put out. We have been putting out about 4 tons an acre on meadows and 2 tons an acre on pastureland. Is their a liquid application I can put out that will do or can do as well or better at a less cost per acre than my present application. Sale Agronomist Cory Schurman responded: Yes you can match a program like chicken litter with ACLF fertilizers you would need the analysis of the litter to develop a comparable program the develop your ACLF rate per acre off of that Another thing I would strongly suggest is taking a soil analysis to determine what the soil would need to meet your yield goal then developing your fertilizer program rate from that would be best April 20th response to a previous question (March 19th) regarding balancing soil pH in small food plots. The easiest way would be to get a tractor mounted broadcast spinner spreader and spread pelletized lime. April 4th LB asked: Iam thinking of trying some foliar feeding on some of my crops. I believe there is bushels of crops available to harvest by using foliar feeding crops. Any suggestions? April 15th Dr. Jerry responded: It varies by crop. But generally, it doesn't pay to apply foliar applications of nutrients that are at medium to high levels in the soil. So if you are in high phosphorus soil, don't expect a response to foliar phosphorus. Soybeans have responded well to foliar applications of potassium, again where soils are less than high in potassium. The micronutrient manganese has shown response to foliar applications. It is now recommended not to apply manganese with glyphosate. This has been done for quite a few years with ACLF Manganese with no ill effects, as well as in our research plots. But just be informed. With wheat, a foliar application of nitrogen in the form of High NRG-NR or High NRG-N has shown benefit. Using 3 gal/A up to early flag leaf, and apply micronutrients as needed. A wheat tissue test would be a good idea to make sure any nutrient is needed. For wheat, sample the four uppermost leaf blades from 30 to 35 plants. For corn, we have not shown foliar fertilization to be a benefit when fertility needs are adequately met from planter and soil applications.
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Previous Q&A’s
2008
March 18th AG asked:
There are meny combination of liquid fertilizer available for market.i want to apply at flowring stage so what would be the N P K RATIOS and trace element that should contain that particular foliar formula
Dr. Jerry responded:
Apply the nutrients in which the soil is deficient. This may be potassium and any or all micronutirents. Apply at early flowering and again a week to days later. The potassium fertilizer Sure-K applied at 3 gallons per acre has been effective where potassium is in short supply. Adding micronutrients has been effective as well. Don't apply nutrients that are plentiful in the soil as there won't be an economic response, if any.
March 19th RH asked:
I was looking for use rate on premium calcium. What rate is recommended on soybeans and will it give any soil Ph adjustment?
March 20 Nick Bancroft responded:
I would recommend a 1-2 Qt/A application of the premium calcium as compared to the liquid lime. As with the foliar liquid lime, there is a negligible amount of pH influence on the soil. Soil has such a large mass, the only way to move the soil pH is to apply the tons rate of dry lime. What the premium calcium will do for you is, have a benefit because of the foliar uptake and translocation within the plant. If the goal is to adjust the pH of the soil, liquid lime or premium calcium would not have a measurable effect. Please let me know if you have any more questions, I would be happy to talk with you more about this.
2007
A visitor on Oct. 17th asked:
Have you done any research on 9-24-3 in furrow on soybeans using rebounders
with a splitter? Have some low testing ground. 3-4ppm phosphate. (We) Have 20 inch rows have done this on and off over the last few years. This year left test strips to weigh but got hailed out.
Dr. Jerry responded:
We do not recommend in-furrow applications on soybeans, even in 20 inch rows and with splitters. It can work fine, but in certain conditions like dry, light soils, and if planted too deep, it can reduce stand. Even adding water to the fertilizer can hurt stand. With drills though, fertilizers like Pro-Germinator can be safely applied in-furrow. You do have low soil phosphorus, but in-furrow is not always safe. You can run the tube over the row behind the planter so that it is not in contact. There will be movement down so that the roots can get it, but not hurt germination.
April 2 JK commented:
Thank you for the experimental products I hope we get the response we got last year and can continue with bringing these new products to our customers.
April 3 Doctor Jerry replied:
Research at Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers is not a secret process by any means. Every year we are testing ideas that come from the field, that is, from our sales staff and customers alike. We have our core of research projects that evaluate new products, nutrient application rates, methods of application and the like. But often we are testing totally new ideas that come from suggestions outside of the research department. That is the advantage of having a first rate research facility as the North Central Research Station, where we can easily and quickly incorporate new ideas into our extensive testing program. From there it may become a breakthrough for all to enjoy.
April 30 CN asked:
Our soybean yields are suffering year after year. We are looking for a cost effective way to get this done?
Dr. Jerry responded:
As you may expect when asking a fertilizer question to a fertilizer company, do you have soil tests? What nutrients are you missing and what factors, such as acidity, rotation, fertilizer salts, chemical problems, etc., are too high? However, we do not promote fertilizer in furrow with soybeans in 30 inch rows as the potential for seed injury under certain conditions as lack of moisture, light soil texture, planting depth is too risky. Fortunately, foliar application of nutrition is an option with Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers. Sure-K for potassium plus essential micronutrients can be applied with a sprayer.
On Sept 3 YV asked:
How are liquid fertilizers produced? May I ask the basic production process for the liquid ferlizer.
Nick Bancroft replied:
Nitrogen: The first step in manufacturing any synthetic nitrogen fertilizer is the combination of the atmosphere and typically natural gas. Heat and pressure is required to create anhydrous ammonia which is the first product in the nitrogen fertilizer cycle. Anhydrous Ammonia can then be further refined into Nitric Acid, Aqua Ammonia, Urea, Urea Ammonium Nitrate (UAN Solutions), and these can be further refined into higher quality products. Typically reactions require heat, additions of other materials, and specific handling to produce more refined products. As the products are further refined, they become easier to use and handle.
Agro-Culture LIQUID Fertilizers is not a base manufacturer but uses products from within the fertilizer industry and outside of the fertilizer industry to create nitrogen products that are high performance and environmentally responsible. This is done by using balanced micronutrients, organic chelates and flavanols and proprietary processes to manufacture the products into the finished materials that our customers expect.
Phosphorus: Phosphorus is mined from ths earth. The first step in the process is the extraction of Phosphate Rock. All rock is not created equal as many different rock bodies have many different properties that carry into finished phosphate materials. The phosphate rock is acidulated to extract the phosphorus and remove impurities. Nitrogen is usually added to help carry the phosphate in liquid or dry solutions. Liquid phosphates are typically created by reacting phosphoric acid with anhydrous ammonia.
Agro-Culture LIQUID Fertilizers uses high quality phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium materials, combined with balanced micronutrients and chelates. This creates a balanced product that has high efficiency in soils. Combining our quality products with the research performed at the North Central Research Station, gives growers researched products that perform as recommended.
Potassium: Potassium, like phosphorus, is mined from the earth. Large potassium bodies exist in north America mainly in Canada. This is extracted from the earth and refined into Potassium Chloride or Potash as it is commonly called. There are few ways to manufacture potassium liquid fertilizers. The most common is to simply soubise potash, creating a liquid fertilizer that is high in chlorine.
Agro-Culture LIQUID Fertilizers removes chlorine from the equation and offers Sure-K as a no chlorine potassium product. Sure-K is an amazingly efficient potassium source considering it's low analysis.
Micronutrients: Micronutrients are largely mined from the soil although some are marketed as fertilizers that are products of other industries. The micronutrient ore is typically acidulated and can then be neutralized and chelated for use as fertilizers. Compatibility with other fertilizer products can be an issue.
Agro-Culture LIQUID Fertilizers offers a complete line of micronutrients. Most of these products can be combined in any planter or foliar application for ease of use. Fully compatible products include Sulfur, Zinc, Manganese, Iron, Boron, and Copper. The only products with restrictions are Calcium and Magnesium. We do offer a Premium Calcium product that is compatible with minimal restrictions and are conducting ongoing testing and development for a magnesium product that will do the same.
