Death to Corn Planters With Dry Fertilizer!?
Corn producers moved to take advantage of better corn prices and bigger corn acreage in 2007. This resulted in many considering the merits of increasing the size of their corn planter. Price shock and concerns over planting speed and logistics then often generated the
following question: Can we get away without dry fertilizer?
In discussing the merits of having dry fertilizer on the planter, growers should consider three factors: 1) soil test levels for P and K, 2) the
inherent soil structure or tilth of the soil, and 3) the amount of tillage that will be done prior to corn planting. Medium to low soil test
levels tip the scale in favour of dry fertilizer bands. Poor soil structure also leans one toward the early growth advantages of a dry band
approach. And years of research has made it quite clear that in reduced tillage, (no-till, strip till) dry fertilizer bands in the classic two by two configuration supplying N, P and K offer significant advantages that are not nearly as noticeable in plowed ground. So if a grower called last winter with high P and K levels on predominantly owned land that has been well treated and they are using a fall disc ripper/spring field cultivator system, I did little to dissuade them away from a big planter without dry fertilizer. However, if two or three of the factors lean the
other way, I believe growers need to carefully weigh the advantages of faster planting in their operation before they pull the plug on dry fertilizer.
In some situations, there are innovative options for maximizing planter productivity while not surrendering the advantages of banded fertilizer. Ken and Kevin Nixon of Ilderton moved to a 12 row planter and were determined to maximize acreage planted and to keep the planting operation as simple as possible. This meant no dry fertilizer. However since they are anhydrous side-dressers they needed to apply nitrogen at planting and also wanted to add some phosphorous starter to the approach. The result is a liquid system on the planter with tanks that hold a 2:1 mixture of UAN (28-0-0) and 10-34-0. This mixture is delivered at approximately 13 gallons per acre behind a single coulter two inches off the row (see Figure 1). Adding the 28% into the mixture means that in-furrow placement of the liquid is impossible from a fertilizer burn perspective. Ken admits that they may be surrendering some of the advantages of having the phosphorous right on the seed but they are willing to give that up in favour of simpler planting logistics and more acres per day. |
Figure 1: Nixons of Ilderton plant using a single coulter to deliver a liquid blend of both N and P. |
Figure 2: Jim Patton delivers all of his fertilizer as a dry blend via spring strip tillage. Planter is seed only.
Figure 3: Fertilizer delivery via air pressure tends to disperse the fertilizer in the row zone. |
Jim Patton and his family farm in Simcoe County near Alliston. He has taken a slightly different approach to making his planter move through the field unencumbered by fertilizer of any type. He has a 12 row Yetter strip tiller that he runs in the spring ahead of the corn planter. The strip tiller pulls an air cart which delivers his total fertilizer package as dry fertilizer blown under the row (see figure 2). His total fertilizer package amounts to 365 lbs/acre of dry product including 205 lbs of urea, and 40 lbs each of potash, ammonium sulphate, MAP, and KMag. Jim notes most agronomists think he is crazy as they highlight the potential for seedling burn with all that dry fertilizer under the row. However, he has seen no evidence of seedling injury and points to the fact that the fertilizer mixture gets distributed by the air pressure and the applicator knife in a broad band that is about 4 inches deep and 4-6 inches wide under the row (see Figure 3). His tillage, fertilizing and planting have boiled down to two operations that he believes improve productivity and he likes the idea of not having to do any more tillage than is necessary on his rolling ground. Safe Rates In a dry fertilizer band where both urea and potash were being applied in a 2 x 2 band, the maximum safe rate would be total of 69 lbs/acre N and K combined. For more details on safe rates and starter fertilizer options, check out the following web site: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/ crops/ pub811/3phospo.htm |
