Plants need more than nitrogen

P and K fertilization has diminished significantly over the last decades and many fields suffer from deficiency or hidden hunger.

How to ensure balanced nutrient supply cost effectively?

Balanced nutrition

In times of economic constraints, the accent is naturally put on the most influential farm inputs. Nitrogen is one of them, easily relegating other nutrients to a secondary role. However, to fully exploit the yield potential and gain sustainable profits, all nutrients need to be maintained at an adequate level. If soils get depleted for P and K the yield loss year after year is significant (fig. 1) and it takes long to build adequate P and K soil levels up again.

Figure 1: Grain yield increases if an adequate P level is maintained. Application in spring is more efficient than in autumn. Mean of 5 winter wheat trials, Yara field trials Germany.

Increasing nutrient uptake

Plants with sufficient supply of potassium and phosphorus can absorb nutrients more efficiently and in larger quantities. This matters most under conditions of cold and wet soils after periods of dormancy in spring when phosphorus uptake is particularly hampered by low temperatures (fig 2). Therefore, phosphorus application at this stage contributes significantly to new root growth and accelerates vegetative development. This translates into an earlier canopy closure, a better use of available water and finally to higher yield and better returns.

Figure 2: P uptake significantly increases by P application even under low temperatures.