More Cost and Nutritional Analysis
With the introduction of the "Cost and Nutritional Analysis" sheets, some farmers questioned the fertilizer availability index that was used in these calculations. An in-depth discussion by Zach Smith of the publication "High Quality Plant Food Advantages" by Howard H. Johnson helped explain the source of the data used for that particular index. This particular publication was developed by four professors from different agricultural universities. The idea that various applied fertilizers have different availabilities is a known fact not only at the university level, but also is very well accepted throughout the agricultural industry.
An advertisement in the September, 2021 edition of CropLife by the cooperative CHS discussed in detail why it is important to realize "that no fertilizer is 100% efficient." In fact, they stated that "growers know only a percentage of applied phosphate fertilizer will be available for the crop to use due to soil interactions that tie the phosphorus in the soil." The reason for this tie up, according to the article, is "Nutrients don't always act alone in the soil. They can have relationships with other nutrients and this can change the way they react...decreasing the amount of P available to the plant." This interaction of nutrients is "why it can take 9 to 10 pounds of applied P to increase soil test P by only 1 pound." The article Suggests "that crops seldom get more than 15% to 20% of the P applied in fertilizer without the help" of certain additives. Thus 10 pounds applied to increase the soil test by one pound suggests more of a 10% availability number.
Dr. Victor Tiedjens understood the fertilizer efficiency problem and suggested that GMS would help improve this efficiency problem. His vision was to create the correct environment to allow the proper soil microbiological activity to occur. Once the biological part of the soil functioned correctly, the need for modifying the physical and chemical portions of the soil would require significantly less cost. With the need for less physical and chemical input, the farmer would create more profit for their operation while lowering the possibility of environmental damage. This results in a very sustainable enterprise.
This is an excerpt from the Spring Growers Solution (2022) written by Jim Halbeisen, Director of Research.
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