Available Nutrients, right timing, right place

Create a personalized nutrient system that applies nutrients in available forms, at key times, and in the right places

STEP 4

1. The limiting factor isn't alway rate- it's uptake!  LEARN MORE
2. Water drives availability of fertilizer.  LEARN MORE
3. Available forms matter more than analysis! 
   Solubility = Availability.  LEARN MORE
4. Key times for CORN, SOYBEANS, and WHEAT.
5. The "right place" is determined by each nutrient's mobility in the soil.  LEARN MORE

The limiting factor isn't alway rate- it's uptake!

Fertility only works if it gets inside the plant.

What causes reduced nutrient uptake?

 1. High osmotic pressure

 2. Low solubility of the Fertilizer Forms

What is Osmotic Pressure? 

The force created by dissolved salts in soil water that reduces a plant’s ability to absorb water through its roots. 

What else happens with 

increased osmotic pressure?

•  Water moves out of and away from the seed 
•  Water uptake is reduced
•  Germination slows
•  Roots desiccate
•  Stand loss increases
•  Nutrient transport efficiency declines

Seed safety is determined by the total osmotic pressure in the soil solution. 



Osmotic pressure is the tug-of-war for water between the soil and the seed. The more salt in the soil water, the harder the plant has to work to pull moisture in. High salt makes it harder for plants to drink!

The goal isn’t maximum fertilizer.
The goal is maximum efficient uptake.

UNDER-FERTILIZED

• Nutrient deficiency
• Yield limited
• Below critical levels
• High probability of crop response

AGRONOMICALLY OPTIMIZED

• Feed the crop without overloading the soil solution.
• Meets crop demand
• Maintains efficient uptake
• Balanced salt load
• Maximizes nutrient efficiency

OVER-APPLIED

• Excess osmotic pressure/
  excess salt
• Reduced water uptake
• Reduced nutrient efficiency
• Seedling stress

WATER DRIVES 

AVAILABILITY OF FERTILIZER

The more water required to dissolve a fertilizer source, the more dependent it becomes on soil moisture conditions for nutrient release. 

Fertilizer sources & their dependence on soil moisture:

HIGH DEPENDENCE 

• Potassium Chloride (0-0-60)
•  SOP (0-0-52) 
•  MAP (11-52-0)
•  DAP (18-46-0)

LOWER DEPENDENCE 

• Potassium Acetate
•  Phosphoric Acid
•  Potassium Thiosulfate
•  10-34-0 (70-80% of the P in this product is polyphosphate and unavailable to the crop until conversion to orthophosphate occurs

FARMERS SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH THE TOTAL SALT LOAD BEING APPLIED TO THEIR FIELDS.

KEY TAKE-AWAY

It’s not just what you apply. It’s what the plant can actually use.  Some fertilizers dissolve faster. Some create more stress around the root. The right source gives your crop a better start – especially in cool or dry conditions. The right sources paired with our NanoBond™ delivery systems improve how efficiently they move into the plant.

Available forms matter more than analysis!  Solubility = Availability. 

KEY TAKE-AWAY

Vitaliz Pure™ is 100% orthophosphate. It delivers 68% less salt in the seed zone compared to 10-34-0! 68% Greater Seed Safety vs. 10-34-0!

FERTILIZER ONLY WORKS IF THE PLANT CAN ABSORB IT. HIGH SALT LEVELS AND POOR SOLUBILITY RESTRICT WATER AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE, SO CHOOSING LOW-SALT, HIGHLY SOLUBLE SOURCES MEANS LESS CROP STRESS AND MORE EFFICIENT DELIVERY WHERE IT COUNTS.

Key times: optimizing CORN growth stages

V2 - VS APPLICATIONS

Sidedress N applications with

Sidedress Additives (V2-V5)

Foliar Nutritional Products (V3-V5)

VE-V4 NUTRIENT

REQUIREMENTS

11% N

7% P

11% K

10% S

7% Zn

6% B

10% Mn

By V6: Ear girth and the number of rows around the ear is determined.

V6-V13 NUTRIENT

REQUIREMENTS

50% N

31% P

48% K

32% S

38% Zn

56% B

44% Mn

Fun Fact: Kernel rows long on the ear is determined over a long period of time, from approximately V7-V15.

V14-BLACK LAYER NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS

39% N

62% P

41% K

58% S

55% Zn

38% B

46% Mn

Fun Fact:  Between V1-VT (tassel), a new growth stage occurs every 4-5 days in May, 3-4 days in June, and 2-3 days in July.

VT-R3 FUNGICIDE APPLICATIONS

• VT - Plants with all branches of the tassel fully visible
• R1 - Visible silks on at least 50% of the plants
• R2 - Blister stage, small white kernels 10-12 days after silking
• R3 - 18 to 20 days after silking, milk stage, yellow kernels with milky white fluid, 80% moisture
• R4 - Dough stage, paste-like or dough kernels, 70% moisture, 24 to 26 days after silking
• R5 - Dent stage, stress now will reduce kernel weight, 60% moisture, 31 to 33 days after silking
• R6- Physiological maturity, 66-70 days after silking, 35% moisture, 55 to 65 days after silking
• Black Layer - 30-35%

Key times: optimizing SOYBEAN growth stages

VE-V7 NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS

P-20% K-19% S-15% 8-6% Mn-10% Zn-8%

References for Soybean Nutrient Uptake Data: Bender, R.R et al 2015.Agron.J 107:563-573

Ciampitti, IA 2017. Soybean Growth & Development, Kansas State Research & Extension, February 2017, MF3339

Better CropsNol. 102 (2018, No. 1) Nutrient Uptake Illustrated for Modern, High-Yielding Soybean. Barth, Francisco, Suyama, Garcia

GERMINATION

Germination begins when the soybean seed has imbibed 50% of its weight in water.

Nutrients and food reserves from the cotyledons sustain the young plant during emergence and for about 7 -10 days after.

V2

Nodulation Begins

Unifoliate node and the first two trifoliate leaf nodes are present.  Soybean roots become infected with Rhizobium Japonicum and nodulation begins.

V3-V5

Herbicide and Foliar Nutrition

Plants are about 7-12 inches tall.

The total number of nodes that the plant may "potentially" produce is set.

V6

Plants are about 12-14 inches tall, have seven nodes with unfolded leaves.

New V stages can be appearing every three days now.

V8-R3 NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS

P- 19% K - 44% S - 38% B - 52% Mn - 36% Zn - 35%

R4-R6 NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS

P- 61% K - 37% S - 47% B - 42% Mn - 54% Zn - 57%

R1

• There is an open flower at any node on the main stem.
  
• R1 plants generally have 7-10 nodes.
  
• Vertical root growth rate sharply increases!

R2

• Open flower at one of the two uppermost nodes

R3

• 3/16 inch pod at one of the four uppermost nodes
  
• SPRAY: Fungicide/insecticide and PodFiller now!

R4

• ¾ inch pod at one of the four uppermost nodes
  
• Plants have between 13 and 20 nodes
  
• Some individual pods on the lower nodes are full size.

R5

• Seed is 1/8 inch long in the pod at one of the 4 uppermost nodes

Key times: optimizing WHEAT growth stages

GERMINATION - FEEKES 4 NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS

N - 30% P - 20% K - 20% S - 12%

Winter Wheat Nutrient Uptake, Partitioning and Removal.  Grain Farmers of Ontario, Middlesex Soil & Crop Improvement. Research by Peter Johnson 2018-2022

Nutrient Uptake Timing by Crops, to assist with fertilizing decisions.  Montana State University Extension. By Clain Jones, Extension Soil Fertility Specialist/Assistant Professor, Kathrin Olson-Rutz, Research Associate, and Courtney Pariera Dinkins, former Research Associate, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences

GERMINATION

FEEKES 1

Emergence happens. First leaf has started growing. Three leaves need to develop before tillering will begin.

FEEKES 2

Tillering initiation starts. Crown root system starts to develop.

WINTER DORMANCY

Metabolic inactivity with little to no above ground growth.

FEEKES 4

Spring green-up begins.

Ideal time to make spring applications:

1. Nitrogen and N additives
2. Palisade EC
3. Herbicide applications for weed control
   

FEEKES 5

The potential number of spikelets is determined during this stage.  The pseudostem is strongly erect with the developing head pushing into the pseudo-stem.

Second nitrogen application could be made at this time.

Do you know what WHEAT VERNALIZATION is?

Vernalization is a physiological process that wheat plants must undergo to reach reproductive stages (produce seed). Vernalization requires a six to eight week period of temperatures below 48°F. Without the cold period, winter wheat will remain in the vegetative growth stages and never produce seed.

Source: Fall wheat emergence and the vernalization process.  Dennis Pennington and Jenna Falor, Michigan State University Extension - November 22, 2023

FEEKES 6 - FEEKES 8/9 NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS

N - 50% P - 20% K - 60% S - 40%

FEEKES 10 - FEEKES 10.5.3 NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS

N - 20% P - 70% K - 20% S - 48%

Note: Wheat nutrient uptake data is approximate. Both research sources differ slightly in their findings. Some data also suggests changes to the nutrient uptake curves with intensity of management and corresponding yield levels.

Some research notes a more balanced uptake of Phosphorus than indicated here.

FEEKES 6

Jointing

The first stem

node is visible

during this stage

resulting in stem

elongation.

Can no longer

apply 2,4-D or

Dicamba

FEEKES 7

The second

node and the

second to last

leaf should be

visible.

FEEKES 8/9

The Flag Leaf

is visible,

contributing

50-75% of the

photosynthesis

required for the

developing grain.

First Fungicide

application can

be made with

HeadFiller

FEEKES 10

Boot Stage

-the wheat

head is inside

the leaf sheath

giving a swollen

appearance.

FEEKES 10.1-10.5

Heading Stage -

all heads are out

by 10.5

FEEKES 10.5.1-10.5.3

Flowering occurs during these stages. 10.5.3 occurs when flowering is complete at the base.

MiravisAce and GrainFiller should be applied from 50% head emergence (10.3) through 10.5.2

The "right place" is determinded by each nutrient's mobility in the soil.

Is it mobile, somewhat mobile or immobile? This knowledge is critical in "personalizing" a system that maximizes nutrient uptake for you!

MOBILE

Plants absorb mobile nutrients through their roots passively. This happens through a process called MASS FLOW, when nutrients move in soil water to the plant's roots.

Nitrogen (N) • Sulfur (S) • Manganese (Mn) • Boron (B)

PLACEMENT:

Middle of a 30" Row

SOMEWHAT MOBILE

These nutrients can be taken up via MASS FLOW but also through DIFFUSION.  This happens when the nutrient moves from an area of higher concentration (ex: 2x2 band) to an area of lower concentration near the roots for uptake.

Potassium (K) - mobility largely depends on the K source

Calcium (Ca)

PLACEMENT:

2x2, Y-Drop, can be placed in the middle of 30" row if using potassium acetate

IMMOBILE

These nutrients do not move freely in the soil and are taken up through a process called ROOT INTERCEPTION or ACTIVE TRANSPORT. This happens when the roots grow toward these nutrients and happen to make contact with them and are taken up.

Zinc (Zn) • Phosphorus (P) • Copper (Cu) • Iron (Fe) • Magnesium (Mg)

PLACEMENT:

In-Furrow, 2x2, Y-Drop Only

KEY TAKE-AWAY

Sidedressing mobile nutrients through a coulter in the middle of a 30" row is the correct placement. The addition of Y-Drops to your sidedress rig for application of somewhat mobile and immobile nutrients, will satisfy the placement requirements while increasing nutrient uptake efficiency!