70 Sprayers & Spreaders | Promotional Supplement November/December 2023 SPRAYERS & SPREADERS 2024 May Be Good To Catch Up On Nutrients AS FERTILIZER PRICES TREND LOWER 2024 MAY ALLOW PRODUCERS TO CATCH UP ON NUTRIENTS, OR PUSH YIELDS HIGHER Farmers continually seek out methods that elevate both the yield and health of their crops. Among the many techniques available, the use of dry fertilizers on established crops stands out for a several reasons. Beyond merely aiding plant growth and health, post emergence application has economic and efficiency aspects. Technologies such as wide swath spinner spreaders and air boom applicators play pivotal roles, ensuring that fertilizer application remains both accurate and efficient. By supplying a mid-growth application of fertilizers, crop producers can spoon feed the plant as it develops. This strategy also means crops won’t need to put as much fertilizer applied before planting. Mid-season application can also help crops recover from deficiencies and mitigate yield loss. However, more producers are turning to soil sampling, and plant tissue samples, to determine nutrient application timing. These methods are proving to be more accurate than relying on results from last seasons yield monitor results, or responding to tell tale signs of deficiencies such as yellowing leaves or stunted growth. By identifying and addressing deficiencies ahead of time, farmers can ensure their crops stay on track towards optimum health and yield. Sampling also helps determine specific nutrients that may be the cause of overall yield loss. Certain nutrients, when available together, can bolster the absorption rates and efficiency of others. For instance, the presence of adequate potassium can enhance a plant’s uptake of nitrogen. By continuously ensuring a balanced nutrient profile in the soil, farmers can tap into these synergies, driving both the health and productivity of their crops. Enhanced Yield Potential and Financial Efficiency With a well-nourished plant comes the promise of superior yields. This truth holds particularly for cereal crops, where timely nutrient interventions can profoundly impact grain quantity and quality. On the economic front, dry fertilizers present a compelling case. Typically more cost-effective than their liquid counterparts to produce, store, and transport, dry fertilizers promise stellar results without breaking the bank. The recent downtrend in fertilizer prices has further sweetened the deal for farmers. Reduced input costs mean broader application scopes, potentially pushing yields to new heights. Crucially, these favorable prices also provide a golden window for crop producers to make amends for the nutrient deficits that accrued in 2022 and 2023. Variable Rate Fertilizer Application: A Game-Changer Salford Spreader top dressing a forage crop. The advent of variable rate fertilizer application has revolutionized modern farming. This approach allows farmers to customize fertilizer amounts based on the unique needs of different field sections. This finetuning ensures each part of a field gets exactly what it needs and leads to substantial savings by preventing wastage. When dealing with expansive cereal fields, wide swath spinner spreaders prove invaluable. These machines can blanket vast areas swiftly, ensuring that fertilizer is distributed uniformly. Salford also offers air boom applicators with drop tubes that allow for post emergence application below the canopy of row crops. To see more progressive solutions for fertilizer application and tillage, go to salfordgroup.com. Salford 8700 applying nitrogen postemergence in corn. Nutritional Boost for Established Crops The application of dry fertilizer to established crops ensures the plants receive nutrients as they go through critical growth phases. While the initial round of nutrient application sets the stage by offering foundational nutrients, the ever-changing demands of growing plants require dynamic responses. As plants mature, their root structures expand and become more complex, delving deeper into the soil in search of sustenance. In certain soil types or in fields that may have dipped into nutrient reserves over the past few years, the necessary nutrients may be lacking in root zone.
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