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If considering cutbacks on nutrient spending, don’t cut the K

The president of the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association says the decline in commodity prices has farmers considering cutbacks on nutrient spending.

Kevin Johnson tells Brownfield…

“I think there will be cutback.”  He says, “I think we’re lying to ourselves if we think there’s no cutback out here at all.”

Keith Byerly, commercial sustainability lead with Mosaic, says even in lean years maintaining potassium (K) levels is vital.

“Not having proper K crop nutrition out there really limits how effectively we are producing.”  He says, “We can improve that nitrogen use efficiency by another 10% or more when our potassium is properly balanced with the N.”

Byerly says potassium is key for both corn and soybeans.

“We need potassium as that transportation block in the plant to help move nutrients around.”  He says, “All of those things affect how quickly that nitrogen is being used, and how efficiently that nitrogen is being used, as it’s taken up in the plant.”

He says maintaining proper soil pH also helps boost nitrogen use efficiency in both crops, which helps maximize nitrogen budgets.

AUDIO: Keith Byerly – The Mosaic Company