Starter phosphorus secures the harvest during dry and cold springs
Phosphorus in a plant-available form is crucial for crop development, especially during the early growth stages up to growth stage 30. The availability of phosphorus during this period affects both tillering and root development. Well-developed roots are vital for the plant's ability to withstand prolonged dry periods. These factors directly influence the yield level and indirectly affect the harvest timing, as phosphorus deficiency delays maturation.
Phosphorus availability is highly dependent on temperature. The relative availability of phosphorus at 12–14°C in the soil is only about one-third of what it is when the soil temperature rises above 20°C. This means phosphorus availability is reduced under cold and dry soil conditions when mineralization is weak. This is often the case with early spring drilling in cold soils.
Furthermore, phosphorus is not very mobile in the soil, meaning the plant's access to phosphorus is entirely dependent on its own root development. The roots must reach the phosphorus. However, under cold and dry conditions, root development is weak, and this difference is particularly noticeable in fields with naturally low phosphorus content.
There are, however, solutions to the phosphorus problem. It is advantageous to "precision-fertilize" phosphorus next to the seed using a BioDrill equipped with phosphorus kit. These tubes allow you to place the mineral fertilizer right next to the seed, ensuring that phosphorus is available at an early stage. It is during this early phase that phosphorus is most crucial for plant development and for securing a good quality harvest.
Another option with the BioDrill and phosphorus kit is to place all the phosphorus via the BioDrill and use an NKS product through the fertilizer hopper on the Rapid. This allows for even more precise application maps for mineral fertilizers without needing to switch between different fertilizers to achieve the correct phosphorus dosage in the right part of the field. The ISOBUS terminal can be used to control two products, phosphorus and nitrogen. This approach provides highly accurate fertilizer application, ensuring the right amount of the right product in the right place, even within the same field. Increased precision benefits both the environment and your wallet.
Oil seed rape seed drilling with phosphorus kit
Phosphorus kits, originally developed to direct a small amount of fertilizer from the seed hopper down through a connection at the metering unit to the coulter, have proven to be very user-friendly for drilling oil seed rape. They offer several advantages: it is easier to monitor and balance the small seed quantity in the small box, which is then at a good height and easy to manage. You can also take advantage of the option to apply two separate fertilizers, one side-banded in the fertilizer hopper and one in the seed hopper, which is then incorporated with the seed.
Consider the possibility of closing coulters to drill oil seed rape with wider row spacing, which might be of interest for a more open crop stand. This is easy to do on the BioDrill – simply close the slide on the coulters you wish.
