Nutrient Tips for Top Yields

Setting yield goals and maximizing profitability is top of mind for every producer this time of year. Agronomy customers often want to know what other growers are doing, how they can grow more bushels and ways they incorporate new practices to raise the bar on their own farm.

    First, I think it is important to quickly review the basics of what it takes nutritionally to grow a great crop. The chart to the right shows what is generally required to grow 230 bushels an acre of corn and 62 bushels an acre of soybeans. Having enough of the macro nutrients nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium is an essential foundation to growing a great crop, we all know that. But do you know if your crop will get enough of the other nutrients listed on the chart?

    Let’s focus on zinc. Zinc is essential for root development, growth hormone production, and also influences ear size and kernel depth in corn. There are different types of zinc that can be used to meet the needs of the crop. Which type or formulation is the best?

    Citri-Che Zinc 10% is chelated with EDTA and citric acid to increase nutrient availability and nutrient efficiency to plants. This product can be applied with starter mixes at planting, pre-emerge, or side-dressed with UAN at a minimum of one quart per acre. Application with your planter starter system or pre-emerge with herbicide is recommended. As a chelated product, you can be assured that you are using a stable product. Chelation prevents the product from getting tied up, which ultimately makes this product more available when and where it should be. Chelation also increases tank mix compatibility with other starter fertilizers, ATS, and UAN. At one quart per acre, Citri-Che Zinc 10% supplies a little over four ounces of zinc per acre, replacing what the prior year’s crop removed.

    Citri-Che Zinc 10% is available at all our agronomy locations this spring, including our 24/7 locations. If it is not already part of your nutrient plan for this spring, talk to your agronomy account manager to make sure it is included in your nutrient strategy.

    Ascend SL, a plant growth regulator (PGR) is another beneficial addition to your spring nutrient plan. This is not a new product to your cooperative, in fact, some of you have probably already used it for many years now with your starter mix. There are many PGRs out there to use in the market, but we believe Ascend SL is the best. Data proves that corn yield alone can improve by over five bushels!

    Ascend SL contains three different PGRs that aid in providing vigorous early germination and emergence, larger roots, larger leaves, and wider stems.

    •Cytokinin promotes cell division and leaf expansion

    •Gibberellic acid stimulates cell division and elongation of leaves and stems

    •Indolebutyric acid stimulates root formation and development and increases cell elongation.

    As mentioned earlier, Ascend SL has been used with starters for a few years now, but what if you don’t have a starter system on your planter? Ascend SL can be applied foliar during your post emerge herbicide application to corn and soybeans to give your crop a big boost.

    There are several yield-enhancing products that your agronomy account manager can help you incorporate into your tried and true practices to help maximize profit on your farm while taking full advantage of these seven-year highs that have recently been seen in the grain markets.