Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/407782
www.potatogrower.com 41 effective, especially if the roots are not close to the surface. When soil phosphorus concentrations fail to meet peak phosphorus demands, tuber size, yield and health can be diminished. Recently, a new granular, slow-release, phosphorus fertilizer that can help address some of these timing-related challenges, Crystal Green, entered the market. Crystal Green's naturally slow-release properties ensure phosphorus is released and available during peak uptake periods. The inherent solubility characteristics of the granule are responsible for the unique dissolution. Extremely low water solubility combined with citrate solubility results in a "plant- activated" release—when roots come in the proximity of the Crystal Green granules, they will directly replenish the soil solution while also having increased release due to organic acid root exudates. The result is sufficient phosphorus availability during critical stages such as bulking and maturation. In university trials, Crystal Green has shown to maintain critical petiole phosphorus concentrations throughout the season, as well as maximize marketable yield. Applied as a pre-plant application or at planting, the nutrients from Crystal Green will release and be available at the right time due to the plant-activated, slow- release characteristics, while mitigating the risks of runoff and leaching. As a 4R Nutrient Stewardship partner, Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies, the producers of Crystal Green, supports best management practices that enhance environmental protection, expand production, increase farmer profitability, and improve sustainability. Given the pressure on farmers and producers in the agricultural sector to reduce nutrient runoff, fertilizer technologies that help growers match nutrient release with crop nutrient demand provide an important tool to add to a growing arsenal of sustainable products and practices. Current research shows that the release properties of Crystal Green can help reduce the risks of phosphorus runoff to waterways, helping keep nutrients in the field, available for the crops that need it. 144168TGSchm13.indd 1 6/5/14 8:47 AM days after planting 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Petiole P Concentrations % .40 .35 .30 .25 .20 .15 Combining Crystal Green with a traditional water-soluble phosphorus fertilizer can be a great strategy to match nutrient availability with crop demand throughout the season. The traditional phosphorus fertilizer will provide the early phosphorus availability that is critical to early plant growth and tuber set, and the Crystal Green will be releasing during peak uptake and bulking. This season-long availability will be reflected in the petiole phosphorus concentrations and, most importantly, in the marketable yield and premium tuber size. For stewards of the land, crop nutrition is a fine balance of fertilizer rate, source, timing and placement. Smart stewardship also means increasing the bottom line sustainably. Matching phosphorus release with potato crop demand is a means to maximize your phosphorus investment by not only increasing the crop value with healthy, premium-sized tubers, but by doing so to the benefit of the environment. Timing is everything, and utilizing best management practices that incorporate the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship are keys to increased efficiency and sustainable profitability. PG