Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/670900
26 POTATO GROWER | MAY 2016 Diggin' In Diggin' In Diggin' In Diggin' In Diggin' In Diggin' In Every agricultural chemical that hits the market (and many that ultimately don't) promises big things. Bigger savings, bigger crop uniformity, bigger yields and, most importantly, bigger profits. To be fair, most of them deliver on those promises—when applied in the correct context. The folks at Ostara are trying to make sure growers do just that with the company's continuous-release phosphate fertilizer Crystal Green. "It's definitely not a replacement for common water-soluble phosphorus," says Molly Biedenfield, Ostara vice president of nutrients over market development and sales. "But it can certainly make a positive difference for growers." The key difference between Crystal Green and other phosphate fertilizers is its mode of action: Crystal Green is citrate-soluble, meaning it will only release nutrients in the presence of a growing root zone. When applied at planting, it will release phosphorus throughout the season as potato plants require it. "With that release mechanism, it doesn't get tied up in soils of extremely high or extremely low pH," says Biedenfield. "It's been most successful in areas with extreme pH levels, because that's where you usually see the phosphorus tied up. Where a normal water-soluble source will get tied up, Crystal Green has the release mechanism and ties up less." CRYSTAL GREEN| By Tyrell Marchant Images courtesy Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Crystal Green provides season-long phosphorus supply Green Thumb SIZING - SORTING - GRADING PLUS, INTERIOR DETECTION: Hollow Heart* Insect Damage Foreign Material Digger Cuts *99% OF ALL INTERNAL DAMAGE AgRay Vision Systems 209-334-1999 info@agrayvision.com www.agrayvisionsystems.com SIZING - SORTING - GRADING PLUS, INTERIOR DETECTION: Hollow Heart* Insect Damage Foreign Material Digger Cuts *99% OF ALL INTERNAL DAMAGE AgRay Vision Systems 209-334-1999 info@agrayvision.com www.agrayvisionsystems.com SIZING - SORTING - GRADING PLUS, INTERIOR DETECTION: Hollow Heart* Insect Damage Foreign Material Digger Cuts *99% OF ALL INTERNAL DAMAGE 159919AgRay13s.indd 1 3/17/16 2:30 PM 157519Irrome16v.indd 1 1/22/16 10:40 AM