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New Waverly, IN | I am investigating many different possibilities for starter fertilizer for corn this spring. I will be for the first time applying the fertilizer as a popup in the seed trench. I have been focusing on the following products.
-10-34-0 : it is cheaper (recently priced at $385/ton) , but seed burn potential is a concern. Also, it is poly and not readily available at cooler soil temperatures.
-Nachurs 9-18-9 : a bit more expensive(somewhere arround $4.70/ gal), but no seed burn issues. An ortho, so it should be available for the plant from the begining. But not able to add micros if they are needed, which I am not sure such slight levels of these micros are worth the added costs.
-Nachurs 6-24-6: an 80/20 blend of 9-18-9 and 10-34-0. (somewhere near $3.50 / gal)
-RiseR : This is a safe 70/30 poly / ortho product from Loveland that loaded with a micronutrient blend and ACA. Looks like interesting stuff but over $11/gal is hard to get on board with. (7-17-3)
-Black Lable Zn : (6-20-0, 0.77% zinc) This is the most expensive at about $12/gal. This is also a very interesting product. The keys to this product revolve arround its ability to make P more available as well other nutrients in the soil. I have never seen something like this and am close to calling BS. They claim to essentially boast the CEC in the zone where it is applied thus making everything more available to the plant. I would like to know if this is some new great thing or rather some expensive snake oil.
If anyone has any usefull insight into these products used as a popup I would love to learn more.
I will be planting twins this year. This means twice the foot of row/acre to dribble liquid into. I was considering the following rates.
-10-34-0 : 8 gal/ac (about $16.95/Ac)
-9-18-9 : 4 gal/ac (about $18.80 / Ac)
-6-24-6 : 4 gal/ac (about $14.0 / Ac) Might add 9% Zn at an expense of about $2.25 / Ac.
-RiseR : 3 gal/ac (about $33 /Ac)
-Black Label Zn : 2 gal/ac (about $24 /Ac)
These are rates that the various reps reccommended to me for my situation (twins, CEC's usually between 8-15). The lower gallon rates the indicated that I could dilute the product with water to get it on easier. I have a hard time seeing the higher dollar figures to be worth it especially when I am used to comparring analysis. Is there something to RiseR or Black Label Zn that merit the extra expense? I mean the difference between Riser and 6-24-6 is $19/Ac. That 5-6 bushels!
Thanks for any thoughts.
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Black Label Zn?
