Although I am not PAnotiller, and it would be presumptious of me to say what he means, I will make the following 2 comments: 1) he may be referring to a "starter-defined" fertilizer product which would contain N along with a high-analysis P content; and it may or may not contain some K. In this case, he is saying that he did not use a fertilizer product which contained P. 2) I am speaking from memory here, but I think I recall Dr. Doug Beegle - Penn State's soil fertility specialist - say one time that starter fertilizer is not a product, but a practice. It is a relatively small amount of fertilizer placed close to the seed, or banded as a pop-up, and the intended for that fertilizer to be readily available to that root that emerging from the seedcoat. In this case, Lucas - PAnotiller - is doing neither. He is not using a Hi-phos fertilizer product, and he is applying the nitrogen fertilizer in a band that is 6 inches away from the seed (and 6" below the soil surface, if I read correctly). So, in his mind, he is banding but not using a starter fertilizer (program). I hope that clears it up. Here is a Penn State Fact sheet on starter Fertilizer. I believe it is consistent with what I have said.
Edited by martin 12/9/2009 12:26
|