It Make Sense: Economically & Environmentally
[excerpt]
Source: Ohio’s Country Journal
Featuring:
‣ John Fulton, professor and Extension specialist in the Department of Food, Agriculture and Biological Engineering
‣ Matt Bennett, RSM for Precision Planting
“Applying fertilizer with the planter provides a very efficient way to meet the crop needs in an environmentally friendly way,” said Fulton. “This also allows the potential to apply less and have it used more efficiently. This is something that could become mandated in the future, so now is a good time to check it out and learn. Looking back at the last 5 to 10 years, and the advancement in technology for controllers and sensors to be put on a planter to apply starter fertilizer is interesting. We can now equip planters simpler, and also meter the products more accurately than in the past. We want the crop roots to intersect the N and P at the proper times to benefit the crop as it grows.”
“Placing nutrients at planting and in the growing season help mitigate the environmental concerns,” Bennett said. “Applying a part of the fertilizer needs with the planter and then following with a split application in a sidedress pass makes sense economically and environmentally.”
Read full article.