M K : G r ound F or ce · 2019-04-19 · M K : G r ound F or ce Pr ille d : L im e G yp su m Do lo...
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MK: Ground Force Prilled: Lime Gypsum Dolomite Zinc Copper Manganese Boron Iron Bulk Totes 40 lb Bags MK Minerals 1025 Vernon Rd. Wathena, KS. 66090 816-901-0245 www.mkminerals.com Barry Christie Director, Sales and Marketing 816-752-8585 bchristie@mkminerals MK Minerals/Ground Force Soil Nutrition TransPort 360/Barge & Rail Clinton Hund Agronomy Specialist Kansas State 913-680-5085 [email protected] Chelsea Newville Horticulture Specialist North Carolina State 816-901-0245 [email protected] Lisa Scholz Office Manager University of Colorado Denver 1-785-989-4566 [email protected] In this era of so many new products and concepts entering agricultural markets, it is easy to lose sight of critical “Agronomy 101” concepts. Let’s consider micronutrients (also known as “trace minerals”). It is important to remember that micronutrients are labeled so because of the levels they are used, not because of their importance. Because of the small levels they are used at and their key roles in the plant physiology their availability to the plant can become quite problematic. In our area, critically-low levels and deficiencies of “micronutrients” appear to be common. Plants can’t make efficient use of the “major” and “secondary” mineral nutrients (or carbon dioxide, water, or sunlight) if the “micros” are insufficient. Making some assumptions (like ignoring mycorrhizae, for instance) is generally thought that plant roots contact only about 1% to 2% of the soil in the immediate root zone. If needed nutrients aren’t there to contact in the first place, roots and other micro-organisms have a slim chance of finding more as they probe the soil further. At our Southwest Kansas location, we had access to 2018 soil test results for two local farms. The proportion of fields deficient in selected nutrients is shown in the table below. Because so many local fields were deficient in several micronutrients (and calcium and sulfur), we were led to search for an economical and multi-faceted product giving us the option of providing several or all of the necessary nutrients in one product. We found that MK Minerals was just implementing a manufacturing process that facilitates custom orders of prilled gypsum or limestone containing a homogenized blend of one or several micronutrients. We placed an order for a gypsum product containing all five of the nutrients shown in Table 1. It appears that MK Minerals personnel did their homework because the proportions of micronutrients they chose for what they called “Product 5” closely met the needs shown by many of our Southwest Kansas soil tests. Furthermore, when gypsum is used as the carrier for the micronutrients, there is a net neutral effect on soil pH. If soil pH does not need to be changed, this is a good thing. Consider this: the process of homogenizing micronutrients with gypsum before prilling facilitates a much more uniform distribution of the relatively small amount of micronutrients. Take Boron (B) for instance. In many cases, a maintenance level of B is only one lb./acre. Assuming there are approximately 24,000 prills in each pound of dry boron, a uniform spread over one-acre results in 0.54 prills per square foot. I would estimate it to be unlikely that more than occasional roots—and only on some plants--would contact the widely-scattered boron prills and then the roots need to seek the other four deficient nutrients. In contrast, 200 lbs./acre of prilled gypsum plus trace minerals contains approximately 1.6 million prills. A uniform spread of that 200 lbs./acre of homogenized product results in 37 prills per square ft. This dramatically increases the chances of root intercept of the included B—and once the root reaches a prill it has access to B and the other four deficient nutrients—no further searching needed. We look forward to observing the results from those fields we treat with MK Minerals “Product 5” this year. Hopefully we will have more thoughts and observations to report as the season progresses.
Transcript of M K : G r ound F or ce · 2019-04-19 · M K : G r ound F or ce Pr ille d : L im e G yp su m Do lo...
MK: Ground ForcePrilled:LimeGypsumDolomiteZincCopperManganeseBoronIron Bulk Totes 40 lb Bags
MK Minerals 1025 Vernon Rd.
Wathena, KS. 66090 816-901-0245
www.mkminerals.com
Barry Christie Director, Sales and Marketing
816-752-8585 bchristie@mkminerals
MK Minerals/Ground Force Soil Nutrition TransPort 360/Barge & Rail
Clinton HundAgronomy Specialist
Kansas State913-680-5085
Chelsea NewvilleHorticulture SpecialistNorth Carolina State
816-901-0245 [email protected]
Lisa Scholz Office Manager
University of Colorado Denver 1-785-989-4566
In this era of so many new products and concepts enteringagricultural markets, it is easy to lose sight of critical
“Agronomy 101” concepts. Let’s consider micronutrients (alsoknown as “trace minerals”). It is important to remember thatmicronutrients are labeled so because of the levels they areused, not because of their importance. Because of the small
levels they are used at and their key roles in the plantphysiology their availability to the plant can become quite
problematic. In our area, critically-low levels and deficienciesof “micronutrients” appear to be common. Plants can’t makeefficient use of the “major” and “secondary” mineral nutrients
(or carbon dioxide, water, or sunlight) if the “micros” areinsufficient. Making some assumptions (like ignoring
mycorrhizae, for instance) is generally thought that plant rootscontact only about 1% to 2% of the soil in the immediate root
zone. If needed nutrients aren’t there to contact in the firstplace, roots and other micro-organisms have a slim chance of
finding more as they probe the soil further.At our Southwest Kansas location, we had access to 2018 soil
test results for two local farms. The proportion of fieldsdeficient in selected nutrients is shown in the table below.
Because so many local fields were deficient in severalmicronutrients (and calcium and sulfur), we were led to search
for an economical and multi-faceted product giving us theoption of providing several or all of the necessary nutrients in
one product. We found that MK Minerals was justimplementing a manufacturing process that facilitates custom
orders of prilled gypsum or limestone containing ahomogenized blend of one or several micronutrients. We
placed an order for a gypsum product containing all five of thenutrients shown in Table 1. It appears that MK Minerals
personnel did their homework because the proportions ofmicronutrients they chose for what they called “Product 5”closely met the needs shown by many of our Southwest
Kansas soil tests. Furthermore, when gypsum is used as thecarrier for the micronutrients, there is a net neutral effect on
soil pH. If soil pH does not need to be changed, this is a goodthing.
Consider this: the process of homogenizing micronutrientswith gypsum before prilling facilitates a much more uniformdistribution of the relatively small amount of micronutrients.Take Boron (B) for instance. In many cases, a maintenance
level of B is only one lb./acre. Assuming there areapproximately 24,000 prills in each pound of dry boron, a
uniform spread over one-acre results in 0.54 prills per squarefoot. I would estimate it to be unlikely that more than
occasional roots—and only on some plants--would contact thewidely-scattered boron prills and then the roots need to seekthe other four deficient nutrients. In contrast, 200 lbs./acre ofprilled gypsum plus trace minerals contains approximately 1.6
million prills. A uniform spread of that 200 lbs./acre ofhomogenized product results in 37 prills per square ft. Thisdramatically increases the chances of root intercept of the
included B—and once the root reaches a prill it has access toB and the other four deficient nutrients—no further searching
needed.
We look forward to observing the results from those fields wetreat with MK Minerals “Product 5” this year. Hopefully we willhave more thoughts and observations to report as the season
progresses.
