OVERVIEW
Corn removes 0.35 lb P₂O₅ per bushel of harvested grain (IPNI: Table 4.5, April 2014). Along with phosphorus, corn needs other nutrients in a proper ratio to achieve peak nutrient use efficiency and maximum yield.
MAP is commonly used as a phosphorus source in corn-growing regions of North America. Ammonium sulfate (AS) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) are often blended with MAP to provide sulfur and zinc.
Through Mosaic’s proprietary Fusion® technology, MicroEssentials® SZ® contains N-P-S-Zn fused into one nutritionally balanced granule, creating a single source for balanced crop nutrition and promoting more uniform nutrient distribution.
The chemical composition of MicroEssentials® SZ® provides a slight pH reduction in a microsphere around the fertilizer granule, and offers more phosphorus in the form preferred by crops (dihydrogen orthophosphate).
TRIAL DETAILS
Crop: Corn (Zea Mays)
Year: 2012-2013
Locations: 14 locations across the U.S. United States – AR, IL, KS, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, TN, VA
Data Source: Field studies conducted by third-party, independent researchers.
Experimental Design: Small-plot RCBD with 4 replications
Cropping Conditions:
P Rate: 90 lbs P₂O₅/ac
K Rate: As required by soil test
S Rate: 22.5 lbs S/ac
Zn Rate: 2.25 lbs Zn/ac
Application Timing: Preplant
Application Method: Broadcast incorporate
Tissue Sampling: Whole-plants samples collected at V6–V8 were used for P concentration and uptake.
RESULTS
SUMMARY
With MicroEssentials® SZ®, phosphorus uptake increased by 0.9 lb P₂O₅/ac over MAP and 0.4 lb P₂O₅/ac over the MAP + AS + ZnSO₄ blend.
Averaged across 2 years and 14 trials, MicroEssentials® SZ® outyielded MAP by 9.4 bu/ac (4.6%).
Averaged across these same years and locations, MicroEssentials® SZ® outyielded the MAP + AS + ZnSO₄ blend by 8.6 bu/ac (4.2%).
These results show the increased P uptake and yield that can be achieved when MicroEssentials® SZ® is applied compared to MAP or a conventional MAP blend.
