Northeast corn growers are hoping to get major spring field work started this week. One concern, expressed by an fertilizer company agronomist, is that this spring's wet soils may reduce nitrogen and ready-to-uptake phosphorus.
That's where starter fertilizers help ensure that corn gets off to a strong start, stresses SFP's Larry Sanders. An early growth response sets corn up for earlier flowering, larger plants and earlier crop maturity.
Phosphorus-containing starter may help even on sandy soils when proper rates of nitrogen and sulfur are used, even if the soils have high P levels. Adding a fertilizer enhancer and/or extender can help further stimulate nutrient uptake by ensuring the nutrients in starter are available for the plant to use.