Row Crops

From corn to cotton, small grains to soybeans, row crop growers know a successful season means maximizing yield and reducing unnecessary expenses and waste.

How can growers consistently achieve and surpass their production goals? By following the principles of Science-Driven nutrition.

At Agro-K, our intelligent, effective and high-performance nutritional programs follow the Five R’s. We understand that growers achieve the best results when they use the Right nutrient applied at the Right time in the Right formulation in the Right mix targeting the Right place in the plant. Science-Driven nutrition offers growers the program and the tools to accurately and efficiently address their crop’s specific needs, maximizing the marketable yield while minimizing product waste.

By taking an analytical approach, Agro-K focuses on key metrics in order to deliver crop management tools and solutions with measurable results. The Five R’s help growers achieve consistent success and an elevated economic performance. Ultimately, these Science-Driven programs help growers maximize their profits, putting more money back in their pockets. Read on to learn more about Agro-K’s solutions for corn, cotton, small grains and soybeans.

RESOURCES

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When it comes to corn, there are three vitally important growth stages that producers who want to succeed must be mindful about. These are the times when proper nutrition can make a significant difference in how the crop performs.

The first of these stages is V4 to V6, when the corn’s ear size is being determined. During this time, the plant needs to remain as stress-free as possible. Growers should also work to maintain optimum fertility levels. As such, iron becomes a key nutrient at this point in time. Calcium and manganese support these efforts.

The second important growth stage is V8 to V10. At this point, the plant is pollinating. It not only determines the ear length, but it also defines how much energy is available to fill out the corn kernels. Manganese and boron are essential nutrients during this time. Growers should also focus on keeping proper nitrogen and potassium levels.

The final stage for nutritional impact is R2 to R3. Sulfur, magnesium, zinc and copper are the key nutrients. The goal is to grow as deep of a kernel as possible, and these nutrients assist in that process.

Growing cotton, like all crops, requires producers to understand the importance of proper nutrition. There are a few nutrients that can make all the difference when maintained at appropriate levels in the plant.

Zinc, for example, is essential for leaf size, root growth and production of key beneficial hormones that drive yield. This hormone development takes place in the root tips and shoot tips of the cotton plant.

Manganese is critical for root growth leading to large root mass, root health and chlorophyll production in the leaves. Therefore, it is essential to get zinc and manganese not just in the leaves, but also to the root system. When these nutrient levels are optimized, cotton growers benefit from a top quality crop.

In this crop category, Agro-K is focused on applying the principles of Science-Driven nutrition to wheat, triticale, barley and oats. Small grains are lower-input cropping systems, so using the Five R’s most effectively means applying the nutrients as part of a free-ride tank mix, most commonly with herbicides, but also sometimes with insecticides, fungicides and miticides.

The great thing about timing nutrient applications with herbicides specifically is that these applications coincide with the crop’s peak demand timing for key foliar nutrients. In the small grains category, these nutrients include zinc, magnesium, manganese, copper and iron, which are all essential for leaf growth, chlorophyll development and root support to drive yield.

While timing the foliar nutrient applications with herbicide sprays is ideal, the challenge is that the products must be compatible in order to boost performance. Nutra Grain DL® is a product that has all the essential nutrients small grains crops need. Its low pH, simple molecular structure and highly soluble nature ensures Nutra Grain DL® is the right formulation to give growers maximum value and performance while being able to mix with most of the commonly used small grains herbicides.

This is a key benefit, as traditional foliar nutrient products tend to either degrade the herbicide’s weed control performance or clash with the herbicide, causing the nutrients to lose their effectiveness and impact. Nutra Grain DL®’s unique formulation is also designed to deliver the best, quickest and most complete nutrient uptake during the crop’s peak demand window.

While Nutra Grain DL® can be used with most commonly used small grain herbicides, growers will want to contact their Agro-K representative for specific recommendations based on pH and tank mix experience.

Soybean production requires growers to focus on three essential stages for nutritional development. At each one, different nutrients and levels need to be maintained in order to optimize success.

The first important growth stage is V4. Iron is most important at this time. The second stage is R1when the plant is beginning to flower. Calcium and boron assist with this process. Finally, at R3 when growers are looking to bulk up the bean size, potassium and manganese help give the plant the boost it needs.