024—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, May 1,1982
FORT COLLINS, Colo - If a
sales person pitches the line that a
gallon of 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer
contains 30 pounds of nutrients,
throw it back," says Hunter
Follett, Colorado State University
Extension agronomist
One gallon of liquid fertilizer
weighs only about 12 pounds, he
explains
Fertilizer can’t be more than 100
percent efficient, Follett says,
adding that the analysis printed on
the fertilizer package gives the
nutrient percentage of the total
weight
For example, 100 pounds of 10-20-
10 (10 percent-20 percent-10 per
cent of 100 poundsl dry or liquid
fertilizer contains 10 pounds of
nitrogen, 20 pounds of phosphate
and 10 poundsof potash. One gallon
of a 10-20-10 liquid fertilizer con
tains 1.2 pounds each of nitrogen
and potash and 2.4 pounds of
phosphate.
“Most fertilizers farmers use
today are similar in efficiency and
availability as far as the growing
crop is concerned,” says Follett
"Almost any way you slice it, a
pound of nutrient is a pound of
nutrient.”
However, the agronomist
sympathizes with farmers who
become confused about fertilizer
costs, especially when a
salesperson gives them several
figures
He recommends a per-pound-of
nutnent basis for comparing costs
and gives an example One
' miracle” liquid fertilizer retails
for $4 20 per gallon for a 10-20-10
grade If the nitrogen-phosphate
potash is averaged together, it
would cost about 68 cents per
pound of nutrient A dry fertilizer
of 10-20-10 grade would sell for
about $lBO per ton and the average
nutrient cost pier pound would be
about 23 cents
Foliett is concerned that higher
fertilizer prices will encourage
some farmers to use non
conventional products touted as
commercial fertilizer
replacements
These substitutes are called
amendments, activators, con
ditioners, stimulators, wetting
agents or surfactants They may
contain such substances as
seaweed, fermented manures,
crushed mineral materials, humic
materials and even coal-like
materials
Follett says, "These products
Check fertilizer claims
sometimes are billed as cure-alls
and are supposed to improve the
soil and hike yields Sales
promotions may be based on
testimonials from farmers, but
seldom is scientific research
mentioned
"Some of the products," he says.
“ may serve a beneficial role
other than as a fertilizer, but
frequently additional claims are
made that are not justified. ’
He lists some claims typical of
these products They have low
application rates compared with
fertilizers, they may be applied as
foliar sprays or to the soil directly,
they may increase available
nutrient level, or they may provide
natural weed and insect control
Other possible claims could be
that the products are natural,
organic, work with nature, do not
cause cancer, do not kill bacteria
or earthworms, provide an en
vironment for bacteria and ear
thworms to grow, increase crop
yields and quality, or increase
water availability
Reasons for claims usually are a
“trade secret,” and testimonials
most often are based on
unreplicated field-size trials,”
says Follett.
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P O Box 11 Lake Mills, Wt 53551
PHILLIPS FEED
SERVICE INC.
Germansville, PA
215-767-3819
B
lath. PA
215-837 6061
THOMAS DUNLAP
OPVPIF7F faomm Rt 220, Jerse y Shore, PA
UtyKItZE FARM 717-398-1391
EQUIPMENT
Milanville, PA GUTSHALL 'S SILO REP AIR WORK SOLLENBERGER SILO
-729 7988 Womelsdorf, PA Chambersburg, PA
717-933-4616 717-264-9588 J
He cautions farmers to be ex
tremely wary of these claims and
to require proof of the claims
through substantiated research
from a source outside the com
pany
Partners also should compare
the price per pound of actual
nutrients in the products to those of
conventional fertilizers Many of
these products recommend a rate
of application so small (1 pint or
per acre), they would be
Thompson gets
SPARTA, N J - John L
Thompson, Blairstown, N J. was
elected president and director of
Limestone Products Corporation
This announcement was made
recently by the Board of Directors
of Limestone Products Cor
poration.
Thompson, a Rutgers University
graduate, has been associated with
Limestone Products Corporation
for the past 35 years. A resident of
Blairstown, he is a member of
Blairstown Environmental
Commission and the Warren
County Solid Waste Advisory
Commission.
For more information contact your nearest dealer
Invest in
uality - it will last a lifetime.
Follett’s advice to farmers who
want to use non-conventional
products Obtain only a small
amount and use it on only a few
acres If the product flops, little
money has been lost ”
Limestone post
Thompson succeeds Thomas K.
Henntze, who has been named
president of Penn-Virgima
Resources Corporation at Duffield,
Va.
y MONT-BUCKSFARM
TERRE HILL SILO CO., INC. BUREAU C °-° P ASSN -
Terre Hill, PA Souderton.PA
215-445-6736 215-723-4355
Poured Solid Concrete Steel
Reinforced Walls.
■ The Wall is Only as Good
as the Matenal'Used
ineffective A rate several hundred
tunes that which is recommended,
and at excessive costs, would be
required to supply adequate
nutrients for maximum crop
yields, he explains
...
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