OVERVIEW
- MOP is commonly used as a potassium (K) source in corn production with applications made in both spring and fall, depending on region and seasonal workload.
- Micronutrients such as boron (B) are essential for plant growth, yet often overlooked in balanced crop nutrition.
- Granular B products can be blended with K, but results in an uneven distribution of B. Additionally, boron is mobile in the soil and is prone to leaching.
- Aspire® is a premium potash that includes two forms of boron to deliver season-long availability and a more flexible application window, regardless of application timing.
TRIAL DETAILS
Crop: Corn (Zea mays)
Years: 2016–2017
Data Source: Field studies conducted by third-party, independent researchers.
Experimental Design: Small-plot RCBD with 4 replications.
Cropping Conditions:
N Rate: Recommended nitrogen (N) was applied in spring and balanced across all treatments.
K Rate: 60 lbs K₂O/ac applied as MOP or Aspire®
P Rate: 80 lbs P₂O₅/ac applied as MAP and balanced across the entire trial
B Rate: 0.5 lb B/ac applied as Granular B or Aspire®
Application Timing: Fall vs. spring preplant
Application Method: Broadcast incorporated
RESULTS
SUMMARY
- Corn yields increased with the addition of potassium and boron.
- Highest corn yields were achieved with Aspire® treatments in both fall and spring application timings.
- Fall: Aspire® yields were +4.8 bu/ac over MOP and +2.2 bu/ac over a MOP + Granular B blend.
- Spring: Aspire® demonstrated a +5.3 bu/ac yield advantage over MOP and a +1.9 bu/ac increase over a MOP + Granular B blend.
- Peak yields achieved with Aspire® demonstrate the benefits of boron in corn production and the advantages of Nutriform® technology, which provide uniform nutrient distribution compared to a MOP + Granular B blend.
