OVERVIEW
- MOP is commonly used as a potassium (K) source in soybean production
- Micronutrients such as boron are essential for plant growth and are often overlooked in efforts to balance crop nutrition.
- Granular B products can be blended with K, but application of these blends leads to undesirable distribution.
- Aspire® is the first-of-its-kind micronutrientenhanced potash fertilizer. Formed using Nutriform® technology, Aspire® combines potassium and boron in each granule to help achieve uniform nutrient distribution of B.
TRIAL DETAILS
Years: 2013-2014
Crop: Soybeans (Glycine max)
Locations: 20 trials across the U.S. – AL,AR, GA, IA, IL, MN, MO, MS, NC, OH, SC, WI
Data Source: Field studies conducted by third-party, independent researchers.
Experimental Design: Small-plot RCBD with 4 replications.
Cropping Conditions:
P Rate: 60 lbs K₂O/ac
B Rate: 0.5 to 1.0 lb B/ac
Application Timing and Method: Aspire®, MOP and granular B: Preplant broadcast
Soluble B: Foliar treatments applied at V3 (3 unfolded trifoliate leaves) and R1 (beginning of flowering – 1 flower at any node) growth stages.
Results
SUMMARY
- Aspire® increased yield by 1.6 bu/ac over MOP and 3 bu/ac over the check.
- A preplant application of Aspire® at 0.5 lb B/ac (58.5 bu/ac) outyielded the granular B blend applied at 1.0 lb B/ac (56.7 bu/ac).
- Aspire® applied at 0.5 lb B/ac outyielded two foliar applications (V3 and R1) of soluble B at 1.0 lb B/ac.
- The higher yield with Aspire® compared to other treatments demonstrates the advantages of uniform nutrient distribution with a premium potash fertilizer containing boron.
