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Mosaic debuts new line of crop nutrient productsBy Larry Dreiling Managing input costs wisely will be a key part of 2008 spring planting, according to Dan Froehlich, director of agronomic marketing for Mosaic Co. What can growers do to manage input costs? "Select realistic yield goals," Froehlich said. "Select from new hybrids that have much higher yield potential. Know what the soil should supply. That means do some good soil testing. Finally, keep the fertility of the soils balanced." "The bottom line: Fertilizer is an excellent investment even under today's pricing scenario." Froehlich has been on a nationwide media tour to promote Mosiac's new MicroEssentials line of fertilizer products, which the company claims to provide a more efficient way to deliver crop nutrients needed to help improve a grower's bottom line. The purpose of MicroEssentials is to provide crops with the nutrients they need in a soluble form they can use and that can make each more effective. It's designed to supply phosphorus and sulfur in the right ratio at the right time to a developing crop. "Over the years, Mosaic customers have requested products that include essential secondary nutrients such as sulfur, as well as micronutrients such as zinc," Froehlich said. "That's why our research and development team took on the challenge of developing a new form of crop nutrient that produces higher yields and provides greater returns to dealers and growers." MicroEssentials is a diammonium phosphate or monoammonium phosphate product that features a patented process that creates very thin layers, or platelets, of sulfur on the product. Over time these sulfur platelets break down in the soil and are absorbed by the plants. This unique process enables the formation of a granule that when halved, resembles the layers of a sliced onion. These layers allow a slow release of the nutrients into the soil. In addition, micronutrients such as boron, copper, manganese and zinc can be added in a separate but parallel process. MicroEssentials combines nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur to optimize growth during critical periods of early plant development resulting in healthier and faster-developing young plants. Mosaic has developed three different MicroEssentials products: MicroEssentials SZ, MicroEssentials S15 and MicroEssentials S10. Each one of these products was developed with the patented manufacturing process that combines the correct ratios of the vital nutrients into uniform granules. MicroEssentials SZ (ME SZ) is designed for use on corn, wheat, rice and barley. These granules contain nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and zinc. "The sulfur and zinc are more uniformly distributed in ME SZ, giving plants a better chance to get all of the nutrients they need. The average of 54 research trials across the Midwest show that using ME SZ increased yields by an average of 12.4 bushels per acre versus MAP and 14.7 bushels per acre versus DAP," Froehlich said. MicroEssentials S15 (ME S15) is for canola and forage crops. It combines nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. "ME S15 delivers a profitable solution to the growing problem of sulfur deficiencies caused by higher-yielding crops; the steady decline in the use of low-analysis but high-sulfur fertilizers; and the decrease in free sulfuric acid that falls in rain. Compared with MAP, ME S15 has more efficient plant nutrient uptake and more stable storage characteristics, and provides equal or better yields," Froehlich said. MicroEssentials S10 (ME S10) is contains nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur, but is blended in different ratios. ME S10 is appropriate for use by producers who don't currently use zinc or who use zinc in their starter fertilizer or weed-and-feed programs. "Compared with MAP, ME S10 allows for more efficient plant nutrient uptake of phosphorus and equal or better yields," Froehlich said. For more information, visit a Mosaic retailer. Larry Dreiling can be reached by phone at 785-628-1117 or by e-mail at ldreiling@aol.com. 3/31/08 Date: 3/25/08 Advertisement
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