Autumn potash

[Cowski]

Wheat stubble due to go into maize next spring, some volunteers and a bit of weed making the stubble somewhat green over winter. We will need to put potash on for the maize since we remove all straw and maize has high potash demand. It’s sandy loam soil but in good heart as we have grass in rotation as well as fym. Ideally I guess we would use fibrophos but it’s a hassle dealing with lorries and contractors and we really don’t want to bring on any phosphate if we can help it. If we could put a small dose of MOP on now and some in the seedbed I feel it would be kinder to the soil than one big hit, is there a risk of leaching with an autumn application and high rainfall winters?

 

[PSQ]

Fibrophos was an absolute ball ache this autumn. Too windy for 3 weeks on the trot, and when it did go on the spread pattern was atrocious, so changed contractor after the first load, buy they’ve also jacked their prices through the roof.
Now the following OSR is on the back foot having gone in 10 days later than I would have liked.
between the wind, contractor issues and cost increases, I’m finished with Fibrophos. Back to bagged for the same money but far better timlieness and spread pattern.

 

[Cowski]

Fibrophos was an absolute ball ache this autumn. Too windy for 3 weeks on the trot, and when it did go on the spread pattern was atrocious, so changed contractor after the first load, buy they’ve also jacked their prices through the roof.
Now the following OSR is on the back foot having gone in 10 days later than I would have liked.
between the wind, contractor issues and cost increases, I’m finished with Fibrophos. Back to bagged for the same money but far better timlieness and spread pattern.

Do you put all potash on in the autumn?

 

[PSQ]

Do you put all potash on in the autumn?

When we were applying FP yes, as it’s spread at 12m on 24m tramlines.
As straights I’d apply P in the autumn which won’t leach, and K in the spring which would leach over a wet winter.
I don’t know how long it would take for MoP to be available between application and peak uptake in maize though, but ‘spring application’ is probably the answer you’re looking for, especially on a sandy loam.
How much are you applying?

 

[Brisel]

Wheat stubble due to go into maize next spring, some volunteers and a bit of weed making the stubble somewhat green over winter. We will need to put potash on for the maize since we remove all straw and maize has high potash demand. It’s sandy loam soil but in good heart as we have grass in rotation as well as fym. Ideally I guess we would use fibrophos but it’s a hassle dealing with lorries and contractors and we really don’t want to bring on any phosphate if we can help it. If we could put a small dose of MOP on now and some in the seedbed I feel it would be kinder to the soil than one big hit, is there a risk of leaching with an autumn application and high rainfall winters?

How much sand is there? Sand soils cannot hold onto K unless you have masive organic matter levels or plenty of clay or sllt to help bind it. MOP is potassium chloride, which is highly soluble. You know how soluble sodium chloride is - table salt. You get the idea.

That said, you say you have good organic matter levels and green cover, but I'd still advise against it. If you are in a CS/SFI cover crop you can't do anything anyway.

 

[Grass And Grain]

Depends on the soil type. Potash leaches out of light land. It leaches less out of heavy land, but no guarantees it will all stay put.

Personally I'd put the full application on in spring.

 

[Hilly]

Fibrophos was an absolute ball ache this autumn. Too windy for 3 weeks on the trot, and when it did go on the spread pattern was atrocious, so changed contractor after the first load, buy they’ve also jacked their prices through the roof.
Now the following OSR is on the back foot having gone in 10 days later than I would have liked.
between the wind, contractor issues and cost increases, I’m finished with Fibrophos. Back to bagged for the same money but far better timlieness and spread pattern.

Using contractors can be either sugar or shyt for sure.

 

[Chae1]

We 36kg K down the spout with seed in autumn. 0.24.24 blend.

150kg/ha

 

[Spencer]

We 36kg K down the spout with seed in autumn. 0.24.24 blend.

150kg/ha

Anymore I’m spring?

 

[Sam Partridge]

Wheat stubble due to go into maize next spring, some volunteers and a bit of weed making the stubble somewhat green over winter. We will need to put potash on for the maize since we remove all straw and maize has high potash demand. It’s sandy loam soil but in good heart as we have grass in rotation as well as fym. Ideally I guess we would use fibrophos but it’s a hassle dealing with lorries and contractors and we really don’t want to bring on any phosphate if we can help it. If we could put a small dose of MOP on now and some in the seedbed I feel it would be kinder to the soil than one big hit, is there a risk of leaching with an autumn application and high rainfall winters?

Are you bothered about the weed growing? if so spray it all off and scratch in some sort of cover and give that some fert?

 

[Chae1]

Anymore I’m spring?

Yeah will topdress with 10.24.24 compound.

 

[Cowski]

Are you bothered about the weed growing? if so spray it all off and scratch in some sort of cover and give that some fert?

Nothing there will set seed so it will just do a job as a cover crop and probably glyphosate pre-cultivation in spring for maize

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Fibrophos was an absolute ball ache this autumn. Too windy for 3 weeks on the trot, and when it did go on the spread pattern was atrocious, so changed contractor after the first load, buy they’ve also jacked their prices through the roof.
Now the following OSR is on the back foot having gone in 10 days later than I would have liked.
between the wind, contractor issues and cost increases, I’m finished with Fibrophos. Back to bagged for the same money but far better timlieness and spread pattern.

Don’t know why the price has been jacked through the roof, especially as you seem to be saying that’s happened part way through the season.

There’s been no change in prices here.

 

[Chae1]

What are you paying for MOP at moment?

 

[Speedstar]

Yeah will topdress with 10.24.24 compound.

how early in spring do you put it on ?

 

[Chae1]

how early in spring do you put it on ?

We'll put it on winter crops as soon as it will travel. Normally end February. Using PotashpluS though on winter crops this year
which is like gravel and must take a while to breakdown, become available.