maize starter fertiliser.

[DRC]

What analysis are people using as starter fert. Thinking i should get some ordered. Previously used 18-46-0 , but with good access to pig muck, my Pand Ks are getting into 3s and 4s, so does it still need just a small amount of straight N, or will it still benefit from Phosphate placed near the seed.
Tried micro fert, but for some reason i've never had the best yields in those years. could be coincidence.
Anyone priced up specialist grades.

 

[sjt01]

Our P levels are around 4 and we have never seen benefit from starter fertiliser. Maize Growers Association trials generally show that starter fertiliser can give an early boost to growth, but when it comes to harvest there is no significant difference.

Stephen

 

[DRC]

Our P levels are around 4 and we have never seen benefit from starter fertiliser. Maize Growers Association trials generally show that starter fertiliser can give an early boost to growth, but when it comes to harvest there is no significant difference.

Stephen

Do you top dress with anything, once its up. My neighbour always puts 50kgs of N on, but i have never applied anything, other than sometimes a foliar feed, if a particular field is struggling

 

[sjt01]

We put digestate (applied in quantities to bring our K levels to requirement) onto the ground and lightly cultivate in before strip tilling the maize. We apply the rest of the N requirement (as calculated by the MGA Nitrogen Predictor) after emergence but before granules can get lodged in the base of the leaves.
Stephen

 

[Great In Grass]

Order some MAP or DAP top dressing feeds the weeds too.

 

[marshfarmer]

Was my first go this year with maize put DAP down spout p/k indexes high you could see where there was a bung up in drill with fert until it really got going but riding on the forager it all looked uniform height wise. Will put it on next time. Put sulphur on one bit but not another next door can't say it looked any different. But no actual yield figures or weights.

 

[wr.]

I just wish I'd take photos a few years ago when one of the fert spouts was blocked. You could see the difference from a month after sowing right through to harvesting.

 

[DRC]

I just wish I'd take photos a few years ago when one of the fert spouts was blocked. You could see the difference from a month after sowing right through to harvesting.

which fert did you use

 

[wr.]

DAP

 

[ollie989898]

DAP at 50kg/acre MAX.

Do not use microfertilisers they are a con.

Got a guy growing grain maize off 3000 gallon/acre of digestate, starter fertiliser down the spout, nothing else, all over 4.5t/acre. Simples. If no slurry then you potentially need 150 units but depends on previous cropping.

If you think starter fertiliser makes no difference, don't use it. Then I'll show you the difference in maturity in September.

It makes a huge difference in the speed of plant development. You won't find much corn grown worldwide without something under it.

Any pay attention to potash indicies, maize wants a lot of it. Soil test anything you are not sure about.

 

[ollie989898]

Was my first go this year with maize put DAP down spout p/k indexes high you could see where there was a bung up in drill with fert until it really got going but riding on the forager it all looked uniform height wise. Will put it on next time. Put sulphur on one bit but not another next door can't say it looked any different. But no actual yield figures or weights.

That is a new one on me, assessing crops by height.

 

[BLG]

It's interesting how different countries have different ways of growing the same thing. Nobody in NZ would consider planting maize without a starter fert. In our area it's normally N 18, P 11, and S 12 but other areas are different depending on the soil. You can see the difference if you have a blocked spout. We also apply N post emerge while inter row cultivating down the spout. I'm not saying our way is better but I do think that a starter helps the plant get up and go especially if conditions are a bit cool.

 

[ollie989898]

It's interesting how different countries have different ways of growing the same thing. Nobody in NZ would consider planting maize without a starter fert. In our area it's normally N 18, P 11, and S 12 but other areas are different depending on the soil. You can see the difference if you have a blocked spout. We also apply N post emerge while inter row cultivating down the spout. I'm not saying our way is better but I do think that a starter helps the plant get up and go especially if conditions are a bit cool.

I have a proprietary blend which contains N, P, S and copper and zinc plus others from memory.

I only don't use the stuff when I know the farm well and they have a history of astronomical P and K indices but that is a case by case and field by field basis.

P is what drives the plant and root development. Those seminal roots need to find P very quickly or the plant suffers. I have seen it too many times.

Seed bed is another subject and it winds me up no end.

 

[DRC]

I have a proprietary blend which contains N, P, S and copper and zinc plus others from memory.

I only don't use the stuff when I know the farm well and they have a history of astronomical P and K indices but that is a case by case and field by field basis.

P is what drives the plant and root development. Those seminal roots need to find P very quickly or the plant suffers. I have seen it too many times.

Seed bed is another subject and it winds me up no end.

Go on about seed bed then. I'm interested .
When you say you use the stuff, do you advise your farmers on everything , including nutrition.

 

[Beef farmer]

It's interesting how different countries have different ways of growing the same thing. Nobody in NZ would consider planting maize without a starter fert. In our area it's normally N 18, P 11, and S 12 but other areas are different depending on the soil. You can see the difference if you have a blocked spout. We also apply N post emerge while inter row cultivating down the spout. I'm not saying our way is better but I do think that a starter helps the plant get up and go especially if conditions are a bit cool.

I'm saying your way is better. Knifing in fert to the crop seemed to give it a real kick up the arse when I was there. Could never find anyone here with a knifing machine

 

[ollie989898]

Go on about seed bed then. I'm interested .
When you say you use the stuff, do you advise your farmers on everything , including nutrition.

Try! Whether anyone listens or not is another matter!!

Nutrition in my part of the world= slurry/manure.

 

[digger64]

Our P levels are around 4 and we have never seen benefit from starter fertiliser. Maize Growers Association trials generally show that starter fertiliser can give an early boost to growth, but when it comes to harvest there is no significant difference.

Stephen

 

[digger64]

We put digestate (applied in quantities to bring our K levels to requirement) onto the ground and lightly cultivate in before strip tilling the maize. We apply the rest of the N requirement (as calculated by the MGA Nitrogen Predictor) after emergence but before granules can get lodged in the base of the leaves.
Stephen

I have thought this but use dap plants definately much bigger and stronger earlier therefore should stand drought better and mature earlier both which can be an issue here ,difficult to value this financially but I' m reluctant not to use it .l use alot of strawy muck but think the K isn't as freely availiable as we are told seem to be getting small cobs but very good whole crop yields

 

[ollie989898]

I have some great photos of maize where fertiliser down the spout has been blocked or ran out, and also comparisons of cobs taken from the same areas but closer to harvest. The plants that had the maize starter were miles ahead in cob maturity.

 

[ollie989898]

Found them.