NACAA

DEALING WITH THE HIGH COST OF FERTILIZERS

Abstract:

Fertilizer prices in Alabama reached an all-time high in 2008 with the price of N near $1.00 per pound, P2O5 over $1.30 per pound, and K2O near $0.68 per pound. What strategies does a row crop or forage producer have to offset these expenses and still produce a profitable crop? Five strategies are presented along with selected research to support these. (1) Soil test to avoid applying unnecessary nutrients that are already high in the soil. (2) Recycle nutrients in pastures by controlled grazing. (3) Use legumes as a winter cover crop for cotton and corn and in perennial pastures and hayfields. Legumes can fix over 100 pounds per acre of N that will be available to the next crop.. (4) Use poultry litter which is abundant in Alabama and contains about 60-60-40 pounds N-P2O5-K2O per ton. These nutrients alone were valued at almost $190 per ton in August, 2008, and $97 per ton in March, 2010. Poultry litter can be purchased, delivered, temporarily stored and spread within 100 miles of the production site for less than $45 per ton. Finally, (5) use the least expensive source of N. Some precautions may be needed with urea-containing materials in the summer, but most urea-based fertilizers can be used with minimum loss. Using any or all of these strategies can turn an expensive crop into a profitable crop.