5 things to know about starter fertilizer

Apr 22, 2023ditor’s note: The following was written by Dan Kaiser, University of MinnesotaExtension nutrient management specialist, and Jeff Vetsch, soil scientist, for theMinnesota Crop News website April 6.
While starter fertilizer does make sense in some circumstances, getting an economic benefit is not always guaranteed.

Here are a few things to consider before trying to determine if starter fertilizer is right for you.

1. Make your decision.

With any fertilizer source, the answer boils down to whether you need the nutrients.
Research does not overwhelmingly support the widespread use of starter fertilizer. The most noticeable benefit to starter is increased early growth. However, this effect can be purely cosmetic and not provide any benefits for yield. The primary benefit to in-furrow application is enhanced uptake of nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, that are in short supply early in the growing season. Reduced tillage systems may have a greater benefit when using in-furrow starter due to cooler and wetter soils.

2. Weigh your placement options.

Placement options can vary based on which nutrients you want to apply. Immobile nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, and micro-nutrients like zinc need to be placed near the roots for maximum benefit. Nitrogen and sulfur are mobile, and too much of these nutrients applied near the seed can reduce germination. In continuous corn, we’ve seen some benefit to nitrogen and sulfur banded on the soil surface to the side of the seed row. This also can work for corn following soybean in poorly drained soils.

3. Choose a source.

There are many options to choose from when selecting liquid fertilizer for use as a starter.

If you want to enhance early growth, select a starter with a high P2O5 content that can economically supply 10 lbs. P2O5 per acre and apply it in-furrow. This will increase growth, hasten dry down at the end of the growing season and possibly increase yield. For high-residue systems, you’ll likely need nitrogen and sulfur combinations of 28 or 32% UAN with ammonium thiosulfate banded on the soil surface.

4. Ortho- versus poly-phosphate.

The argument between whether to use a 100% ortho-phosphate starter versus a source with polyphosphate revolves around whether to buy a higher-cost low-salt product versus 10-34-0. While it is true that plants will not take up polyphosphate, 10-34-0 contains both ortho- and polyphosphate. It can take time for polyphosphate to convert to orthophosphate, but it should occur rapidly in most soils. There may be some benefit to the higher-cost products if you need to supply potassium, but the best bet is to compare products by calculating the cost of the products per unit nutrient applied.

5. What rate should I choose?

Remember that the amount of fertilizer placed on the seed will vary based on soil dryness. Placement in a sub-surface band away from the seed or 1 or 2 inches to the side of the row on the soil surface allow greater flexibility.
With any fertilizer source, the answer boils down to whether you need the nutrients. Yes, starter can potentially pay by reducing drying costs, but that is not guaranteed. The best way to evaluate the practice is to turn off the starter for a few passes. See if starter pays, then adjust your practices to ensure you are getting the most profit for your investment.