Yara Liquids FLOWPHOS

Yara Liquids
FLOWPHOS
Liquid Phosphorus solutions for planting cotton
and summer crops

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for crop growth and
development of cotton and summer crops. It is part of the
universal energy carrier (Adenosine triphosphate or ATP) in
plants and is involved with many plant metabolic processes,
enzyme activity and the development of new cells in the
shoots and roots. Although the requirement for phosphorus
is lower than nitrogen and potassium, it is no less important
to healthy plant growth and profitable crop production.
Phosphorus, unlike nitrogen and sulphur, is immobile in the
soil and therefore placement and timing of applications is
very important.
Phosphorus is taken up throughout the entire development
of the crop (Figures 1 & 2). To ensure that phosphorus is
not limiting yield potential, adequate soil P reserves are
necessary to meet the crops demands for P.
When soil P reserves are adequate, your phosphorus
applications should at least replace the P removed by the
crop (Table 1). For most summer crops this means a 2 fold
application technique is needed. Some starter P placed
with the seed (Yara Liquids FLOWPHOS is ideal for this
application) and the majority of the P placed at 20 to 40 cm
deep where the crops roots are most active. Starter P also
helps overcome the lower availability of P in cold soils (Figure
4 and photo opposite)
This concept is supported by research led by Mike Bell
(DAFF Qld) as it showed the best crop responses to applied
phosphorus on low P sites were by applying 3 to 4kg/ha P as
an in-furrow starter and the 20 to 40kg/ha P applied 20 to
40cm deep for building P availability, as illustrated in figure
3. Banding applications to replace crop removal of P works
well for sorghum and corn but not as well for cotton. Deep
application for cotton should be mixed through the soil if
possible.
Figure 1: Relative nutrient uptake by growth stage for
corn
Figure 2: Nutrient uptake for a 12 ba/ha cotton crop
400
Total nutrient uptake (%)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Reproductive stage
Vegetative stage
VE V1 V3 V5 V6 V7/9 V13 VT R1 R3 R4 R5 R6
Growth stages
Nutrient uptake (kg/ha)
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
0 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800 2100
Day Degrees
N P K Mg
N P K
Source: Zscheischler et al. 1984
Source: C Dowling

Table 1: Phosphorus uptake and removal for the 3 main
summer crops.
Sorghum kg/ton Corn kg/ton Cotton kg/ba
Crop uptake 5 4.5 4.1
Removal 3.7 3.3 2.3
Figure 3: Yara Liquids FLOWPHOS applied in-furrow to
help with crop establishment and NPK applied deeper in
the soil, to supply seasonal crop requirements.
Response to Yara Liquids
FLOWPHOS KZ at planting
No starter Phosphorus
used
Planting in Central QLD
(courtesey of Pioneer Seeds)
Symptoms of P deficiency are;
• Slow emergence and growth
• Stunted and spindly plants
• Off-green coloured foliage with purplish veins and
purplish petioles due to anthocyanin accumulation
In-furrow application of Yara Liquids FLOWPHOS
at planting
Generally cotton and summer crops are planted as soon
as soil temperatures reach the minimum threshold. Low
soil temperatures slow down soil physical processes,
chemical reactions, biological activity and reduce solubility of
phosphorus compounds, which reduces the concentration of
P in the soil solution, as can be seen in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Influence of soil temperature on Phosphorus
availability
Relative availability P (%)
100
80
60
40
20
Rates of Yara Liquids FLOWPHOS that supply 3 to 4kg P/ha
are an effective option to prevent early season P deficiency.
Yara Liquids FLOWPHOS provides high
concentration of available P to a relatively
inefficient root system. This ensures high plant
P concentration during important early growth
stages;
• Development of extensive root system
• Floral initiation (establishment of grain number)
• Important for establishing high yield potential
Yara Liquids FLOWPHOS reduces the negative effects of
many types of stress on plant growth and development
through supplying 100% water soluble nutrients in an easily
accessible band next to the seed
Stresses which cause poor nutrient uptake soils are;
• Cold, wet soils
• Compacted soils
• Soils with low P status
0
21 18 16 13
Soil temperature (Cº)
Yara Liquids FLOWPHOS can be tank mixed with many
insecticides and to protect young seedlings.
If phosphorus is not applied as a starter, small developing
cotton and summer crops may suffer from P deficiency as
shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Phosphorus
deficient corn
A well setup planter applies Yara Liquids FLOWPHOS in a
uniform stream as illustrated in figure 3. In most situations,
but particularly in colder soils, plants benefit from phosphorus
placed close to the seed, regardless of soil P levels.
Yara Liquids FLOWPHOS Range for cotton and summer
crop
FLOWPHOS FLOWPHOS FLOWPHOS
15 13z kz
Nitrogen (N) 10% 9% 7.5%
Phosphorus
(P)
15% 13.5% 14.1%
Potassium
(K) 1.0% 6.5%
Zinc (Zn):
EDTA
0.9% 0.5%

Irrigated Cotton Crop Program
Pre-Plant Planting Emergence
1st Squares
1st Squares
1st Flowers
1st Flower
Peak Flower
Peak Flower
Bolls Open
Approximate
Day Degrees
Yara Liquids
Zn-SUL
Apply
20-60 L/ha and
incorporate into
soil
70 - 540 540 - 840 840 -1300 1300 - 1600
Yara Liquids
FLOWPHOS 13Z
Apply
100-200L/ha
Apply
30-40 L/ha
in-furrow
Yara Liquids
P-FOL Zinc
Apply a band spray 3-5 L/ha
YaraVita
ZINTRAC
Apply 300mL-1 L/ha
YaraVita
GLYTREL ZnP
Yara Liquids
K-FLOW 0-14-30
Yara Liquids
K-FLOW 4-0-12
Yara Liquids
N26
Yara Liquids
N-FOL 24+TE
Apply
400-500L/ha
in pre-irrigation
Apply 2-3 L/ha as required with
Glyphosate
Apply 1-2 applications of 10 L/ha
Apply 2-3 applications of
30 L/ha, starting 7-10 days after
first flower
Apply 500-600 L/ha in multiple applications
Apply 30-40 L/ha as required
While Yara Australia has taken all reasonable care in the preparation of this document, the information is a guide only. It is advised that potential users read the products Safety Data
Sheet prior to using the product, which is available on request from Yara Australia. There are no warranties, express or implied by operation of law or otherwise, including but not limited to
any warranty as to merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.
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www.yara.com.au