Fluid Fertilizers … 2008 and Beyond
Paul FixenInternational Plant Nutrition Institute
Dale Leikam Fluid Fertilizer Foundation
Second Brazilian Symposium on Fluid FertilizersJuly 7-9, 2008 Piracicaba, Brazil
Summary comments1. “Today, agricultural inputs are under the careful scrutiny of several
groups … growers, general public, and governments. There is tremendous incentive to use inputs wisely.”
2. “Fluid fertilizer inputs have experienced substantial growth as agriculture evolved into an increasingly efficient industry.”
3. “Fluids now make up nearly 40% of fertilizer consumed in the USA.”
Fluid Fertilizer Symposium, PiracicabaFluid Fertilizer Symposium, PiracicabaSeptember 13, 1993September 13, 1993
4. “High residue cropping systems have offered both opportunities and challenges to fluid use.”
5. “Site-specific technologies and management offer many opportunities for fluids.”
6. “Crop production systems are undergoing exciting changes. Those changes hold many more opportunities than challenges for fluids.”
Wright
Highly P fixing soilHighly P fixing soil
Nearly 15 years later, much has changed … yet in many ways much remains the same.
ScienceScience TechnologyTechnology
Major changes impacting crop production & nutrient management
• Greatly increased input costs and crop pricesGreatly increased input costs and crop prices
• Global food crisis and urgent need for higher yieldsGlobal food crisis and urgent need for higher yields
• Climate change Climate change – Crop demand, soil supply, nutrient losses, etc. (Brouder & Volenec, 2008)
• Genetic changesGenetic changes:– Protection from multiple pests
– Drought stress tolerance; nutrient use efficiency?
– Net effect on optimum nutrient rates?
• Crop production for specific end-use Crop production for specific end-use (nutrient effects?)
• Biofuel crops Biofuel crops – nutrient needs, cycling
• Advances in fertilizer sources, nutrient sensing & Advances in fertilizer sources, nutrient sensing & application technologyapplication technology
Implication of changes to nutrient management approaches
• Future management decisions may need to be more measurement based rather than historical
• Past performance in a region may not reflect future performance …
– your future may be more like someone else’s past than your own past.
$0.10/kg corn & $0.60/kg N vs $0.20 corn & $1.20 N
• Price ratio the same … optimum rate the same• But the economic penalty for over or under estimating need
or for nutrient loss is much greater with today’s higher prices • Greater value and economic justification for:
– Precision input application, enhanced efficiency productsPrecision input application, enhanced efficiency products– Guidance systemsGuidance systems– Soil testing and plant analysis, soil or plant imagingSoil testing and plant analysis, soil or plant imaging– On-farm strip trials, omission plotsOn-farm strip trials, omission plots– Other forms of decision supportOther forms of decision support– Research and education on all of the aboveResearch and education on all of the above
Investing in determination of right source, rate, time and place for inputs helps manage the much higher riskrisk of today’s market … decision support tools
Variable Rate Applicator with GreenSeeker
• Next issue of Next issue of Better Crops Better Crops will focus on will focus on fertilizer economicsfertilizer economics• PortuguesePortuguese translation of selected articles translation of selected articles
Potential negative consequences of increased value of agriculture
• Cassman and Liska (2007)– Potential for higher food prices to increase malnutrition
– Pressure to increase yields without ecologically sound practices
– Pressure to expand production into marginal or natural lands
• Extent these are realized will be greatly influenced by the rate at which crop yields are increasedcrop yields are increased
USDA-FAS, 5/2008
World wheat plus coarse grains, 1978-2008
1998-2008y = -1.80x + 3621
r² = 0.9305
10152025303540
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
% o
f con
sum
ption
Year (2008 =2008/09)
Ending stocks
We’re under the magnifying glass … like never before
• Food prices & supply• Encroachment on
natural lands• Nitrates in water• Hypoxic zones• GHG emissions• Air quality
1. “Today, agricultural inputs are under the careful scrutiny of several groups … growers, general public, and governments. There is tremendous incentive to use inputs wisely.” OK … even greater OK … even greater
Summary comments1. “Today, agricultural inputs are under the careful scrutiny of several
groups … growers, general public, and governments. There is tremendous incentive to use inputs wisely.” OK … even greaterOK … even greater
2. “Fluid fertilizer inputs have experienced substantial growth as agriculture evolved into an increasingly efficient industry.”
3. “Fluids now make up nearly 40% of fertilizer consumed in the USA.”
World N consumption (1974-2006).
Data source: IFA, 2007.
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006
Mill
ion
tonn
es N
N solutions
Ammonia
Urea
Others
World N solutions market share (1974-2006).
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Ma
rke
t sh
are
, %
Excludes dir. appl. anhydrous ammonia
World distribution of N solution consumption (2004-2006).
Excludes dir. appl. anhydrous ammonia
67.4
14.3
5.4
2.0 1.91.7
7.2
USA
France
Germany
Canada
UK
Argentina
Other
4.3 million tonnes
USA
France
Germany
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Ma
rke
t s
ha
re,
%
1988-1991
2004-2006
Change in N solution market share for leading solution consuming countries across 15 years.
Data source: IFA, 2007.Excludes dir. appl. anhydrous ammonia
03/04 4%04/05 6%05/06 19%
Solution market share increases
• Argentina (Melgar, 2007) – Reasons given in survey of 400 farmers, 30 distributors and 30 crop advisers
– Ease of use, speed of application, application precision
– Larger farms more likely to use fluids than smaller farms
– 90% of solution fertilizer is applied post-emergence for corn; 70% for wheat
– Perception of lower N volatilization
• Germany (Kuecke, 2007)– Yield response from fluid injection that is similar to or higher than
conventional surface application
– Reduced nitrate leaching and ammonia volatilization
USA fertilizer consumption by class.
Data source: Commercial Fertilizers, AAPFCO & TFI
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Mill
ion
ton
ne
s m
ate
ria
l Total
Dry
Fluid*
Ammonia
*Excludes dir. appl. anhydrous ammonia
USA fertilizer market share by class.
Data source: Commercial Fertilizers, AAPFCO & TFI
y = -0.013x2 + 53.62x - 53654R² = 0.98
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Ma
rke
t sh
are
, %
Dry 61.5%
Fluid 31.0%*
Ammonia 7.5%
*Excludes dir. appl. anhydrous ammonia
USA N fertilizer consumption by product.
Data source: Commercial Fertilizers, AAPFCO & TFI
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Mill
ion
ton
ne
s N
Total
Ammonia
Urea*Solutions*
Ammon. nitr.*
*Blended multi-nutrient materials excluded
USA N fertilizer market share.
Data source: Commercial Fertilizers, AAPFCO & TFI
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Ma
rke
t sh
are
, %
Solutions* Urea*
Ammon. nitr.*
Others
Ammonia
*Blended multi-nutrient materials excluded
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
US
$/kg
N
Ammonia
N solutions
Urea
Ammon. Nit.
USA retail N fertilizer prices (1965-2008).
Data source: USDA-NASS, 2008.
Spring prices
USA P fertilizer consumption by product.
Data source: Commercial Fertilizers, AAPFCO & TFI
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
10
00
to
nn
es
P2O
5
DAP
MAP
APP
TSP
Product used in manufacture of mixed fertilizers excluded
USA P fertilizer market share.
Data source: Commercial Fertilizers, AAPFCO & TFI
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Ma
rke
t sh
are
, %
DAP
MAP APPTSP
Others (includes mixed fertilizers)
USA retail P fertilizer prices (1965-2008).
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
US
$/kg
P2O
5
DAP
APP
MAP
TSP
Spring prices
Data source: USDA-NASS, 2008.
Summary comments1. “Today, agricultural inputs are under the careful scrutiny of several
groups … growers, general public, and governments. There is tremendous incentive to use inputs wisely.” OK … even greaterOK … even greater
2. “Fluid fertilizer inputs have experienced substantial growth in some in some countriescountries as agriculture evolved into an increasingly efficient industry.”
3. “Fluids now make up nearly 40% (38.5) (38.5) of fertilizer consumed in the US.”
Summary comments
4. “High residue cropping systems have offered both opportunities and challenges to fluid use.”
5. “Site-specific technologies and management offer many opportunities for fluids.”
1. “Today, agricultural inputs are under the careful scrutiny of several groups … growers, general public, and governments. There is tremendous incentive to use inputs wisely.” OK … even greaterOK … even greater
2. “Fluid fertilizer inputs have experienced substantial growth in some in some countriescountries as agriculture evolved into an increasingly efficient industry.”
3. “Fluids now make up nearly 40% (38.5) (38.5) of fertilizer consumed in the US.”
Nutrients in high residue systems
• Increased need for starter fertilizer bands and N early in the Increased need for starter fertilizer bands and N early in the season.season.
• Concern over stratification of P and K near the soil surface.Concern over stratification of P and K near the soil surface.
• Concern over volatilization of unincorporated urea Concern over volatilization of unincorporated urea containing fertilizers. containing fertilizers.
Developments in knowledge and technologyDevelopments in knowledge and technology• Apparent mobility of surface banded P in soilsApparent mobility of surface banded P in soils• RTK technologyRTK technology• Nutrient source technologyNutrient source technology
Equipment for placing starter 5 cm to side of row (Kovar, 2007).
Surface banding of starters near the row has been surprisingly effective.
3 weeks
19 weeks
0
15
cm
0
15Profile distribution of available P after surface application of liquid P fertilizer.
3 cm3 cm
8 cm8 cm
Fluid fertilizer performance compared to granular fertilizers for wheat on highly calcareous soils in Australia.
Fluid Fertilizer Sites showing fluid advantage over
granular
Average advantage for sites showing
an advantage
Ammonium polyphosphate 23/25 = 92% 15%
Phosphoric acid 10/13 = 77% 21%
TG MAP or DAP 14/14 = 100% 18%
Holloway et al., 2008.
Fluid response over granular products thought to be due to greater mobility of the fluid forms in these highly calcareous soils.
RTK Automatic Guidance(Real Time Kinematic)
Auto steer adoption by custom applicators in US:
4% in 200437% in 2008
Source: Norm Larson, Elburn Co-op, IL
RTK Guided Strip Tillage and N application
225 kg N at 12.5 cm versus 0 cm225 kg N at 12.5 cm versus 0 cm
RTK Row Position Effects on Corn Yield Response to Pre-Plant UAN Rates at Wanatah, IN, 2006
Vyn, 2007.
0
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
ZeroPre
50Pre
100Pre
200Pre
On-Row 5" beside 10" beside
13 25
Corn
Yie
ld (
t/ha) 11.3
7.5
3.8
(cm)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
ZeroPre
50Pre
100Pre
200Pre
On-Row 5" beside 10" beside
113Pre
56Pre
225Pre
Sensors for N Management
Nutrient source technology
• Increased fertilizer value justifies greater investment in sources and additives with the promise of reducing the potential for nutrient loss or improving nutrient availability.
• Several new products on the market in both granular and fluid forms.
– Effectiveness varies with site-specific weather and soil factors
– Require evaluation under relevant conditions
• Be aware of long-term soil fertility impacts
Summary comments
4. “High residue cropping systems have offered both opportunities and challenges to fluid use.” Some of the challenges have lessened.Some of the challenges have lessened.
5. “Site-specific technologies and management offer many opportunities for fluids.” OKOK
1. “Today, agricultural inputs are under the careful scrutiny of several groups … growers, general public, and governments. There is tremendous incentive to use inputs wisely.” OK … even greaterOK … even greater
2. “Fluid fertilizer inputs have experienced substantial growth in some in some countriescountries as agriculture evolved into an increasingly efficient industry.”
3. “Fluids now make up nearly 40% (38.5) (38.5) of fertilizer consumed in the US.”
Summary comments
4. “High residue cropping systems have offered both opportunities and challenges to fluid use.” Some of the challenges have lessened.Some of the challenges have lessened.
5. “Site-specific technologies and management offer many opportunities for fluids.” OKOK
6. “Crop production systems are undergoing exciting changes. Those changes hold many more opportunities than challenges for fluids.”
1. “Today, agricultural inputs are under the careful scrutiny of several groups … growers, general public, and governments. There is tremendous incentive to use inputs wisely.” OK … even greaterOK … even greater
2. “Fluid fertilizer inputs have experienced substantial growth in some in some countriescountries as agriculture evolved into an increasingly efficient industry.”
3. “Fluids now make up nearly 40% (38.5) (38.5) of fertilizer consumed in the US.”
The changes in cropping systems discussed earlier …• To meet global demand, must produce exponential yield increases
unlike the smaller linear increases of the last 40 years. This will require more than new genetics.
• To remain profitable, must efficiently utilize nutrient inputs, water, seed and energy without jeopardizing the potential for yield improvement.
• Be managed for minimal negative, or even positive, environmental impact.
Fluids offer opportunity for Fluids offer opportunity for timingtiming and convenience in and convenience in placement. placement.
Nutrient best management Nutrient best management practices focused on application of practices focused on application of the right source at the right rate, the right source at the right rate, time, and place will be essential time, and place will be essential components of these cropping components of these cropping systems. systems.
Source
TimePlace
Rate
Summary comments - 1993
4. “High residue cropping systems have offered both opportunities and challenges to fluid use.” Some of the challenges have lessened.Some of the challenges have lessened.
5. “Site-specific technologies and management offer many opportunities for fluids.” OKOK
6. “Crop production systems are undergoing exciting changes. Those changes hold many more opportunities than challenges for fluids.” OKOK
1. “Today, agricultural inputs are under the careful scrutiny of several groups … growers, general public, and governments. There is tremendous incentive to use inputs wisely.” OK … even greaterOK … even greater
2. “Fluid fertilizer inputs have experienced substantial growth in some in some countriescountries as agriculture evolved into an increasingly efficient industry.”
3. “Fluids now make up nearly 40% (38.5) (38.5) of fertilizer consumed in the US.”
The challenges of the next 15 years appear to hold The challenges of the next 15 years appear to hold significant opportunities for efficient and effective significant opportunities for efficient and effective
management of fluid fertilizers.management of fluid fertilizers.
IPNI Members
See the following for more information
IPNI: IPNI: www.ipni.net
IPNI (Brazil): IPNI (Brazil): www.ipni.net/brazil
Fluid Fertilizer Foundation: Fluid Fertilizer Foundation: http://www.fluidfertilizer.com