Phil Cooper (FCG Midwest)

Recent survey figures undertaken by the British Survey of Fertiliser Practice show significant reductions in the use of all three main inputs, namely Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P) and Potash (K).  Comparing usage in 2023 to 2003 it has dropped by:

N 30% to 80 kgsN/ha

P 70% to 9 kgs/ha

K 70% to 11 kgs/ha

The decline in N use can be attributed to:

Of more concern is the reduction in both P and K down to very low levels.  Some of this drop will be due to businesses being more accurate with their calculations accounting for P and K supplied by FYM, slurry and digestate, etc.  However, after accounting for P and K supplied by an average load of slurry crops still require:

These rates assume soil indices of 2, which many soils are not and sit at index 1.  Even at index 2 on average insufficient P and K is being applied to grass and arable land.

P is used for: root development, energy transfer and tillering.

K is used for: drought resistance, strong health growth and improved disease resistance.

Both nutrients are essential if the crop is going to meet its full potential, and a deficit will impact on yield and quality.

Now is a good time of year to put together these plans.  Please contact Phil at pcooper@fcgagric.com or your local FCG Office, to discuss getting soil samples taken for analysis and/or implementing the results of these analysis to incorporate in a nutrient plan.