A projected shortage of phosphate fertilizer has been a hot topic of conversation all winter - I hope that these projections are wrong. However, if the supply of phosphate is short, there are some management options.<!-more—>

Priorities are important. Three factors should be used to establish those priorities. These are: tillage system, crop rotation and soil test levels for phosphorus (P). My thoughts on the use of these priorities follow.

The first decision is easy. A banded application of phosphate reduces the recommended rate by one-half. This is the case for both corn and small grain production. The band can be placed either with the seed or close to the seed. A 2×2 placement is not necessary.

Regardless of soil test value for P, some phosphate near the seed at planting is very important for corn on corn. The importance in this application increases as the tillage becomes more limited. You can conclude that some phosphate in a band near the seed is essential for continuous corn planted with conservation tillage systems.

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By George Rehm, University of Minnesota