Where to Use JumpStart
A number of factors affect the performance of JumpStart in a given year – much like phosphate fertilizer.
Incorporate JumpStart into an overall phosphate fertility program for maximum benefit from all components of the program.
1) Phosphate availability
Phosphate availability expected or actual (based on a soil test) is an obvious key factor. If there are surplus levels of phosphate already available to a crop, it is unlikely that JumpStart will have an impact. JumpStart 2.0 ounce bottle showing the wettable powder contents.
2) Soil pH
The P availability for plants is highest within the 5.5 to 7.0 pH range. The most abundant phosphorus minerals are calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum phosphates. These minerals have different solubility depending on the pH of the solution. At high pH values, the availability of both soil and fertilizer phosphorus
decreases largely due to reactions (adsorption and precipitation) of soluble (or available) phosphorus with calcium compounds. JumpStart produces organic acids that lower the soil pH around the crop root and in turn solubilize the calcium compounds increasing phosphorus availability for plant uptake.
3) Soil temperature
Soil temperature has a profound impact on the ability of crop roots to uptake phosphorus. Plant root temperature variations can have a much greater impact on plant growth than do shoot temperature variations. Corn seedling growth can vary as much as 40% per degree Fahrenheit change in the soil temperature within the range of 54-95°F.
JumpStart is active in the soil at temperatures as low as 40°F. It has the potential to increase soil phosphorus availability near the root tip and promote an adequate supply of available phosphorus to a slower growing root.
Phosphorus is also relatively immobile in soils and is taken up primarily near the root tip. Consequently, a slower growing root requires higher concentrations of available P at any given location in the soil profile compared to a fast growing root. This is because fast-growing roots will scavenge larger portions of the soil profile as the root tip “travels” through it while the tip of a slow growing root will not.
Soil temperature at planting is often lower under no- or minimumtill practices than under conventional tillage systems. This is a result of higher amounts of surface crop residue that insulates the soil during the warming stages of spring. The minimal soil disturbance under no-till also limits the amount of soil warming
.
4) Soil organic matter
Soils containing higher than 14% soil organic matter are unlikely to respond to JumpStart. Similar to JumpStart, soil organic matter breakdown naturally produces organic acids capable of solubilizing calcium phosphate. Consequently, the higher the organic matter content the less likely a soil will respond to JumpStart.
5) Soil calcium content
The higher the calcium content of a soil, the greater the likelihood of a JumpStart response. Soils with higher calcium concentration have higher potential to bind phosphorous making phosphate unavailable for plant uptake.
Calcium readily dissolves into soil solution as rain or irrigation water filtrates through the soil. Calcium in soil solution can precipitate phosphorus as calcium phosphates and phosphorus can also be adsorbed by calcium carbonate particles. Both processes reduce fertilizer and soil phosphorous availability. JumpStart produces organic acids that breakup calcium phosphate molecules increasing phosphorus availability for plant uptake.
6) Manure application
Manure is a source of phosphorous although the amount of phosphorous in manure will vary significantly.
If a parcel of land has had manure applied in the last 18 months, the use of JumpStart is not recommended. This recommendation is based on the combination of the phosphate content in the manure and organic matter that exists in manure.
Probability of JumpStart Response
A number of factors affect the availability of phosphate fertility for a crop and thus the fit and expected performance from JumpStart. Fertilizer and manure applications as well as factors such as soil pH, soil temperature, soil organic matter, and soil calcium levels all have an impact on the availability of soil phosphate. The graphic above shows the expected response to two key factors – soil pH and expected phosphorous availability.
