Which Corn Starter – Liquid or Dry?

"Should I use a liquid or granular corn starter fertilizer?" This question comes up at many meetings, so it is worth addressing once again. The simple answer is "it depends". There are advantages and disadvantages to each system. What works for one farm will not provide the same advantages to a different farm.

Nutrient Availability, Salt Index & Purity?

Differences in nutrient availability, salt index or purity are not included in the list of advantages and disadvantages. Any differences in nutrient availability come from the placement of the fertilizer, rather than its form. There is some truth to the statement that liquid materials are higher purity and lower salt index. However these differences are a consequence of the manufacturing process and the need to exclude any compounds that would "salt out" of the liquid and form a sludge at the bottom of the tank. The difference in agronomic performance of the fertilizers is small enough to be unmeasurable.

Granular Starter Fertilizers

Advantages

• Lowest cost per unit of nutrients
• Application equipment already on many planters
• May be applied in 2X2 band or seed placed
• Higher safe rates in 2X2 band
• Wide range of pre-mixed or custom formulations

Disadvantages

• Handling either labour intensive (bags) or requires extra equipment (bulk)
• Equipment requires careful cleaning and maintenance to keep working
• Difficult to accurately apply low rates

Best Fit

• Farms with low soil tests, where advantage to high rates of starter fertilizers
• Cropping systems where most starter fertilizer is N and/or K
• Livestock farms with moderate manure applications, where all fertilizer applied at planting

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Liquid Starter Fertilizers

Advantages

• Convenient and easy to handle
• Much easier and cheaper to retrofit equipment to apply liquid fertilizers than dry
• Easier to apply precise rates

Disadvantages

• Cost per unit of nutrients higher (or much higher) than dry
• Limited range of formulations
• Compatible micronutrient sources expensive

Best Fit

• Farms with high soil tests, where advantage to low rates of seed-placed starter
• Cropping systems where small amount of starter fertilizer is balanced by broadcast fertilizer
• Livestock farms with higher manure application rates, where little fertilizer required

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