The Effects of Potassium Chloride to Counteract the Negative Effects of Side-banded Urea on Plant Establishment
A series of experiments to determine if adding KCl to side-banded urea would increase the safety to the seedlings against the toxic effects of side banded urea, regardless of the separation between the seed and fertilizer. No significant effect was observed, although there was one site-year observed where addition of KCL with urea in the side-banded urea for flax was beneficial.
IPNI-1999-CAN-SK22
15 Mar 2001
Justification
- Work currently underway at Brandon, Morden, Indian Head, Melfort, Canora, Scott and Swift Current has clearly demonstrated the potential dangers of side-banding urea nitrogen at seeding time on plant establishment. Recent work in Eastern Canada has demonstrated the potential of using KCl with the urea fertilizer to counteract some of the negative effects of urea on plant densities and possibly other factors as well (ref. Agron J. 90:734-739).