Scientist says farmers being fooled by DAP price

For immediate release

2 September 2009

Scientist says farmers being fooled by DAP price

Farmers misled into applying DAP fertiliser because of its perceived lower cost will pay the price in the coming months, warns one of the industry’s leading scientists.

Dr Jamie Blennerhassett, Technical Services Manager at Summit-Quinphos, says that while DAP (diammonium phosphate) looks attractive as a phosphate (P) source at $830/t, it won’t deliver top pasture growth unless sulphur (S) is mixed with it.

“It is very short sighted thinking you are getting a good deal with cheap P or alternatively getting the N for “free” as many people are being led to believe. Farmers should be questioning the advice they receive regarding DAP and take another look at the science.”

Dr Blennerhassett challenges “misinformation” in the industry that encourages farmers to switch to DAP away from proven S containing fertiliser mixes such as RPR (reactive phosphate rock) and elemental sulphur.

“Those farmers relying on DAP alone are ignoring the science – they have not factored in that DAP does not have S. They will have to add S to get acceptable yields, and in doing so they cancel out any cost advantage DAP has at present.

“There’s an element of misinformation in the marketplace because DAP appears to be a cheap source per unit of P at the moment, but it’s not a good value deal, even if you need the N (nitrogen) as well.

“Most farmers will be better off by applying S, particularly those who have not been able to keep up with their maintenance fertiliser levels.

“Now more than ever farmers should be relying on quality scientific advice to squeeze the most out of whatever money they can afford for fertiliser. Ignoring the need for sulphur is just crazy.”

He warns that dry matter losses in the range of 700 to 1500 kg DM/ha can be expected if sulphur is not applied every year.

“Sulphur is the key driver of extra production in the short term. It is also the most cost-effective fertiliser option, producing extra grass for around 2 - 4 c/kg DM. It is absolutely vital to get S on ahead of any other nutrients.”

On paper, DAP provides P at a cost of $2.92/kg P. But adding the necessary S as sulphate of ammonia (SOA) to DAP lifts its cost to $4.25/kg of P, Dr Blennerhassett calculates.

“RPR with elemental sulphur (CloverKing) costs just $3.90/kg of P. It is proven to deliver, but farmers using just DAP will end up losing out on production unless they stump up extra money for SOA.

“Unlike S, phosphate will have limited impact on production in the short term, so farmers are basically wasting their money on what they think is cheap P in DAP without getting S on at the same time.

“Farmers need to start looking beyond perceived short-term bargains, and start considering the wider picture. Sulphur and nitrogen will have the biggest impact on production and also happen to be the best value return per kg of DM. Cheap P is therefore irrelevant unless you have taken care of the S first.”

Summit-Quinphos has recently released PhaSed N as a great alternative S offering for farmers, Dr Blennerhassett adds.

It is a breakthrough combination of nitrogen, sulphur and lime blended in a single compound granule that allows farmers to get on the most cost-effective nutrients of S and N whilst having the ability to add as little or as much P as they desire.

ENDS

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