Corn Response to AVAIL in Starter Fertilizer.

Improving phosphorus (P) management and optimizing yield is a goal that producers constantly strive to achieve. One of the great challenges with P fertilization is low P-use efficiency due to fixation of added P by the soil. Banding P near the seed at planting (i.e., starter fertilizer) is a common practice among corn growers that can increase P-use efficiency. Recently, a new product called AVAIL® has been promoted as a fertilizer additive to reduce P fixation by soils and improve P-use efficiency during crop production. Adding P as a starter fertilizer is a common practice among corn growers in the Delmarva Region. The goal of this project was to evaluate the potential value of using AVAIL as a starter fertilizer additive during corn production. This study was conducted at eight site-years over the past three growing seasons. The ten treatments included four rates of P with and without AVAIL (a single rate of nitrogen {N} was applied with each), a control, and an N-only treatment. The soil test P concentrations across the eight site-years ranged from medium to excessive. Significant early-growth responses to P occurred at most site-years. These early-growth responses, however, have seldom translated into significant grain yield responses. To date, AVAIL has had no significant influence on early growth or grain yield.