Fibrophos Handbook 2015

Potash in Fibrophos

OBJECTIVE AND METHOD

ADAS Huntingdon

S.J.Richardson

Ryegrass was chosen as the test crop because sequential cuts allow an assessment

of how quickly nutrients become available as well as revealing their overall availability.

Two soils were used with low K levels. The pH’s were 8.2 and 6.4 respectively.

Cuts were taken whenever the most advanced plants reached 10-12cm in height on

each occasion. Ashed Poultry Litter (Fibrophos) was compared with Muriate of Potash.

Response to potassium was both rapid and significant from Cut 1 onwards. At Cut 4,

both yield and leaf potassium content showed the potassium in Fibrophos to be very

largely available.

Trials have shown that Fibrophos

is a very effective source of potash

across a wide range of soil types

throughout the UK. Potash is an

important nutrient for grass

especially where the whole crop

is removed by silage or hay cuts.

In grain, potash is removed in

proportion to the yield, e.g. 27 units

per acre are removed in each tonne

of grain and straw. 40 units per

acre of potash are removed in each

tonne of hay.

Fibrophos not only replaces

the potash removed but also

replenishes the soil with important

secondary elements and most of

the trace elements.

Evaluation of Fibrophos as a fertiliser

Conclusion

On balance, the evidence from total yield and potassium uptake

indicates that the potassium in Fibrophos is 90-100% available

within a few months of application.

Since these early trials conducted

in 1994 over 1 million tonnes

of Fibrophos have been sold

nationwide for both cereal and

grassland applications.

Many of the sales made today

are to farmers who have used

Fibrophos across their farms for the

past 20 years - thus endorsing the

work carried out by ADAS.