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Mini Fertilizers Equal BIG Benefits: Unlocking the Unique Advantages of Mini-SGN Fertilizers for Turf and Ornamentals

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 18:12:49 GMT

Many turf managers are aware that fertilizers come in various Size Guide Numbers (SGN), indicating different granular sizes. Among them are micro, mini, and standard grades commonly used in turf management. While turf managers often select SGN based on factors like turf type, traffic, or price, there are numerous other reasons to consider a smaller SGN for its added benefits. Below are the advantages that a Mini-SGN fertilizer can offer compared to standard SGN fertilizers for turfgrass and ornamental care:

Precision Application: Mini-SGN fertilizers have smaller granule sizes, allowing for more precise application. This precision ensures uniform coverage and distribution of nutrients across the turf or ornamental area, reducing the risk of over-application or under-application.

Improved Nutrient Uptake: The smaller granule size of mini-SGN fertilizers facilitates better nutrient absorption by plants. With increased surface area contact between the fertilizer granules and plant roots, nutrient uptake efficiency is enhanced, leading to healthier and more vigorous growth.

Reduced Environmental Impact: Mini-SGN fertilizers minimize the risk of nutrient leaching and runoff due to their smaller granule size. This helps prevent nutrient pollution in water bodies and reduces environmental impact, promoting sustainable turf and ornamental management practices.

Enhanced Root Development: The smaller granules of mini-SGN fertilizers promote deeper root growth in turfgrass and ornamental plants. Improved root development enhances drought tolerance, nutrient absorption, and overall plant health, resulting in resilient and thriving landscapes.

With increased surface area contact between the fertilizer granules and plant roots, nutrient uptake efficiency is enhanced, leading to healthier and more vigorous growth.

Uniform Application: Mini-SGN fertilizers ensure uniform application across the turf or ornamental area, regardless of terrain or landscape features. This uniformity helps maintain consistent nutrient levels throughout the entire area, promoting balanced growth and minimizing patchiness.

Convenient Handling and Application: The smaller size of mini-SGN fertilizers makes them easier to handle and apply, especially in tight or hard-to-reach areas. This convenience streamlines the fertilization process and improves efficiency for turf managers and landscapers.

Increased Pesticide Adherence: Mini SGN fertilizers can serve as carriers or adjuvants for pesticides, helping them adhere to plant surfaces and penetrate pest populations more effectively. The smaller granule size and uniform distribution of mini SGN fertilizers ensure better coverage of the target area, maximizing pesticide contact with pests and minimizing the risk of pesticide runoff or drift.

Overall, mini-SGN fertilizers provide numerous advantages for turfgrass and ornamental care, including precision application, improved nutrient uptake, reduced environmental impact, enhanced root development, uniform application, convenient handling, and improved pesticide adherence to plants. Incorporating mini-SGN fertilizers into turf and ornamental management programs can lead to healthier, more resilient landscapes while promoting sustainability and efficiency.

Looking for mini fertilizer products for your turf and ornamentals management? Allied Nutrients offers controlled and slow-release fertilizers and stabilized nitrogen fertilizers in mini SGN in TTRU™, XCU®, NUTRALENE® and UMAXX® products. View the Products page or click on the product below to learn more about these EEF technologies.

Spring Sprung Too Soon? Tips to Navigate Turf Challenges Caused by an Early Spring

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:18:49 GMT

As the seasons transition and warmer weather arrives earlier than expected, turf managers find themselves facing unique challenges and opportunities. An early spring brings with it the promise of vibrant growth and lush green landscapes, but it also requires careful planning and proactive management to ensure optimal turf health. In this article, we’ll explore some essential tips for turf managers to navigate and make the most of an early spring.

Monitor Soil Moisture

With an early onset of spring, soil moisture levels may fluctuate differently than in previous years. It’s crucial for turf managers to closely monitor soil moisture and adjust irrigation schedules accordingly. Adequate soil moisture is essential for promoting healthy turf growth and preventing stress during periods of warm weather.

Start Mowing Sooner

Warmer temperatures stimulate turfgrass growth, leading to earlier mowing requirements. Turf managers should be prepared to start mowing operations sooner than usual to maintain proper turf height and appearance. Regular mowing helps promote dense, healthy turf stands and enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the landscape.

Implement Pre-Emergent Weed Control

Take advantage of the early spring to implement pre-emergent weed control measures. Applying pre-emergent herbicides before weed seeds germinate can effectively prevent weed growth and reduce weed populations throughout the growing season. Early intervention is key to achieving optimal weed control results.

Aerate and Overseed

Early spring provides an excellent opportunity for aerating and overseeding turf areas. Aeration helps alleviate soil compaction and improve air and water infiltration, while overseeding promotes turf density and fills in thin or bare areas. These practices contribute to the establishment of healthy, resilient turf stands before the onset of summer heat.

Aeration helps alleviate soil compaction and improve air and water infiltration.

Adjust Fertilization Schedule

With the arrival of spring ahead of schedule, turf managers should adjust their fertilization schedules accordingly. Apply fertilizers based on soil test results and turfgrass needs, taking into account the accelerated growth rate. Proper fertilization promotes vigorous turf growth and enhances overall turf health.

Monitor Pest Activity

Early spring conditions may also lead to earlier pest activity, including insects and diseases. Turf managers should be vigilant for signs of pest infestations and implement appropriate pest management strategies as needed. Timely intervention helps prevent pest damage and preserves the integrity of the turf.

Prepare for Irrigation Needs

As temperatures rise during an early spring, the demand for irrigation may increase sooner than expected. Turf managers should ensure that irrigation systems are in good working condition and ready to meet the turf’s water requirements. Proper irrigation is essential for sustaining healthy turf growth and vitality.

Protect Against Frost

Despite the early arrival of spring, the threat of late-season frost events remains a concern. Turf managers should take precautions to protect sensitive turfgrass species from frost damage, such as covering them or adjusting irrigation timing. Protecting turf against frost ensures its resilience and longevity.

Turf managers should ensure that irrigation systems are in good working condition.

Stay Flexible

Lastly, turf managers should remain flexible and adaptable in their approach to turf management during an early spring. Weather patterns can be unpredictable, and conditions may change rapidly. By staying flexible, turf managers can effectively respond to evolving circumstances and maintain optimal turf health throughout the spring season.

In conclusion, an early spring presents both challenges and opportunities for turf managers. By implementing these tips and strategies, turf managers can effectively navigate the complexities of an early spring and ensure the continued health and vitality of their turf areas. Embrace the arrival of spring, and let your turf flourish under your expert care.

The Fertilizer Institute - Representing Public Policy, Promoting Stewardship & Sustainability

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:29:11 GMT

The Fertilizer Institute or TFI is the trade association that is the voice of the fertilizer industry before the U.S. Congress and other federal regulatory agencies. The membership organization was founded in 1955 and is comprised of global producers, suppliers, and retailers in the fertilizer industry. Its duties consist of representing the public policy, stewardship and sustainability, market intelligence, and communication needs of its members. To further expand on its communication support, TFI serves as the fertilizer industry’s resource to the media on key issues including economic factors affecting the industry, environmental impact of fertilizers, and federal policy issues. TFI’s overall mission is to represent, promote and protect the fertilizer industry through the following strategic initiatives:

To foster a prosperous fertilizer industry through legislative and regulatory activities at the federal, state and local level

To effectively address issues impacting TFI member companies

To share knowledge about the fertilizer industry with members, government and the agriculture industry on issues related to fertilizer and the farm economy

One key initiative from the TFI that we, at Allied Nutrients, have been supporting for over a decade is the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program. The concept involves best management practices (BMPs) that optimize fertilizer efficiency. Our goal in reverberating this message is to help turf and ornamental managers match available nutrients with plant needs, minimize nutrient losses to the environment, and maximize the quality of the turfgrass and ornamental plants.

To learn more, visit: https://www.tfi.org/

TTRU® Controlled Release Urea – The Choice Technology for Fall Fertilizer Versatility

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:13:20 GMT

TTRU™ controlled release/polymer coated urea from Allied Nutrients is an extremely versatile fertilizer technology. First, it offers four different longevities: 60, 90, 120, and 180 days release (at 70˙F). These diverse options allow you to tailor your turf management program to fit your nutritional objectives and best optimize your operational costs (ie. labor and materials). The temperature responsiveness of TTRU further increases your flexibility and assures you get the most from your fertilizer investment.

A feature of TTRU is that its release rate responds to temperature, meaning nutrients release more quickly when it’s hot, and slow down when it’s cool. Cooling fall temperatures result in a lot of great options for using TTRU to manage your turf’s nitrogen supply. A shorter longevity product like TTRU60® can provide all the N your turf needs to get through the fall but a higher longevity product like TTRU90® or longer can do the same, but also offer nutrient storage that can safely carry over into the spring. With the optional TTRU longevities and your chosen application timing, you can control how much N you want to release in the fall and how much you want to have available for your turf in spring, see the chart below for examples of how fall application timing can affect spring nutrition.

Chart Summary: This chart illustrates the varied color response of a 90-day PCU applied in either September, October, or November. Great fall response from September application due to relatively warm weather. Less fall response when applied in October (cooler), and very limited response from November application. In spring, brief response from Sep application, but Oct and Nov applications resulted in successively longer spring response due to significant nutrient carry-over. Based on your fall and spring turf management objectives, application timing is key to nutrient use and extended release.

To learn more, click here.

Fall is Coming – Does Your Fall Fertility Program Meet Your Objectives?

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 18:42:08 GMT

Labor Day has recently passed, and many are happy to have a long hot summer in the rear-view mirror. That day isn’t quite here for others yet, but it’s coming. So, with cooler weather on the way, what key objectives should we be focusing on with our fall fertilization programs?

There are typically three objectives for turf and ornamental management in the fall:

Recovery from summer stress
Preparation for continued fall use/play (depending on the turf that you manage)
Preparing for the challenges of an unpredictable winter

You might choose to address one, two, or all three of these, but each one might need a different approach.

For recovery, think fertilizers that release quickly, but be careful not to overdo it on the rate (<0.5 lb N/M), because high N rates lead to inefficient use and nutrient loss. Stabilized nitrogen (UFLEXX® or UMAXX® fertilizer) is another good alternative – they release N right away, but also keep N available for longer, and you can increase the rate. A third option is a blend with about 50% quick release and 50% slow or controlled release N (examples: XCU® or TTRU™) for both a quick response and longer feeding.

For promoting fall use and/or play, choose a product with enough longevity to get you to the cold weather when growth stops. Depending on your particular timing and location, that might be anywhere from six weeks to 3 months or more. Done right, you’ll get consistent N availability for high-quality durable turf from a single fall application. Also, remember that a controlled release product like TTRU™ polymer coated urea is temperature controlled, so as it cools down, the N that is not released in the fall will stick around and become available when the soil warms in the spring – a great tool for plant health and protecting water quality.

Finally, there’s “putting your turf to bed” for the winter . For warm-season grass in particular, cut back on N with cooling temperatures. Unlike cool-season turf, uptake is slowing down anyway, and driving uptake of too much N can lead to succulence and increased potential for cold temperature injury. For cool-season turf, N uptake can continue even after top growth stops, because soil temperatures cool more slowly than air temperatures. Some have backed away from recommending late fall N applications, but some agronomists still support. Another suggestion is to use lower rates of soluble N that can be taken up before all growth stops, or use polymer coated urea like TTRU™ or methylene urea like NUTRALENE®. N release from these sources stops when temperatures get cool enough, and residual N is there for your turf when spring rolls around. Planned correctly, a late fall application can bring some great benefits come spring.

Regardless of your objective(s) for fall fertilization, remember the 4 Rs of nutrient stewardship – right source, right rate, right time, right place. Therein lies a solution for any situation.

What % of Slow or Controlled Release Fertilizer is Necessary to Provide Optimal Turf Nutrition & ROI?

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 21:00:02 GMT

Slow and Controlled Release nitrogen (N) fertilizers provide two important benefits to plants. They extend the longevity of nitrogen availability, and they increase the percentage of N that is actually taken up by the plant. How? Because they protect the nitrogen from being lost into the environment through leaching, volatilization, and denitrification. But what % of SRN/CRN is needed in the bag to get optimal turf nutrition? When untreated urea is applied, 40% of the N gets absorbed into the turf, and when SRN/CRN is applied, that number almost doubles - increasing to 70%+ (both values data supported). When they are blended together, the result is somewhere in the middle. The more SRN/CRN you include, the better return you get on your nutrient investment. If you can’t apply 100% SRN/CRN (and most rarely do), increasing the amount in the blend in any increment, say from 30% to 50%, gets more and more N in the plant, right where you want it.

If extended longevity is what you are after, you need to aim high. Research shows that to get the longevity benefit intended from Slow or Controlled Release nitrogen, it needs to make up more than 40% of the N in the blend. If it is lower, you still get increased N uptake, but if you want extended nutrition, bump it up to 40-50% or more. To further explain, see Figure 1 and the comparison between choosing a 30%, 50% and 70% Controlled-Release 90-day fertilizer technology in your blend. The higher the % of fertilizer technology, the longer your turfgrass will receive optimal nutrition. When turf does not have the proper nutrition to sustain it till the next application, it becomes more susceptible to weed and disease pressure, which can require more cost and labor to remediate.

Fig. 1

Did you know that the % of Slow or Controlled-Release Fertilizer technology in your blend can also impact your material cost per acre? Shown in Figure 2 below, you can see how the higher % of SRN/CRN fertilizer technology in your blend the less is cost daily to maintain healthy turfgrass. More extended nutrition can also help reduce rounds of application, which would lead to reduced labor and operational costs as well.

Fig. 2

Fertilizer prices in 2023 have softened compared to last year. Now is a great the time to improve your fertilizer blends, turf health and appearance by increasing the % of SRN/CRN in your fertilizer bag.

RISE® - A Responsible Pest and Plant Health Resource that Provides the Green Industry with Valuable Knowledge and Support

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 20:31:20 GMT

RISE® (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) is the national trade association representing manufacturers, formulators, distributors, and other industry leaders involved with specialty pesticides and fertilizers. RISE members supply the pest and plant health solutions used by professionals and consumers. RISE provides accurate information about pesticides, their use and regulation, sharing news releases, fact sheets, and other valuable resources highlighting the benefits of products and communicating with policymakers and regulators to ensure products are used properly and are available when needed.

To learn more about RISE visit: https://www.pestfacts.org

Looking for Economical Solutions to Maximize Turf Performance? NEW DuoTech™ - Dual Nitrogen Stabilizer Technology

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 20:19:56 GMT

Do you spray nitrogen (N) as a method of fertilizer application? Urea fertilizer is an economical choice that results in rapid plant response in terms of both green-up and top growth. On the downside, it is highly susceptible to loss through ammonia volatilization, leaching, and denitrification. This loss means that turf managers can lose a lot of plant response, as well as money on their N investment. Liquid slow-release fertilizers that extend and conserve N for more efficient plant use are available like urea-triazone, but these solutions can be expensive. What if there was a way to protect your N (dissolved urea, ammonium sulfate, or UAN) to prevent nitrogen loss, increase plant uptake, improve Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE), and extend the length of time your N remains plant-available? And do this all economically?

DuoTech™ Dual Nitrogen Stabilizer Technology could be your answer. The latest innovation from Allied Nutrients, DuoTech is a concentrated soluble fertilizer additive that can be added to your spray tank along with urea, ammonium sulfate, or UAN to stabilize fertilizer nitrogen. DuoTech prevents loss, extends the longevity of N for up to 12 weeks (creating the effect of a slow-release fertilizer), and increases the amount of N absorbed by the turf. DuoTech contains two powerful nitrogen stabilizers: NBPT [N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide], and DCD (dicyandiamide). Unlike many surface-treated stabilized nitrogen fertilizers, DuoTech is formulated to deliver both stabilizers at proven effective rates when used according to label directions. DuoTech is also an economical solution: 50 pounds of urea can be treated for about five dollars, much less than the additional cost of a liquid slow-release fertilizer such as urea-triazone. This small investment conserves nitrogen, protecting the environment, increasing Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and extracting greater value from your fertilizer application. Ask your supplier about DuoTech from Allied Nutrients.

For more information on DuoTech, click here .

Polymer Coated Fertilizers - A Microplastic Concern OR Integral to Environmental Sustainability?

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 20:08:12 GMT

Over the last decade or so, the concern of microplastics in the environment has become a globally discussed topic. Since microplastics are defined as plastic materials of 5 millimeters diameter or less, fertilizers containing polymer coatings fall into this classification. In 2019, the European Union passed regulation EU 2019/1009, specifying that polymer coatings must meet specific biodegradability criteria, effective July 2026. In Canada, polymers used to coat fertilizers must now be registered with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the governmental body that regulates fertilizers. And in 2022, a bill was introduced in the State Senate of Minnesota that would have prohibited the use of “a fertilizer coated with plastic or another material that is not readily biodegradable.” Although this bill didn’t make it very far, it’s easy to see that polymer coated fertilizers are drawing attention of governmental agencies.

Is there justification for this? Many of those in the fertilizer industry see themselves as stewards of the environment and do their best to manage landscapes accordingly. Polymer coatings were first developed in part for the important purpose of protecting water quality, and science shows that they do an excellent job of this. These coatings prevent nutrient leaching, denitrification, runoff or volatilization and promote improved nutrient use efficiency by plants. As good stewards, the fertilizer industry wants to limit the use of any inputs that could cause harm to the environment, people, pets, or the community. Although these protective polymers are not native to the environment, there has not been any data found that shows that these coatings specifically have caused any harm. What has been proven is that they provide positive environmental and plant health benefits. Many fertilizer manufacturers are working towards developing coating technologies with improved biodegradability, but the solution to this challenge is likely years away. However, between now and then, it is critical to preserve access to existing polymer technologies that provide many sustainable benefits like clean water quality protection. Nobody in the green industry, or outside of it, wants to turn back the clock a few decades to a time when nitrates in groundwater were a much bigger concern than they are today.

Allied Nutrients is committed to developing enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) that offer environmental sustainability through nutrient loss protection and provides optimal nutrient uptake that assures maximum plant health benefits. Allied Nutrients is an active member of RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals), and the Fertilizer and Supplements Advisory Council in Canada. Each of these groups advocates on the industry’s behalf to preserve and promote the tools that we use to manage, protect, and positively impact the environment that we live in. Knowledge evolves, science evolves, and technology evolves, it takes time, so we need to protect the environmentally sustainable options we have available to us today. Be involved in your industry and community to protect the tools (whatever they might be) that are important to your business and the broader industry. As evidenced by the development over the years of various fertilizer technologies, reduced-risk pesticides, more efficient machinery (mowers, sprayers, ride-ons, etc.) and the current advances in battery technologies, this industry has a history of meeting new challenges and polymer coatings is just the next one.

Project EverGreen - Giving back to Our Community and Our Troops

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 13:09:00 GMT

Project EverGreen is a national non-profit committed to bringing people together to make a difference in how our yards, parks and communities create a greener, healthier, cooler Earth. We do this through GreenCare for Community initiatives that revitalize parks and public green spaces in under-resourced areas, and through the GreenCare for Troops program that mobilizes lawn and landscape services to provide free lawn and landscape services for deployed military families.

To learn more about Project EverGreen and its mission, or to join us by volunteering your time, service or resources contact Cindy Code, cindycode@projectevergreen.org or call 877-758-4835.

Stabilized Nitrogen (Inhibitors) – NOT all Technologies are Equally Effective

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 13:02:34 GMT

If you use Stabilized Nitrogen fertilizer, it’s important to know that not all technologies are the same. There are typically two different stabilizer (inhibitor) components used to make stabilized nitrogen. The first is a urease inhibitor known as NBPT (n-butyl, thiophosphoric triamide). NBPT helps to limit the amount of fertilizer nitrogen (N) lost to the environment due to ammonia volatilization. Allowing more N to remain in the soil profile, increasing the amount available to the turfgrass/plant but does not offer extended nutrition. Most stabilized fertilizers on the market contain only NBPT. The second inhibitor, dicyandiamide or DCD, reduces nitrification. This means that the N remains in the ammonium form in soil, rather than being converted to nitrate that can easily leach out. Ammonium remains more plant available because it can be held on soil exchange sites which can offer extended nutrition from up to 8-12 weeks. However, it takes a certain amount of DCD to do its job. Few manufacturers can apply enough DCD to the surface of a urea particle to extend results further than untreated urea. To illustrate, see the chart below in Figure 1 of the results from a University trial of a surface/sprayed-on DCD urea granular vs. an infused/embedded DCD urea granular.

Figure 1

So, how do you know if you are using the most effective stabilized nitrogen product available? There are some critical questions to ask your supplier. First, which inhibitor does the product contain, NBPT, DCD, or both? (Check the label). Secondly, how much of each component is on the granular? For DCD, look for at least 0.5%, or 5,000 ppm. If it’s not that high or not indicated on the label, ask your supplier for other stabilized nitrogen products available. What you don't know about your stabilized nitrogen products could affect your turf health and your ROI.

Stabilized Nitrogen - Critical Question Checklist:

What is the Stabilized Nitrogen technology on the fertilizer? DCD or NBPT? NBPT reduces volatilization but DCD is what provides increased longevity in the soil.
Is the DCD technology sprayed-on or infused/embedded in the urea? Surface/sprayed on DCD cannot hold enough tech to be effective. Only infused or embedded will offer extended nutritional availability.
How much ppm (parts per million) of DCD is applied to the urea granule? <1600 ppm is NOT effective. >10,000 has been proven effective.

To learn more, check out UFLEXX and UMAXX .