Page 9 - AWA Vol. 37-5 issue

CROP PROTECTION

phosphorous are so basically involved Potassium availability is affected by BAYER ANNOUNCES NEW
as building blocks and energy sourc- soil pH but generally to a much lesser
es, respectively, would not turn out to extent than for other nutrients. In min- COMMERCIAL LEADERS FOR
D OLPLWLQJ IDFWRU ZKHQ LQ GHÞFLW )RU eral soils potassium availability starts CROP SCIENCE DIVISION
potatoes in particular, high nitrogen WR GHFUHDVH DW S+ DQG LV VLJQLÞFDQWO\ TO ACCELERATE GROWTH
OHYHOV FDQ RQO\ EH MXVWLÞHG ZKHUH DF- affected below pH 5.5. In organic soils AND DRIVE BUSINESS
companied by high levels of phospho- availability starts to decrease measur- TRANSFORMATION
rous and potassium. ably on both sides of the pH spectrum
– pH 5.5 (acid) and pH 8.0 (alkaline).
Provided soils have adequate clay
and organic matter fractions relatively
little potassium is lost from leaching
into ground water supplies. But on
YHU\ VDQG\ VRLOV LW PD\ EH GLIÞFXOW IRU
farmers to maintain levels of potassium
at minimum requirement levels. The
biggest amount of potassium loss is that Rodrigo Santos Brett Begemann
taken out when crops are harvested.
Bayer announced that Brett Be-
This in turn depends on the potassium
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requirement for different crops at specif- &URS 6FLHQFH ZLOO UHWLUH IURP KLV
ic stages of growth and development. role after 38 years with the compa-
6RLO DQDO\VLV PHDVXUHV WKH OHYHO RI ny.
soluble potassium in soil water and the 5RGULJR 6DQWRV FXUUHQWO\ +HDG
pool of easily soluble and readily avail- RI &URS 6FLHQFH &RPPHUFLDO 2SHU-
able potassium in soil organic matter, ations, Latin America, will succeed
added manure and applied fertiliser. Begemann and assume global re-
Stone fruit tree crops like 6RLO OHYHOV RI SRWDVVLXP DUH H[SUHVVHG VSRQVLELOLW\ IRU WKH GLYLVLRQpV FRP-
QHFWDULQH VKRZQ KHUH EHQHÀW IURP as milligrams/litre (mg/l) or as parts mercial organization, reporting to
applications of potassium per million (ppm). /LDP &RQGRQ 3UHVLGHQW &URS 6FL-
ence and Board of Management
(Picture Dr Terry Mabbett) Generally speaking arable crops, Member at Bayer AG.
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imum soil fertility level of 120-180 mg/l
For this reason, potassium is most &RPPHUFLDO 2SHUDWLRQV &URS 6FL-
potassium, while root crops and veg-
commonly applied as a part of a NPK ence, Latin America, is Mauricio
etables have a higher 180-250 mg/l Rodrigues, currently Head of Fi-
compound fertiliser where the numbers potassium requirement. Crops with a
accorded to the product tell the user QDQFH &URS 6FLHQFH /DWLQ $PHU-
notably high potassium requirement ica.
the per cent of each nutrient contained.
LQFOXGH ,ULVK SRWDWR 6RODQXP WXEHUR-
)RU H[DPSOH 13. FRQWDLQV “The entire Bayer team shares
sum), sweet potato and tomato. Peas their thanks and appreciation to
per cent N, 10 per cent P2O5 and 10
and beans generally have one of the Brett for everything that he has
SHU FHQW . 2 7KH EHQHÞW RI XVLQJ lowest requirements. Besides provid-
compound fertilisers, which come in a done throughout his long and suc-
ing an indication of the concentration cessful career at the company, and
wide range of NPK ratios, is that farmers
and level of soil potassium at any one wish him all the best in his retire-
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time, regular analysis will check on the PHQW r VDLG &RQGRQ q:H DUH YHU\
particular crop according to its growth SOHDVHG WR QDPH 5RGULJR DV %UHWWpV
various factors that deplete potassium
and development needs. successor, as he brings extensive
from the soil. Chief of these is removal
3RWDVVLXP LV DEVRUEHG E\ WKH SODQWpV and by crops which are subsequently experience that will allow us to
roots from the soil solution in the form of harvested. further strengthen our leadership
positively charged ions called cations positions around the world and
drive sustainable growth for our
(K+). This most immediately soluble
and available pool of soluble soil po- customers. Rodrigo is well-known
with customers in Latin America
tassium is replenished by potassium
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present in natural soil organic matter,
our fastest-growing business while
organic manure and potassium fer- successfully completing integra-
tilisers applied to the crop. WLRQ LQ D YHU\ G\QDPLF UHJLRQ r
Further down the line are less readily During his tenure with the com-
available soil reserves contained in the pany, Begemann held several
clay fractions of the soil. These are less global and regional leadership
HDVLO\ TXDQWLÞHG DQG UDWH RI UHOHDVH positions and had responsibility
depends on both the amount and type for global commercial and oper-
RI FOD\ SUHVHQW 6XIÞFH WR VD\ WKDW LW LV ations teams at Monsanto prior to
a dynamic situation. As potassium is the acquisition by Bayer. As Pres-
LGHQW DQG &KLHI 2SHUDWLQJ 2IÞFHU
added to the soil in manure and fer- Nuts and seeds do not generally
at Monsanto Company, he led
tiliser, and lost by leaching and crop contain such high levels of potassium global efforts to increase manufac-
uptake, there is continual and appropri- as fruits and vegetables, but some like WXULQJ DQG VXSSO\ FKDLQ HIÞFLHQF\
ate interchange of potassium between VXQÁRZHU VHHGV FDQ VWLOO EH D JRRG Circle 10 on enquiry card DV ZHOO DV WKH FRPSDQ\pV JURZWK
WKH GLIIHUHQW oSRROVp WR PDLQWDLQ WKH VRLO source of potassium agenda.
balance. (Picture Dr Terry Mabbett) Circle 11 on enquiry card
7
Vol. 37 No. 5