PDA News
The PDA publishes both technical News items and shorter Blog items. PDA News provides the latest up to date information on macronutrients and their use, while blog items are shorter and timelier.
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Spring Potash Applications
For those who got caught out in the autumn, or who have chosen to hold back on phosphate and potash applications due to weather, crop prospects, price or a combination of any of these, it is not too late to benefit from their application this spring. Granted conditions may still need to improve somewhat to […]
February 2025
Implications of crop offtakes
Introduction According to Defra figures the national balance for phosphate in England has been declining over the last few decades and is now only about 5% of the 230 kt surplus from 1990. Whilst a net balance between nutrient inputs and outputs may be seen as ideal, this now marginal surplus is an average for […]
January 2025
Sulphur levels on the low side following extreme wet conditions
As is well understood, some nutrients have higher mobility levels within soils than others, meaning they are at a greater risk of leaching out of soils (or at least down the soil profile where shallow, restricted or young roots are unable to access them). Sulphur is one of the higher profile culprits, alongside nitrogen. Last […]
November 2024
Effective Soil Analysis
In article, we focus on some of the issues surrounding effective soil analysis, against the backdrop of the prolonged wet conditions experienced by many this year. This has led to soils being in their poorest state many have ever known, particularly heavier, higher clay content soils. Careful management will be required to ensure that the problems encountered this year do not carry over into the next. Soil structure is an important consideration when interpreting soil analysis.
September 2024
Nutrient Considerations for SFI Rotational Options
There has been a lot of focus recently on environmental schemes, partly as a response to the now rapidly decreasing Basic Payment (Delinked Payments) and partly in response to the rapidly increasing challenges thrown out by the weather; with some areas of the UK facing their third challenging autumn in five years. Some of the […]
June 2024
Global Food Security Threatened by Potassium Neglect
Inadequate potassium management jeopardises food security and freshwater ecosystem health. Potassium, alongside nitrogen and phosphorus, is a vital nutrient for plant growth and will be fundamental to achieving the rapid rises in crop yield necessary to sustain a growing world population.
April 2024
Importance of Potash for Potatoes
Potash (potassium, K) has a major effect on yield and quality of potatoes as well as the general health and vigour of the crop.
March 2024
Root Implications in Wet Soils
Although there appears to be something of a north south divide this year, most places in the UK have experienced higher than average rainfall, meaning that crops may not be looking as good as planned.
February 2024
Magnesium and Sodium for Grass
Potash use has historically been linked to fears that so-called “luxury” uptake may cause staggers (Hypomagnesaemia) and other mineral disorders in livestock. Although metabolic problems can be costly, so too is sub-optimum use of potash. We review the facts.
December 2023
Establishment and Waterlogging
Establishment is the most critical period in any annual crops life-cycle, as it is the time when the yield potential is set. All challenges the crop faces during the season serves to reduce the final yield from this potential
November 2023
Potash Nutrition of Cereals
The latest PDA news highlights the benefits of potash for cereal crops. Cereal crops need at least as much, if not more, potash than any other nutrient. Potash controls cell sap content to maintain the turgor of the plant and supports the movement of all materials within the plant. Potash supply is thus essential for all nutrient uptake by the roots and movement to the leaves for photosynthesis, and for the distribution of sugars and proteins required for plant growth and grain fill.
September 2023
Potash Effect on Straw Strength
With cereal harvests finished, or drawing to a close for another year, consideration should be given to the input decisions made during the year before it is too far in the memory and blurs into all the rest!
August 2023