Maximum Starter Rates

Posted on by Ken Washburn
The following, Table 1, illustrates the maximum amounts of salt that can be placed safely close to the germinating seed.

         Table 1                           Maximum Starter Rates________________________

                                                                 Soil Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)________
Placement of Starter         12 (light texture soils)       >12 (med to heavy texture soils)      

                                                    —————————–lbs. Salt/A*——————————-

In contact with seed                                  5                                              5 to 8

¼ to ½ inch from seed                              8                                              7 to 15

1 to 2 inches from seed                          15                                             20 to 40
Over 2 inches from seed                        20+                                            40+____________

*lbs. nitrogen (N) + lbs. potassium (K)


Table 2 illustrates the pounds of salt found in various fertilizers at 3 different application rates.

           Table 2                      Salt from Starter Applications_____________________
Product                               Rate (Gallons/A)                             Lbs Salt/A

6-24-6-.25s                                       3                                             4.036

                                                            4                                              5.381

                                                            5                                              6.726

9-18-9                                                3                                              6.021

                                                            4                                              8.028

                                                            5                                            10.035______________