Category: Agricultural

We look ahead at fertilizer industry prospects for the next 12 months, including the key economic and agricultural drivers likely to shape the market during 2024.

New regulatory developments in Europe are focusing attention on eliminating microplastic residues in soils by adopting biodegradable fertilizer coatings. Major technology licensors and engineering companies are also developing new coating technologies for controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs).

Kevin De Bois of Prayon Technologies describes an innovative process for removing magnesium from phosphate rock. Increasingly, phosphoric acid producers are looking to consume low-grade phosphate rock as a feedstock due to the prohibitive costs of high-grade rock sources. This has potentially negative consequences as the presence of impurities such as magnesium can negatively affect both the phosphoric acid process and the quality of the acid produced.

A proper fertilization programme is necessary to sustain both citrus productivity and soil fertility over the longer term. ICL agronomists Fabio Vale, William Wang, Patricia Imas and Francisco Morell outline the nutrient needs of citrus fruit – a regionally important crop in the Americas, Europe and China.

Citrus fruit growers are an attractive end-market for fertilizer suppliers due to the high K and N requirement of this widely-cultivated cash crop and the efficacy of fertigation and foliar spraying. We examine the nutrient needs of citrus trees and how balanced application of fertilizers helps maximise citrus fruit quality and yield.

The use of low-chloride fertilizers is a proven strategy for managing chloride sensitivity in crops and avoiding excess chloride in soils. ICL offers a wide range of crop nutrient products for this purpose. Patricia Imas, agronomist at the company, outlines the main options.

Crop residues are the plant materials that are left in the field after the harvested portion is removed. Many growers are increasingly valuing these materials due to their nutrient content and soil health benefits. Dr Karl Wyant, Nutrien’s Director of Agronomy, highlights the value of crop residues and discusses how to manage these more effectively without interfering with on-farm activities. Ag retailers, in particular, are well-placed to advise growers on how to unlock value from their residues.

Ag Growth International (AGI) is a leading manufacturer of fertilizer blending systems. Robert Fitzpatrick, AGI’s product segment manager, highlights the latest innovations in fertilizer blending equipment and explains how these contribute to operational efficiency and agricultural productivity.

Applications of chloride-containing fertilizers need to be carefully managed for crops such as berries, broad beans, citrus fruits, nuts, potatoes and stone fruits. Selecting chloride-free nutrient sources instead can offer distinct advantages.

There is growing acceptance and integration of biostimulants into the wider fertilizer and agricultural markets. This is illustrated by rocketing sales, the spate of new product launches, and merger and acquisition activity.