Highlighting the role of P in the fertilizer use efficiency of almonds and olives
As winter nears its end, our attention shifts to planning irrigation and fertilization for fruit orchards. In many productive regions of southern Spain and Portugal, we are fortunate to have sufficient soil moisture at this time of the year, which might delay the need for watering. However, as the irrigation season approaches, it's crucial to revisit the importance of proper NPK formulations, efficient nutrient utilization, and water management to prevent losses in crop yield and economic returns.
In recent months, we have closely collaborated with key almond and olive growers to explore optimal NPK strategies. Regarding the optimization of NPK use efficiency, there is one element that tends to be relatively misconsidered due to its apparent lower relevance in terms of units required by the crop, but which plays a significant role in the overall product pricing and fertilizer use efficiency that deserves particular attention. This is the case of phosphorus (P). Over the last months, we have identified valuable insights regarding the role of P in the fertilizer use efficiency of almonds and olives. We believe these insights deserve to be shared to ensure effective preparation for the upcoming season.
Most irrigated orchards nowadays rely totally on fertigation, a method that, when coupled with appropriate drip irrigation systems and effective strategies, offers a highly cost-effective solution for fertilizer application. Operational costs and labor demand for fertigation are generally lower compared to alternative techniques. However, it's important to note that liquid fertilizers, commonly used in fertigation, often come at a higher price. This represents a significant challenge in today's farming, especially in cases of extensive planted surfaces where farmers need to define the perfect moment to buy products and to manage internal storage and application strategies that will guarantee both crop and financial benefits.
Achieving the most favorable unitary price for NPK fertilizer involves crafting well-balanced mixtures that precisely meet the crop NPK requirements. Therefore, it is essential to address crop NPK needs under an objective and mechanistic approach; we should not follow receipts, but decisions must be based on a better understanding of crop nutrient dynamics. Our approach to fertilization planning is rooted in a well-established agronomic principle centered on the concept of "nutrient balance". We calculate the NPK requirements by considering:
anticipated yield levels;
the NPK concentration in fruit yields;
nutrient requirements for seasonal vegetative growth;
internal mobilization fractions within the plant;
and typical application efficiency rates, to establish target application quantities and schedule application strategies.
This method takes into account various factors such as soil types, climatic conditions, plantation typologies, orchard ages, and irrigation levels to ensure optimal nutrient replenishment aligned with crop needs.
It is crucial, particularly for these two crops, to highlight the role of P in fertilizer pricing, crop nutirent use, and fertilizer purchasing strategies. P is primarily involved in root growth stimulation and flowering. It plays a crucial role in transporting and storing energy, improving the plant’s general state, and enhancing its ability to withstand adverse climatic conditions. P is essential for the formation of organic compounds and for the proper execution of photosynthesis. A deficiency in phosphorus often results in delayed and insufficient flowering, as well as the browning and wrinkling of leaves, ultimately leading to a decrease in overall plant vigor.
While P typically carries less weight in product formulation compared to nitrogen (N) or potassium (K) in fruit crops such as almonds and olives, due to its lower relative requirements compared to the other two macronutrients, there is a trend of overusing P in unbalanced mixtures. This overuse is primarily associated with the use of non-optimal NPK relations and products that may not be perfectly suited for almond-olive needs. When farmers rely on unbalanced mixtures and try to match the N-K needs of their crops, they may end up overapplying P. This poses significant risks to fertilizer procurement strategies in these crops.
The overuse of P due to unbalanced products can also escalate supply aggregation challenges, particularly in less stable regions such as the Middle East - North Africa, as most P forms entering the Iberian market originates from the Dead Sea region and Moroccan reserves. In typical modern orchards, the N and K needs of crops are usually 3-6 times greater than that of P, depending on specific crop conditions. However, the unitary pricing weight of P (€/kg element) in a compound fertilizer is typically higher than that of N and K elements.
The unitary price of P in a complex liquid product can be up to 7 times higher than the unitary price of N and K elements. While it is true that due to lower P content, this effect tends to be attenuated in final fertilizer product prices, it is also important to note that adjusting precisely P in formulations will have a considerable impact on final purchasing costs. Therefore, a detailed approach to P use is essential for mitigating risks associated with overpricing of final products and inefficiencies both from a nutrient use efficiency perspective and an economic standpoint.
To optimize NPK fertilizer procurement, especially for these crops, while addressing P use properly, several key guidelines should be followed:
Select products with NPK ratios tailored to meet precise relationships among these elements in yield extractions.
Avoid products that may lead to overapplication of P due to imbalanced N to P ratios, as this can impact final product prices and escalate procurement risks.
Concentrate purchase quantities and acquisition times to enhance negotiation margins - using data analytics can be a valuable tool for reducing the risk of temporal price peaks.
Prioritize products with high N and K concentrations while maintaining appropriate N to K ratios, considering their significant roles in almond/olive nutrition and overall purchasing costs.
Consider all costs involved, including distribution costs, to ensure a comprehensive analysis of final product costs.
Minimize exposure to products influenced by a larger quantity of intermediary players such as NPK formulations containing potassium sulfate or ammonium sulfate; these may lead to undesirable pricing impacts despite their agronomic advantages.
All these points must be addressed with caution and on a case-by-case basis, as they are heavily influenced by other factors such as specific crop requirements, soil types, rainfall plus irrigation amounts, and crystallization temperatures. It is crucial to emphasize that the design and execution of NPK optimization strategies should be conducted concurrently with agronomic expert advice on crop nutrition. This needs continuous field visiting and sampling. Continuous evaluation of plant health and productivity must also be conducted for sustained success.
For further information on these matters, please do not hesitate to contact us. At SISTAGRO-CLR, we are experts in providing a comprehensive overview of these aspects tailored to the unique context of each farm and client. We specialize in using new forms of business analytics and agronomic data to explore market opportunities and technical advancements. We offer strategic consultancy services to farm operators and investors, providing valuable insights and guidance on optimizing resources procurement and utilization.