Phosphorus, the 11th most common element on earth, is fundamental to all living things. It is essential for the creation of DNA, cell membranes, and for bone and teeth formation in humans. … Today phosphorus is an essential component of commercial fertilizer.

The new modern age of agriculture has created a real problem for Phosphorus in our soil. The abundance of exchangeable Phosphorus is nearly a thing of the past!

Even though most of our soil naturally has a good level of Phosphorus, 1000 to 4000# per acre, most of it is locked up chemically. Man made phosphates such as DAP (diammonium phosphate 18-46-0), mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP 11-48-0), and poor grades of ammoniated super phosphoric acids can create a “three-fold” problem.

• These products are water soluble and in an unhealthy, unbalanced soil this phosphorus can be locked up within hours not usable by the crop.
• Secondly, ammonium activated and high acid phosphorus products can suppress and kill soil life. Therefore, not only do our crops actually use only a small amount of these fertilizers, but these “man-made” fertilizers are slowly destroying our priceless land.
• 11-48-0 (MAP) requires three times the Calcium Carbonate (CaCo3) to neutralize it as other nitrogen products (DAP requires 1 ’12 times more). They can produce a very acid condition (disease problems are very common).

In “dead mineral soils” only 2 to 10% of the phosphorus will be available to the plant (normally, only 1 to 4# of P will be exchangeable at any one time for the plants use). No wonder we have seen Phosphorus deficiency in our crops so often. This is why in these sick soils 2 to 3 gallons of a top quality liquid fertilizer solution is better than a ton of dry fertilizer (DAP).

• PHOSPHORUS is the most important anion (negative charged nutrient).
• Phosphorus and its balance to N is very important for the health and vigor of any growing plant. Phosphorus is a basic part of the sugar-protein energy-enzyme family chain. Highest protein and mineral levels are achieved with a HIGH LEVEL OF P AND IN BALANCE TO NITROGEN! 
• To keep a proper balance of N to P, your soil needs a high exchangeable P level or readily available P should be 175# or more; and nitrate N (N03) should not exceed 80# (minimum 2 to 1 ratio)!! This is why in a young, growing plant, you never want to supply a large amount of available N at one time. What if you applied 150# N at planting time with 50# N03 in soil and a P level of 100#. We have reversed the N to P ratio.

What can happen to plants with reversed N to P ratio?

• Low sugar levels are common with more stress of diseases and insects.
• Plant energy level is limited and will not stand stress as well (cold, wet, heat, etc.).
• Feed value of silage or grain is down considerably.
• Plant roots absorb P in the form of ions of ortho, or dihydrogen phosphate (H2P04). Nearly all P needs to come thru the bio-energy process of the soil (humus, or “soil life”). Direct foliar P is an excellent way to spoon feed plants that have a need for additional P.

GROW YOUR PHOSPHORUS – most soil has 1000 to 4000# of P reserve, and a healthy 3 % organic matter soil can have 400# of available P. Soluble P is built into the millions of microbes, and they are 100% exchangeable P!! Rain and snow is loaded with phosphorus, so a loose flocculated soil will allow water to move thru and collect valuable nutrients. Let the earthworm work, because his castings are 7 times higher in P (it’s 100% exchangeable to the plant).

Remember this important fact!

Soil life and nutrient balance determines the amount of exchangeable phosphorus in your soil, not the amount of dry phosphorus fertilizer you apply!