SYNTHOS® nutrient enhancer from Koch Agronomic Services (KAS) is a product designed to improve the efficiency of dry phosphorus fertilizer applications across various crops and environments. KAS senior agronomist, Bryce Geisel, helps address some commonly asked questions about SYNTHOS to help you feel more confident in your nutrient management decisions.
What is the importance of having SYNTHOS included in a nutrient management plan?
Phosphorus is critical to the overall health of the crop as it is needed for energy storage and transfer and vital to early vigorous growth. Despite playing a vital role and having abundant amounts in the soil, phosphorus availability to crops is often limited due to its low mobility in the soil and the tendency to become chemically immobilized. When it becomes immobilized in the soil, phosphorus becomes unavailable for crop uptake. This lack of phosphorus can be detrimental to crop growth and health through an increased risk of deficiency.
SYNTHOS can help release the phosphorus in the soil into a crop available form. As a product that contains plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), SYNTHOS contains biological ingredients, Bacillus Spp, that colonize the root zone and liberate bound phosphorus, increasing the potential for crop uptake and minimizing phosphorus deficiency risk.
Where is SYNTHOS active?
The active ingredients in SYNTHOS, Bacillus Spp, are free living bacteria that colonize the crop’s roots, or rhizosphere, and produce organic acids and enzymes. This improves the solubilization of phosphorus fertilizer into forms accessible to the crop releasing bound nutrients. The bacteria also produces growth metabolites that promote a more robust root system, therefore improving nutrient and water access and optimizing the crop’s growth.
How does SYNTHOS make phosphorus plant available?
The Bacillus Spp in SYNTHOS produce organic acids which help release soil bound phosphorus for plant uptake. They also improve phosphorus availability for the crop by producing enzymes like phosphatase that solubilize organic phosphorus in the soil and turn it into orthophosphate, a plant available form of phosphorus.
Can the SYNTHOS rate be changed?
SYNTHOS has been thoroughly tested across numerous labs, greenhouses and field trials and was found to provide the most effective handling and improvement of phosphorus availability for the crop at a rate of 2.8 L per tonne of phosphate fertilizer.
When should growers be using SYNTHOS?
To ensure you are getting the most out of your phosphorus fertilizer applications, consider incorporating SYNTHOS into your nutrient management strategy. SYNTHOS helps improve phosphorus availability to the crop from both phosphorus fertilizer applications and organic phosphorus sources.
To learn more about how SYNTHOS can help improve your nutrient use efficiency, contact your local KAS representative or visit your local retailer.