Canola (Brassica napus) Fertilizer Seed Safety.

In 2012 Canada planted 8.62 million hectares of canola and the United States planted 0.71 million hectares of the same crop. Canola is the second largest crop in Canada while wheat is the largest crop at 9.63 million hectares.  A common practice in canola growing regions is to apply phosphorus and sulfur directly with Canola seed at seeding. Canola seed is sensitive to high rates of ammonium from nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur fertilizers. This study was conducted to determine the rate of phosphorus and sulfur fertilizer that can be safely applied with canola seed.                                                  

Trials were designed to evaluate the yield response of MicroEssentials S15 (13-33-0-15S) compared to mono-ammonium phosphate (11-52-0)  +  ammonium sulfate (21-0-0-24S) in canola at different P₂O₅ rates when applied with the seed. Final plant populations were evaluated (15-21 days after seeding) for  seed injury caused by fertilizer. 

MicroEssentials S15, a patented fertilizer (Fusion Technology by The Mosaic Company) with the analysis of 13-33-0-15S  was compared to a blend of mono-ammonium phosphate  (11-52-0) + ammonium sulfate (21-0-0-24S) at four rates of P₂O₅: 0 kg/Ha, 19 kg/Ha, 37 kg/Ha and 56 kg/Ha. Nutrients were balanced across both products and all treatments.  This study was conducted in 2011 and 2012 on 10 locations across regions in the U.S. and Western Canada (North Dakota, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta).  

The two year study found that MicroEssentials S15 out yielded all of the mono-ammonium phosphate + ammonium sulfate treatments. The range in yield improvement was 4% at the P₂O₅ rate of 19 kg/Ha up to 7.1%  at the rate of 56 kg/Ha.  MicroEssentials S15 showed significantly less injury to  germinating seedlings compared to the traditional fertilizer sources,  resulting in higher yields.