In 2016, a replicated field trial was conducted in Florida to evaluate the

performance of Nu Trax P+ as part of an early season fertilizer program

for potato production. Two different fertilizer practices were implemented.

Under the conditions of this study, addition of Nu Trax P+ significantly increased

the yield of potatoes across all size catagories, despite being applied with

considerably less macronutrient fertilizer.

BACKGROUNDPotatoes have high nutrient requirements. Choosing the right fertilizer products

will help ensure proper nutrition is available when and where it’s needed, which

results in better quality, yield and storability. When it comes to potassium fertilizer,

micronutrients and starters, Compass Minerals® has the right product for fertilizing

potatoes. Starter fertilizers that contain phosphorous are important for high quality

potato production, as phosphorous stimulates vigorous root growth. It can be

difficult for plants to access phosphorous early in the season. Applying phosphorous

near plant roots helps overcome these challenges. Nu-Trax P+, which includes 25% P,

20% Zn, and 5% Mn, provides the benefits of a starter in dry fertilizer applications.

By coating onto every granule of a blend, Nu Trax P+ delivers phosphorous, zinc

and other nutrients essential for early growth to young plant roots.

METHODSThis study was conducted by a third-party research cooperator near Immokalee,

Florida. ‘Yukon Gold’ potatoes were planted 6” apart in 40” rows. Plots were 25’

long and 4 rows wide. The Grower Standard Practice (GSP) consisted of 1500 lbs/ac

of 7-5-10 prior to planting, and a side-dress application of 1250 lbs/ac of 10-3-18

four weeks after planting.

Nu-Trax P+ brings together three innovativetechnologies for earlyseason nutrition.

CropStartTM

Nutrient Package

The right blend of phosphorus, zinc, manganese and nitrogen needed for a strong start.

EvenCoatTM

Technology

Fertilizer coating technologythat allows for blanket-likedistribution and more points ofinterception for young roots.

PlantActivTM

Formulation

Physically and chemicallydesigned – the Nu-Trax P+particle size is optimum for plant uptake.

Nu-Trax P+ is a phosphorus-based fertilizer designed to provide better early season nutrition to crops. Success early in the season sets the stage for a more fibrous root system that is better able to access the nutrition that the crop needs later in the growth cycle. And a strong root system can better handle environmental stress while maximizing yield potential.

nutrax.com

ISSUE 34: 2017

Nu-Trax™ P+ Increases Potato Yield Across All Size Categories in Florida

20.16 19.92

22.92

GP SR SR + Nu-Trax P+

ton/

ac

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

a

b b

Application of Nu Trax P+ with the State Recommended fertility plan not only significantly increased total

yield of US No. 1 potatoes, it provided significant yield benefits in every size category. The results of this

study demonstrate that Nu Trax P+ can increase returns to the grower by producing more potatoes,

including Jumbo and XL size categories.

SUMMARY

compassminerals.com | 9900 W. 109th St., Suite 100, Overland Park, KS 66210

Copyright © 2016, All Rights Reserved - Compass Minerals Manitoba Inc., Nu-TraxTM P+, CropStartTM, EvenCoatTM and PlantActivTM are trademarks of Compass Minerals Manitoba Inc. Compass Minerals is the proud supplier of Wolf Trax Innovative Nutrients. Not all products are registered in all areas.Contact wolftrax@compassminerals.com for more information.

Figure 1. Total yield (tons/ac) of US No. 1 potatoes. P=0.0002.

GP SR SR + Nu-Trax P+

a

b b

0

5

10

15

20

25

ton/

ac

Jumbo

XL

L

M

2.40

2.66

5.72

7.72

6.82

5.46

7.38

4.68

2.42

5.42

7.42

4.90

Figure 2. Yield of US No. 1 potatoes (ton/ac) by size category. Jumbo, P= 0.0041. XL, P=0.0485. L,P=0.0005. M, P=0.0029.

The State Recommendation (SR) consisted of 190 lbs N/ac and 100 lbs K2O

prior to planting, with no side-dress application. Nu-Trax P+ was coated

onto the pre-plant granular fertilizer blend at the recommended rate

of 2 lbs/ac, which was applied 4” deep in the planting beds (Table 1).

The crop was taken to yield and data was analyzed using the appropriate

statistical analysis.

RESULTSApplication of Nu Trax P+ with the

State Recommended fertilizer program

significantly increased the total yield

of US No. 1 potatoes relative to either

the Grower Practice (+ 2.76 tons/ac) or

State Recommendation (+3.00 tons/ac)

alone (Figure 1).

Addition of Nu Trax P+ to the State

Recommended fertility plan also

significantly increased yield in all size

categories, ranging from Medium

to Jumbo potatoes (Figure 2). For

example, yield increases with

application of Nu Trax P+ ranged

from 0.24 to 0.26 tons/ac in the

Jumbo size category, and from 0.26

to 0.30 tons/ac in the XL size category

(Figure 2).

1 Grower Standard Practice (GSP)

2 State Recommendation (SR)

3 SR + Nu Trax P+

Table 1. Fertilizer Treatments Applied to Potatoes

Trt Treatment Name