Decision-making tool launched for phosphorus

An easy-to-use online tool allows farmers to assess the phosphorus biological availability in their soils by entering their post code.

Developed by Unium Bioscience, the free Phosphate Power tool helps growers optimise phosphorus use efficiency.

Based on peer-reviewed data, it informs farmers whether soils are biologically optimised to provide crop requirements.

A critical nutrient during germination and establishment, phosphorus availability is often limited by various environmental factors, says John Haywood, of Unium Bioscience.

If phosphorus availability is limited, the tool provides advice on appropriate actions, such as the application of seed treatments, foliar phosphorus products – or applying biostimulants to encourage root growth, says Mr Haywood.

“It links environmental conditions such as soil moisture, temperature, soil texture, and location to a forecast for the next seven days to help growers with precise, location-specific information.

“Seed treatments are a sensible choice when you are planting outside optimal conditions to boost establishment and root growth – for planting from October to April.”

Mr Haywood says the tool is the next step to help farmers make informed decisions, question practices or recommendations – and to stimulate debate as to how to better manage phosphorus uptake.

For more details, visit www.bit.ly/phosphatepower

ProCam appoints new specialists

Agronomy firm ProCam has appointed two experts to bolster its technical sup-port to UK arable and livestock farmers.

Forage crop expert Hayley
Wellings joins the business as the
company’s new technical seed specialist; while Phil Burrell joins as ProCam’s new plant health business manager.

Ms Wellings will provide technical support and advice to ProCam’s agronomists and customers in relation to variety and mixture selection, crop establishment and utilisa-tion of forage crops, cover crops and environmental mixes

Mr Burrell work with ProCam’s technical and agronomy teams to maximise the firm’s crop nutrition and nutrient use efficiency offerings. This includes mainstream fertilisers, foliar applied products, biostimulants, and biofertilisers.