Mosaic launched K-Mag trials for enhanced cotton yields in US

Despite the unlikelihood of cotton producers seeing prices akin to those in the first half of 2022, recent research from The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS) suggests potential for increased returns in the coming year. Substituting a mere 8% of the commonly used muriate of potash (MOP) fertilizer with K-Mag from Mosaic has demonstrated the possibility of yielding up to 45 lbs. more lint per acre.

Tryston Beyrer, Crop Nutrition Lead at The Mosaic Company, reported on the promising outcomes of field trials conducted across the southeast United States. “Incorporating a small quantity of K-Mag into cotton fields has shown significant results,” Beyrer noted. He explained that while MOP furnishes essential potassium, the integration of magnesium and sulfur from K-Mag offers additional nutritional support, bolstering plant health and productivity.

K-Mag fertilizer is distinguished by its balanced composition of potassium, magnesium, and sulfur in each granule, ensuring even nutrient distribution across fields. It is characterized by a low salt index, providing essential nutrition with minimal chloride content, and is neutral in its impact on soil pH, irrespective of application rates.

Magnesium plays a pivotal role in photosynthesis in cotton and aids in heat stress tolerance and disease resistance. Sulfur, crucial for protein formation, is needed for two amino acids in cotton. The crop generally absorbs about 40 lbs. of both sulfur and magnesium during its growing season, making sufficient supply of these nutrients vital for optimal cotton production.

The Mosaic field trials, spanning two years, compared cotton yields in fields treated with 120 lbs. of MOP and a half-pound of foliar boron per acre against those treated with 110 lbs. of MOP, 10 lbs. of K-Mag, and a half-pound of foliar boron. The results were striking: fields supplemented with K-Mag averaged 1,583 lbs. of lint per acre, surpassing the 1,538 lbs. per acre yield in the other fields.

Beyrer emphasized the significance of balanced crop nutrition in maximizing crop performance. “Our estimates suggest that cotton producers could see a return of $20-$21 per acre by partially replacing their MOP with K-Mag,” he stated, underscoring the tangible benefits of this strategic nutrient adjustment for cotton producers.