Preparation and precision are at the heart of every product emblazoned with the Target Fetilisers’ logo: that’s a message which Walter Furlong Jnr, the company’s General Manager, is keen to stress.
“It’s very important that Irish farmers get the highest possible efficiency levels – and bang for their buck – when it comes to the Phosphorus (P) they’re using, given the environmental measures they must now adhere to,” he said.
“And when it comes to the manufacturing of fertiliser, there’s a multitude of products that are used to formulate blends, including different types of Phosphorus. And how Phosphorous is manufactured impacts on its water solubility.”
Phosphorous, as noted by Teagasc, doesn’t occur freely in nature and must be combined with a base to form a phosphate.
Quarried phosphate is primarily shipped to Ireland from Morocco, which possesses over 70% of the world’s phosphate reserve. It is then used here by manufacturers, including Target Fertilisers, to produce phosphate fertilisers for the Irish market.
The pace at which the phosphate fertiliser acts – be it fast or slow – is determined by the level of chemical processing that’s been performed on the original phosphate.
“The higher your water solubility levels, the more available that Phosphorus becomes, which means the plant can more readily uptake the Phosphorus,” Walter Furlong Jnr explained.
“The manufacturing process of Phosphorous can impact upon its water solubility. Taking that into account, Target Fertilisers strives to produce the most readily available and fastest acting Phosphorous products for our customers.”
When using Phosphorus to meet crop requirements, a high percentage of water solubility is preferable. Acid-soluble Phosphorus is only available to the crop over a three-year period and will not fully address the immediate crop requirements. This is worth considering from a value for money perspective, especially when seeking full value from the applied Phosphorus in the year of application.
Outlining the biggest benefit which arises from Target Fertilisers’ maximising the use of Phosphorous, Walter Furlong Jnr stated: “Quite simply, it leads to better utility on your farm. We feel we are also creating the best value for money within the market when it comes to such a product. A more water soluble Phosphorous is also responsible for improved growth rates and root development.”
He added: “Of course, much depends on the time of the year as well; with slower release phosphates used at the back end of the year when slurrying. As farmers face into the Spring, especially in the wake of a wet, heavy winter, that’s when they need Phosphorus to work as quickly as possible so that roots are urgently energised – and that’s why farmers have to have Phosphorus ready and available to go.”
The most highly water soluble phosphate – superphosphate – is produced when treating rock phosphate with acid. Superphosphate (8%) or Triple Superphosphate (16%) is 90% water soluble and used in compound fertilisers, including 10-10-20 and 18-6-12.
Said Walter Furlong Jnr: “Water solubility is a measure of how readily available Phosphorus is once is spread on either your grass or your crop. Therefore it’s very important for farmers to pay the closest possible attention they can when it comes to the compounds they buy which will deliver the optimum levels of water solubility.
“If you’re using 18-6-12, it’s very important to opt for the product which provides the highest levels of water solubility – as you need to extract the optimum out of your product. This is something that farmers need to be mindful of both in 2025 and beyond. And it’s a key consideration for Target Fertilisers when it comes to preparing fertilisers with the greatest level of precision and efficiency.”
For further information, visit Leading Wholesaler Of Quality Grass & Tillage Fertilisers- Target Fertilisers or contact a member of the Target Fertilisers team here.