Nutrient Efficiency: The Dual Benefits of CultivAce Acetates and Free Phos 24
CultivAce Acetate Fertilizers: Proven Dual Benefits
in Foliar and Soil Applications
We've consistently talked about how our acetate fertilizers are superior foliar products. From blog posts showcasing our 2023 third-party independent research data to webinars with CropLife. I've even gone on a grassroots campaign (maybe to the detriment of my social life), shouting from the rooftops, letting friends, family, first dates, and even flight attendants know that our acetates make for the best foliar products on the market. And with all this talk of acetate foliar fertilizers, we’ve barely scratched the surface of their efficacy in soil applications.
We had our suspicions, but we've recently confirmed them. We contracted an independent third-party research organization to test the validity of our zinc acetate compared to other leading zinc products. In this trial, CultivAce ZnAce, our 8% zinc acetate, was applied through the drip at a rate of 2 quarts per acre. Zinc EDTA and Zinc Sugar alcohol were applied at equal concentrations. Tissue samples to show concentrations were taken 6 days after application and compared to the untreated check. The results were phenomenal! Cultivace ZnAce, outperformed the zinc sugar alcohol by 22% while matching performance with the Zinc EDTA, increasing zinc tissue concentration by 100% over the check.
This demonstration proves the ability of CultivAce acetate fertilizers to succeed as not just a foliar. Further reinforcing our product’s strength, if you’re a subscriber, you’ll remember our 2023 study on MnAce showed that when applied at 2 quarts per acre, MnAce elevated tissue manganese levels by 29.28% over EDTA and a substantial 44% above the untreated control. Similarly, FeAce, applied at the same rate, increased tissue iron levels by 53.89% compared to EDDHA, demonstrating that our acetate formulations don’t just compete—they redefine foliar nutrient benchmarks.
To give away a bit of our secret, what gives CultivAce acetates their dual purpose is acetic acid. Acetic Acid is a plant root exudate and isn’t foreign to the plant, being something the plant recognizes and produces. That being said, however, acetates may still have their limitations. It is well known that acetates do not have the same mixing capability of EDTAs. Some solutions will not allow for an acetate to be blended in, so as always with any blend, jar testing is required. The exciting news, minus any blending concerns, is that the bottom line is that CultivAce acetates will work in the soil as well as when applied to the foliage.
Free Phos 24 2x2 Results: Maximizing Yield,
Minimizing Time and Input
I think it’s appropriate I set the stage a bit on this next bit of results. It was only 5 in the morning, and I was standing in the parking lot of my local gym(humble brag). Had I been in any other state than Oregon, which has a very notorious city motto "Keep Portland Weird," my screaming at the top of my lungs might have been frowned upon.
Usually, I don't make a habit of looking like a lunatic in public, but I had just gotten a call from our Midwest Rep Chad Calhoun about our liquid phosphate fertilizer trial with Free Phos 24 near South Bend, Indiana. The results had me ecstatic, and immediately wanted to ask every grower,
“What could you do with extra time when planting?”
Would you plant more acres? Extra time during planting could mean better-prepared fields, more precise applications, and a smoother season overall.
In this trial, we used a 3-gallon per acre application of Free Phos 24, formulated as an 8-24-0. As a mix Free Phos 24 weighs 10.7 pounds per gallon. Free Phos 24 therefore contains 2.568 pounds of phosphate per gallon. At 3 gallons per acre, Free Phos delivered approximately 7.704 of phosphorus (P2O5) per acre. In comparison, the grower’s standard application of 17-19-0-5s at 14 gallons per acre provides 19% phosphorus and weighed roughly 11.5 pounds per gallon, amounting to roughly 2.185 pounds of phosphorus per gallon, or about 30.59 pounds of phosphorus (P2O5) per acre. So, Free Phos was applied at a fraction of the phosphorus rate of the standard treatment.
This lower phosphate application not only demonstrated that Free Phos could deliver strong results with less nutrient input, but it also significantly reduced the time and fuel associated with each pass. With fewer gallons per acre required, Free Phos liquid phosphate fertilizer applications involve less hauling and handling. Since the tank capacity effectively stretches further, each fill-up allows for more acres covered, reducing the need for frequent stops and therefore cutting down on application time.
On a practical level, applying fewer gallons per acre also lowers the energy demands on application equipment. Less weight per pass means reduced fuel consumption, which directly contributes to lowering operating costs. This efficiency is particularly valuable in commercial-scale farming, where time and resources saved per acre quickly add up.
During his morning visit, Chad observed the tangible benefits: yield increases in two out of three replications—one with an impressive 14-bushel advantage, the other with 7 bushels over the grower standard—while the third maintained equal yield. By achieving competitive, if not superior, yields with less applied phosphorus, Free Phos 24 has proven its efficiency in both nutrient delivery and resource conservation. This trial not only demonstrates the product’s ability to maximize yields with reduced inputs, but it also validates Free Phos as a viable option for growers focused on operational efficiency and sustainability.
Why it worked
Intuitively, it may have seemed like we were doomed from the start. We ran 4x less volume of applied nutrients, but thanks to Free Phos 24’s carbon sources, biology-stimulating ingredients and applied biology, we made the difference in uptake. In the soil, there are often large deposits of organic phosphate that plants have trouble accessing.
In fact, organic phosphate can account for 20-80% of total soil P. Phosphorus (P) is an innate,1980, Harrison, 1987. Source
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Plants can only utilize phosphate in the inorganic form. Microbes, however, can help convert soil organic phosphate to inorganic phosphate through a process called mineralization. Microbes can also produce organic acids that can help dissolve insoluble phosphate in a process called solubilization. It is precisely through encouraging these processes that Free Phos 24 is able to do much more with much less.
The Bottom Line
The benefits of Free Phos 24 go beyond agronomic advantages. For the grower, the reduced volume of product meant less time spent filling up and more acres covered in less time.
In a year where every second is crucial, this can make the difference between planting fields at the optimum time or sacrificing yield to plant short day varieties. For a dealer, this is a product that can set you apart from the competition and provide tremendous value to your customers.
For those interested read more about these processes additional information on phosphate cycling can be found here.
https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/crop-production/understanding-phosphorus-forms-and%20their-cycling-in-the-soil/ - Mineralization is a process through the help of soil microbes.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706122000234