As the global population grows and demand for fruit and vegetables increases, so too does the importance of water-soluble fertilizer to growers. And an important trait of water-soluble fertilizers is their lack of substitutability. Sri Lanka has found this out recently*. One of the core messages from this e-book is the quality level that needs to be obtained when producing water-soluble fertilizers. For example, too many impurities can lead to blocking of filters and drippers. Quality is also important when dealing with foliar fertilizers and chelating agents. One of our sponsors ADOB provides an insight into how the WSF market has changed in recent years. When it comes to the formulation choice, liquid or solid, ADOB tends to define its approach based on biological efficacy and best economical option for the farmer. Regarding new developments in agriculture, ADOB says vertical and urban farming are areas of application for its products. This highlights another important characteristic of WSFs – the ability to fine-tune the composition. And as we learn from Chinese producer Fondin, WSFs can be mixed with amino acid, seaweed extract or humic acid. To add a timeliness to this e-book, new sulphate of potash (SOP) production capacity in Australia is starting to come on-stream. Kalium Lakes’ SOP project at Beyondie, Western Australia, has produced its first batch of finished product during the commissioning process. However, when using SOP for water-soluble applications the quality aspect is vital. We learn from another sponsor Tessenderlo Kerley International that although some water-soluble fertilizers are traded like commodities, you cannot assume all SOP products are the same quality and making your purchases based on price can be a risky strategy. Tessenderlo Kerley shares the metrics it uses to assess its own water-soluble SOP, produced by the Mannheim process. One of the main reasons for introducing its SoluPotasse product to the market was to give growers looking for a chloride-free source of potassium an alternative to water-soluble potassium nitrate. Again, highlighting that WSFs are not always easy to substitute. Elsewhere, we get an overview of the Brazilian market for specialty fertilizers. One stand-out number reported by New AG International’s contributor Leonardo Gottems is that foliar fertilizers represent around 70% of total specialty fertilizer revenue. In an interview with Veolia, we dive into the requirements for making water-soluble monoammonium phosphate (MAP). The quality of the feedstock often dictates the quality of the end-product. When making water-soluble MAP, also known as high-grade or technical MAP, the quality of the phosphoric acid is key. However, Veolia’s crystallisation technology allows low-grade phosphoric acid to be used in the production of high-grade MAP. And in a combined special, we also present market analysis looking at what can be learned from the trade patterns for some of the most widely consumed water-soluble fertilizers: calcium nitrate (CN), potassium nitrate (PN) and monopotassium phosphates (MKP) markets. To follow up on themes presented in this e-book, New AG International is pleased to announce its New AG Annual conference and exhibition will be running as a ‘live’ event in Poland in March 2022, with a conference programme focused on specialty fertilizers and hi-tech plant nutrition. For information on speaking opportunities and sponsorship, contact our Portfolio Director, Naomi Brooker.
From the team here at New AG International, we hope you enjoy this e-book. ●
*(see here).
Luke Hutson Editor-in-Chief New AG International
