According to a study published in the latest edition of Weed Science, carbon dioxide acts as a fertilizer to invasive exotic grasses, resulting in higher growth rates and larger leaves, and makes them more resistant to glyphosate, an herbicide commercially known as Roundup.
The study looked at the effects of elevated carbon dioxide levels on four species of grass and gauged the tolerance of these plants to glyphosate. The four species tested are all invasive exotic plants in Australia that have previously been chemically controlled with glyphosate. When treated with the herbicide, three of the four species showed a significantly higher survival rate under elevated carbon dioxide levels compared with ambient levels.
Based on the study's results, the use of herbicides may need to be increased to counter the effects of stronger weeds — a move that could have significant implications for affected industries.
Showing posts with label Fertilizer Prices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fertilizer Prices. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A crash in fertilizer costs may shift soybean acres to corn
The expectation of lower fertilizer prices this spring may result in a shift of U.S. soybean acres to corn acres.
The reason why is that lower fertilizer costs increase the profitability of corn relative to soybeans, Darrel Good, University of Illinois economist, says in a January 14 report.
Since September, wholesale prices of fertilizers have declined dramatically. In September, fertecon reported that wholesale prices of anhydrous ammonia at the Gulf of Mexico were over $800 per ton. By early January, anhydrous ammonia prices had crashed below $200 per ton. Similarly diammonium phosphaste (DAP) at the Gulf was over $1,000 per ton in September and about $350 in early January.
In explaining these price declines, executives of The Mosaic Co., a publicly traded fertilizer company, indicated that a “perfect storm” of factors led to the price declines including: the global financial crisis; large distribution pipeline stocks in some regions of the United States; and a late North American harvest season.
Good says that for corn, fertilizer costs using anticipated spring prices are $67 per acre lower than for fall prices. For soybeans, fertilizer costs using spring prices are $28 lower than fall prices. These fertilizer cost reductions increase the profitability of corn relative to soybeans by $39/acre, “a sizable increase that may cause corn to be more profitable than soybeans,” he says.
The reason why is that lower fertilizer costs increase the profitability of corn relative to soybeans, Darrel Good, University of Illinois economist, says in a January 14 report.
Since September, wholesale prices of fertilizers have declined dramatically. In September, fertecon reported that wholesale prices of anhydrous ammonia at the Gulf of Mexico were over $800 per ton. By early January, anhydrous ammonia prices had crashed below $200 per ton. Similarly diammonium phosphaste (DAP) at the Gulf was over $1,000 per ton in September and about $350 in early January.
In explaining these price declines, executives of The Mosaic Co., a publicly traded fertilizer company, indicated that a “perfect storm” of factors led to the price declines including: the global financial crisis; large distribution pipeline stocks in some regions of the United States; and a late North American harvest season.
Good says that for corn, fertilizer costs using anticipated spring prices are $67 per acre lower than for fall prices. For soybeans, fertilizer costs using spring prices are $28 lower than fall prices. These fertilizer cost reductions increase the profitability of corn relative to soybeans by $39/acre, “a sizable increase that may cause corn to be more profitable than soybeans,” he says.
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