The Fertilizer Shake Down

In a world of rising input costs, it’s time to take a look at how your fertilizer is being applied. If you were handed a single saltshaker of fertilizer and told it had to feed over 300 soybean plants, you wouldn't just toss it into the wind—you’d place it exactly where it needs to go. That’s the simple, undeniable math behind strip-till. It’s not just about moving dirt; it’s about making every ounce count. 4 ounces of fertilizer (1 salt shaker worth of fertilizer):

• 52 corn plants for MAP
• 80 corn plants for POTASH
• 332 soybean plants for MAP
• 232 soybean plants for POTASH

Where’s the math? Using the fertilizer removal calculator from Mosaic, which calculates how much fertilizer is needed for 250-bushel corn and 75-bushel beans. With planting population rate of 35,000 plants per acre for corn and 140,000 plants per acre for soybeans. Fertilizer prices were those of fall 2025.

Mosaic Fertilizer Calculator for 250bu corn removal
250 bu corn removal
35,000 planting population

• P205 – phosphorus – 87.5 lbs/acre
  • 11-52-0
  • 170 lbs MAP
  • $855/ton
    • $72.68/acre
    • 13 corn plants per oz of MAP
• K20 – potassium – 62.5 lbs/acre
  • 0-0-60
  • 105 lbs POTASH
  • $489/ton
    • $25.67/acre
    • 20 corn plants per oz of POTASH

Mosaic Fertilizer Calculator for 75bu soybean removal
75 bu soybean removal
140,000 planting population

• P205 – phosphorus – 55 lbs/acre
  • 11-52-0
  • 105 lbs MAP
  • $855/ton
    • $44.89/acre
    • 83 soybean plants per oz of MAP
• K20 – potassium – 90 lbs/acre
  • 0-0-60
  • 150 lbs POTASH
  • $489/ton
    • $36.68/acre
    • 58 soybean plants per oz of POTASH

At the end of the day, the math doesn’t lie. When you’re asking a single saltshaker of fertilizer to feed hundreds of plants, there is no room for waste. Broadspread applications might be the 'way it’s always been done,' but in a high-stakes market, precision isn't a luxury—it’s a necessity.

CONSIDERING STRIP-TILL?

 Grab our latest eBook to see how strip-till helps you hit those high yields while still taking care of your land. It’s the perfect middle ground.