Donald Ellersick, Regional Sales Agronomist Idaho/Washington
QLF Agronomy blends and builds Liquid-Carbon Based Fertilizer (L-CBF) in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), with a commitment to enhancing soil health and crop performance. Their signature starter fertilizer, L-CBF 7-21-3 MKP, is a carefully crafted product that combines quality fertilizer ingredients with domestically produced sugar cane molasses. This molasses, sourced directly and processed at their manufacturing facility in Granger, Washington, plays a crucial role in the formulation of the fertilizer. QLF’s reach extends across 24 states, where they deliver the proven L-CBF 7N-21P-3K package, designed to help U.S. corn growers achieve healthier starts. This versatile fertilizer is also highly effective for other crops in the PNW, such as wheat, potatoes, and grapes.
A comprehensive liquid starter fertilizer package should foster a relationship with soil biology, promoting healthier starts for plants. Agronomists increasingly recognize the value of integrating biology into traditional chemical processes, using carbon-based biological methods to channel and recycle minerals. L-CBF 7-21-3 MKP is designed to nurture healthy plants from the start, enabling them to produce and release more root exudates, thereby supporting soil biology. Applying just 5 gallons per acre of L-CBF 7-21-3 MKP delivers nearly 4 pounds of plant sugar in solution, providing an energy boost to the soil biology in the root zone. This approach enhances nutrient utilization and reduces the risk of phosphorus loss due to immobilization in the soil.
Potatoes are a significant crop in the PNW, and many growers closely guard their fertility programs. QLF Agronomy collaborates with several farms in the Columbia Basin, from Pasco to Moses Lake, Washington. A typical formulation for planter bands includes 4-5 gallons per acre of 7-21-3 MKP, supplemented with 1-2 gallons of BOOST 4-0-3-2S for an additional boost in cold March soils. An additional 2 quarts of QLF Agronomy’s proprietary 5-way Zinc blend, “CornSpike,” enhances nutrient efficiencies and drives metabolic reactions in plants. The benefits of using QLF’s L-CBF products are evident in early plant health, enhanced root growth, tuber formation, and ultimately higher yields. One farmer commented that QLF had created precisely what they had been trying to build for years.
Author Donald L. Schriefer’s “systems approach” to farming, detailed in his books From The Soil Up and Agriculture in Transition, aligns with the principles behind QLF’s L-CBF 7-21-3 MKP. Schriefer’s concept of a “row support system” focuses on placing a liquid nutrient package directly in the seed environment to increase seedling and root vigor, essential for realizing a crop’s full genetic potential. Friends and colleagues who knew Schriefer believe that QLF’s L-CBF 7-21-3 MKP embodies his vision of a superior fertilizer support package.
The challenge with concentrated liquid fertilizer products is that essential nutrient salts can draw water away from the application areas, potentially causing issues with seed germination and root damage. Even the lowest-salt-rated products can result in measurable losses. QLF’s 7N-21P-3K Starter uses a unique orthophosphate in the form of MKP (monopotassium phosphate), ensuring efficient and safe nutrient delivery. The inclusion of sugar cane molasses as a bundling and buffering agent further guarantees the safe delivery of these nutrients to young seedlings. Using L-CBF 7-21-3 MKP as a base liquid starter fertilizer ensures consistent, uniform emergence and visible increases in robust and biologically active roots.
In the Palouse region near Colfax, Washington, an agronomist observed significant advantages in a winter wheat field treated with L-CBF 7-21-3 MKP compared to a local grower’s standard practice. The root structure, described as resembling “dreadlocks,” demonstrated the uniform germination and emergence critical for maximizing yield potential.
Shifting focus to older vines, grapes have become a major crop in the PNW, with over 100,000 acres now under cultivation. QLF Agronomy partners with Precision Viticulture in Grants Pass, Oregon, where viticulturist Brian Shuster uses L-CBF products, including 7-21-3 MKP, BOOST, and Amino15. Shuster has seen long-term benefits, including improved canopy health and overall vine quality. He attributes these improvements to the consistent use of L-CBF products, which enhance soil microbiology and support old plant root systems.
QLF Agronomy takes great care in blending unique ingredients into a concentrated, user-friendly package. L-CBF 7-21-3 MKP exemplifies a high-quality liquid starter fertilizer: gentle, balanced, and supportive of soil life. The proven benefits include healthier plant starts, extensive root systems, increased seedling vigor, and improved early crop performance, contributing to a stronger yield and a favorable return on investment.