Profit on CHALLENGE: The Smart Choice for Starter Fertilizer

Why Starter Fertilizers and Biostimulants Work Well Together 

The first few weeks of planting are critical for setting the stage for a strong harvest. When it comes to giving your crops the best start, using starter fertilizers in combination with biostimulants and enhanced nutrient fertilizers offers significant benefits. Here’s how these products work together to support healthy, high-yielding crops: 

• Stronger Roots, Healthier Crops: Starter fertilizers like CHALLENGE provide vital nutrients early in the crop’s growth, stimulating root development for stronger plants that can access nutrients from a larger soil profile, including more stratified zones. 

• Microbial Activity: Biostimulants enhance microbial life in the soil, improving nutrient cycling and making essential nutrients more available to plants throughout the growing season. 

• Sustainable Nutrient Cycling: By integrating biostimulants with fertilizers like CHALLENGE, you improve nutrient cycling and soil structure, which reduces nutrient stratification and boosts efficiency in nutrient uptake. 

Meet CHALLENGE Enhanced Nutrient Fertilizer: Precision Nutrition for Maximum Yield 

As farming becomes increasingly data-driven, precision is key. ICL’s CHALLENGE is a liquid fertilizer designed to enhance nutrient uptake and crop establishment through precise, efficient nutrition. We often call it the root booster, and with good reason—results in the field speak for themselves. The formulation is centered around KTPP (Potassium-Tri-Poly Phosphate), which improves the availability of phosphorus and potassium—essential elements for young plants. 

What makes CHALLENGE unique is its integration of humic acids and lignosulfonic acids, which promote nutrient uptake while simultaneously reducing the stress caused by post-emergent applications. It’s a carefully balanced package that encourages early growth without compromising the plant’s long-term health. 

How It Works: A Closer Look at the Components 

• Enhanced Phosphorus Availability: CHALLENGE’s KTPP formulation improves phosphorus availability, ensuring better absorption by young roots. Early access to phosphorus and potassium helps plants develop a robust root system and grow faster. 

• Humic Acids: These acids work wonders by improving solubility and nutrient uptake through both roots and leaves. Humic acids ensure that the fertilizer is utilized to its fullest potential. 

• Lignosulfonic Acids: Nature’s “nutrient enhancers,” they help plants absorb nutrients more efficiently and reduce stress caused by environmental factors like herbicide use. 

Success Stories: Real Farmers, Real Results 

The power of CHALLENGE goes beyond theory. Here’s how growers have used the product in the field to achieve impressive results: 

• Corn in North Carolina: At the Commodity Classic in 2021, a grower from North Carolina took top honors, securing first place. Their secret? The use of CHALLENGE in their corn fields. With 277.72 bu/acre, their corn crop wasn’t just big—it was healthy, strong, and vibrant, with robust root systems that allowed the plants to thrive in less-than-ideal conditions. 

• Tobacco in Alabama: In Alabama, an early visual comparison between CHALLENGE-treated fields and those treated with traditional fertilizers revealed superior root growth in the CHALLENGE-treated fields. This confirmed what many growers already know—well-fed plants grow stronger. 

• Strawberries in California: A trial in Santa Maria, CA, tested the impact of CHALLENGE on strawberry yield and quality. The result? A slight increase in yield, but more notably, a significant improvement in crop quality, making CHALLENGE a valuable addition to strawberry production. 

• Wheat in Idaho: When CHALLENGE was applied alongside post-emergent herbicides on Soft White Wheat in Caldwell, ID, treated fields saw 145 bushels per acre, compared to 125 bushels per acre in untreated fields—a 16% increase in yield, showing the effectiveness of CHALLENGE in boosting productivity. 

Why Choose CHALLENGE? 

• Fertigation-Ready: CHALLENGE integrates seamlessly with fertigation systems, allowing growers to apply precise amounts of nutrients at the right time for maximum crop performance. 

• Stronger Root Development: CHALLENGE’s unique formulation promotes dramatic root growth from the start, helping plants develop a more extensive root system, critical for accessing nutrients across the soil profile, particularly in areas with stratified nutrients. 

• Reduced Fertilizer Input Costs: By enhancing nutrient uptake and ensuring efficient use of applied fertilizers, CHALLENGE reduces the need for over-application, cutting input costs and improving your bottom line. 

• Increased Yield Potential: Early root stimulation and better nutrient absorption lead to higher yields and improved crop quality, making CHALLENGE a cost-effective solution for growers aiming to maximize profitability. 

In Support of Sustainable Farming 

Today’s growers face the challenge of balancing productivity with environmental responsibility. CHALLENGE not only improves yields but also helps reduce environmental impact in a way that supports sustainability: 

• Enhanced Nutrient Efficiency: By improving the uptake of key nutrients like phosphorus and potassium, fertilizers are used efficiently, reducing the environmental footprint of your operations. 

• Supports Soil Health: Improving microbial activity and promoting the breakdown of stratified soil layers ensures more even nutrient distribution throughout the growing season. 

• Reduces Nutrient Waste: Growing more with less means reducing over-application of fertilizers, limiting nutrient runoff, and minimizing environmental impact. By improving uptake and reducing application rates, we achieve these goals. 

The Right Fit for Your Farm 

No matter what you’re growing, CHALLENGE can be integrated into your fertility program to deliver stronger, healthier crops. Whether you’re planting, transplanting, or dealing with post-emergent stress, CHALLENGE is your go-to starter fertilizer. We’re proud to offer it as a new addition to our crop nutrition portfolio.