Busting The Myths On Smart Nutrition™ MAP+MST® Fertilizer Characteristics

Smart Nutrition MAP+MST® is the latest, most efficient system for delivering sulfur and phosphate to meet your cop’s needs and maximize production. As with any new technology, we understand you probably have lots of questions—and we’re here to answer them. From transporting to blending, we’re digging into the top four myths about the fertilizer characteristics of Smart Nutrtion MAP+MST.

Myth: Smart Nutrition MAP+MST is a sulfur coated MAP granule

Fact: Smart Nutrition MAP+MST is not just a coating of elemental sulfur as Micronized Sulfur Technology (MST) on a monoammonium phosphate (MAP) granule. Micronized sulfur is co-granulated with MAP to ensure every homogeneous granule contains a consistent nutrient analysis of 9-43-0-16S.

Myth: Dust created from handling and transporting Smart Nutrition MAP+MST will only contain sulfur and is potentially combustible

Fact: The dust created from handling and transporting Smart Nutrition MAP+MST is not combustible or flammable and will not burn. Third-party testing has shown during a fire, decomposition products may include ammonia, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides.

The Sulfur Institute (TSI) has indicated that sulfur containing products with an elemental sulfur concentration of 25 percent or more can be combustible. Smart Nutrition MAP+MST has a guaranteed elemental sulfur as MST analysis target of 15 percent with 1-2 percent sulfate, staying well below this threshold.

Myth: Sulfur fertilizers absorb too much moisture causing caking when blended with other fertilizer

Fact: Commonly used fertilizers like ammonium sulfate (AMS or AS) can absorb large quantities of moisture in humid environments. Moisture adsorption can lead to fertilizer caking, which can negatively affect handling and uniformity of fertilizer application. Smart Nutrition MAP+MST has been shown to accumulate less moisture compared to AMS, reducing caking and making Smart Nutrition MAP+MST a superior choice for storage, bulk blending and application.

Myth: It is not safe to apply sulfur with seed

Fact: In-furrow or seed placement of fertilizers have specific rules to follow to reduce the occurrence of seed injury. Maximum in-furrow fertilizer rates are dependent on salt content and the presence of free ammonia. A fertilizer’s salt index can be used to determine the potential salt injury compared to sodium nitrate, which has a salt index value of 100. Ammonia is toxic to germinating seeds at relatively low levels, so minimizing the exposure risk is key.

Smart Nutrition MAP+MST has a lower calculated salt index (22.4) compared to MAP (25.5) and AMS (68.3). The sulfur is present as elemental–elemental sulfur is not a salt and will not go into solution– and the fertilizer has a lower percentage of nitrogen to contribute to salt index. The lower the salt index (of two materials applied at equivalent nutrient rates), the lower the risk of salt injury for the germinating seed.

Do you have more questions about Smart Nutrition MAP+MST? Check out our post on sulfur application myths

Trademark of Sulvaris Inc. used under license (or with permission) by Sulvaris Inc.