Recommendations for use of KTS®

HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID POTASSIUM WITH THIOSULFATE SULFUR

A minimum 25% K₂O (20.8% K) and 42.5% SO₃ (17% S) nutrient content in liquid form.

Recommendations for Use

1: COMPATIBILITY

KTS is compatible with most other liquid fertilizers within normal concentration ranges, except with those containing calcium, which may cause precipitation of calcium sulfate (CaSO₄).
However, KTS can be blended with CaTs® and is also compatible with most pesticides and fungicides.

2: GUIDELINES FOR USE OF KTS IN FERTIGATION

Application of nutrients like KTS should be made in the middle third or second half of an irrigation set.
Several hours of irrigation should take place before and after the injection of KTS.

The injection of KTS should be done slowly and should last at least as long as it takes irrigation water to travel from the point of injection to the last emitter or sprinkler in the field.
The injection of KTS should be done with a fertilizer injection pump and should be done over a 1 to 4 hour time period.
Rapid injection of KTS may lead to uneven distribution of the KTS and may cause crop damage.
Always refer to precautions stated on the bag when using the product.

3: DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF KTS IN FLOOD AND IN FURROW APPLICATION

Trees and vines: 45 to 110 liters of KTS per hectare per application; apply once every 2 to 3 weeks, starting at full leaf.
Vegetable and row crops: 45 to 95 liters of KTS per hectare per application; apply once every 2 to 3 weeks.

4: DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF KTS IN SPRINKLER AND CENTER PIVOT APPLICATION

Trees (under): 45 to 75 liters per hectare per application every 10 to 14 days based on crop requirements.
Trees (overhead): 30 to 45 liters per hectare per application every 10 to 14 days based on crop requirements.
Vines: 30 to 45 liters per hectare every 10 to 14 days based on crop requirements.
Vegetable and row crops: beginning at the 3rd - 4th leaf stage, apply 10 to 55 liters per hectare every 7 to 10 days based on crop requirements.

After injection, allow enough irrigation time (at least 60 minutes) to rinse the plants of any residual fertilizer.

5: DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF KTS IN DRIP IRRIGATION

A typical scenario is that a nutrient solution of 80 mg K per liter requires a stock solution of 5.25 l KTS (7.72 kg) per 100 liters of water, injected at a rate of 0.5%. The following formulae may be used for calculations:

Nutrient solution (K ppm or K mg/l) = 30.5 x concentration of stock solution (l KTS per 100 l water) x % injection rate.

Stock solution (l KTS per 100 l water) = 0.0328 x concentration of nutrient solution (ppm K or mg K/l) / % injection rate.

Add ½ of water to tank, begin stirring
With highly alkaline water (pH > 8), it is recommended to first neutralize the stock solution to pH 7 before addition of KTS.
Add recommended amount of KTS followed by the other compatible liquid N and P sources.
Add compatible micronutrients, followed by flowable materials, then by emulsifiables and finally any soluble powders and/or water-soluble fertilizers. (All should be pre dispersed in water before adding to the tank solution).
Complete filling of tank to desired volume and continue circulating prior to and during injection. Flush equipment after usage.
Conduct a small-scale trial to check the compatibility of the mixture before large scale operation and injection into the irrigation system.

6: SUGGESTED APPLICATION RATES FOR DRIP IRRIGATION

Fruit and nuts
(pome fruit, stone fruit, tropical fruit, citrus, kiwi, olive, avocado, pistachio, almond):

Young trees: 30 to 45 liters per hectare during the season, starting at full leaf; apply once every 3 to 4 weeks.
Mature trees: 45 to 95 liters per hectare, starting at full leaf; apply once every 3 to 4 weeks.

Grapes:
Application of KTS can be made any time up to veraison and post-harvest.

Young vines: 25 to 45 liters per hectare, no more than once every 3 to 4 weeks.

Mature vines: 45 to 95 liters per hectare as required according to tissue analysis, no more than once every 2 weeks.

Vegetables and row crops:
25 to 50 liters per hectare, once every 10 days, no more than 3 times per month.

Tobacco:
10 to 50 liters per hectare, once every 14 days, 3 to 6 applications, starting three weeks after planting.

Bananas:
30 liters per hectare at fruit filling (finger stage) followed by 30 liters per hectare 15 days before harvest.

Flowers:
3 to 5 liters per hectare weekly throughout crop growth.

Small fruits:
30 to 50 liters per hectare once every 10 days after plants are well established, no more than 3 times per month.

7: DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF KTS IN MICRO-SPRINKLERS (FAN JET)

Young trees and vines: 25 to 50 liters per hectare, once every 3 to 4 weeks (starting at full leaf for vines).

Mature trees: 55 to 110 liters per hectare, once every 3 to 4 weeks.

Mature vines: 45 to 95 liters per hectare as required according to tissue analysis, once every 3 to 4 weeks starting at full leaf.

8: DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF KTS FOR FOLIAR APPLICATIONS

Do not apply KTS to the foliage of any crop when temperatures are, or will be, above 30°C. Apply early in the morning or late evening.
Recommendations listed below are for KTS application only (i.e. without any tank mix partner products).

Cotton:
5 to 10 liters per hectare beginning from the 1st through to the 4th week of bloom along with 3 liters per hectare of N-Sure.

Potatoes:
5 to 10 liters per hectare beginning at tuber initiation; apply second treatment at golf ball size and third treatment at tuber bulking.

Wheat and other small grains:
5 to 15 liters per hectare at tillering to early boot stage. Do not use foliar on corn and crops sensitive to sulfur.

Canola:
5 to 15 liters per hectare at bolting.

Alfalfa:
10 to 15 liters per hectare at crown green up or on regrowth just after cutting.

Rice:
5 to 10 liters per hectare at panicle initiation.

Peas and Lentils:
5 to 10 liters per hectare during late bud to 10% bloom.

Tomatoes:
Begin at fruit set: apply 5 to 10 liters per hectare every 7 to 14 days.

Soybeans:
10 to 15 liters per hectare at R1 to R2 stage.

Sugar beets:
10 to 20 liters per hectare at row closure.

Apples, apricots, almonds, citrus, pecans:
Apply KTS at 5 to 15 liters per hectare in a minimum of 1000 liters of water spray solution. Begin application at first full leaf and apply as needed during the growing season. For concentrated sprays of less than 1000 liters per hectare, reduce the rate of KTS to stay within the recommended solution ratio. Do not exceed a spray solution concentration of 1.5%.

Viniferous vines:
Begin 2 weeks after bloom: 5 to 10 liters per hectare in a minimum of 500 liters of water. Repeat treatment in 7 to 10 days. Do not apply foliar to Concord grapes. Do not exceed a spray solution concentration of 2%. Do not apply after veraison.

9: DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF KTS AS A STARTER FERTILIZER (SOIL APPLICATION)

Be sure to follow established recommendations for crop, soil type and moisture conditions in your area.
Excessive amounts of fertilizer can damage seed germination.
Do not apply to small-seeded crops.
Do not exceed established recommendations for N + P + K for local soil type and conditions.
Starter recommendations are for a 5 cm x 5 cm (5 centimeters to the side and 5 centimeters below the seed) or a 5 cm x 0 cm (5 cm to the side of the seed on the soil surface). KTS can be applied by itself or with other starter fertilizers, such as P-Sure®.

Corn: apply 10 to 50 liters of KTS per hectare.

Wheat: apply 10 to 50 liters per hectare.

Tobacco: apply 10 to 25 liters as a single application, during the transplanting of young plants.

Sugar beet, potatoes, oilseed rape, sorghum: apply 10 to 50 liters per hectare.

10: DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF KTS AS A POP-UP FERTILIZER IN FURROW (SOIL APPLICATION)

It is recommended to avoid contact between KTS and the seeds of legumes or other small-seeded crops.

Corn and wheat: apply 5 to 10 liters of KTS per hectare by itself or with other liquid pop-up fertilizers.

Sugar beet, potatoes, oilseed rape, sorghum: apply 5 to 10 liters of KTS per hectare.

11: DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF KTS AS A SIDE DRESSING (SOIL APPLICATION)

KTS can be soil injected or deep banded by itself or with nitrogen and phosphorus.
KTS can also be broadcast sprayed on soil surface or surface banded midway between rows
Rates will vary depending on crop requirement and soil analysis.

Corn, cotton, soybeans: 25 to 140 liters per hectare soil injection on medium to fine textured soils and 28 to 94 liters per hectare sandy soils. Avoid pruning roots. Apply as needed to meet crop requirements. For surface banding or dribble application, 28 to 94 liters per hectare on medium to fine textured soils and 28 to 47 liters per hectare on sandy soils. Do not allow spray or spray drift to contact leaves, stalks or any part of the crop due to potential phytotoxicity.

Vegetables: for soil injection, surface banding or dribble application apply 25 to 115 liters per hectare on medium to fine textured soils and 25 to 75 liters per hectare on sandy soils. Avoid pruning roots. Apply as needed to meet crop requirements. Do not allow spray or spray drift to contact leaves, stalks or any part of the crop due to potential phytotoxicity.

12: GUIDELINES FOR BLENDING WITH KTS

KTS is compatible with liquid urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) solutions in certain specific ratios.
Blends of KTS and APP may exhibit some cloudiness although under normal circumstances this should not effect the performance of the blend, which is best used soon after preparation.
Only UAN and KTS blends with greater than 80% of one of the two components are stable without dilution.
In general, when blending KTS and UAN solution, as much water, by weight, should be added to the blend so as to equal the amount of the UAN solution or KTS in the final mix, whichever is the smaller. Blending order should be: KTS, then water, followed by UAN.
Blends with UAN solution should be tested first before making large quantities.
In cold weather, the potassium in KTS reacts with the nitrate in UAN to form potassium nitrate crystals. Adding water or heat will bring the crystals back into solution. Avoid sparging air into KTS or a KTS blend.
When mixing pesticides with KTS, and other fertilizers, the blend sequence should be as follows: water, then pesticide, followed by KTS and/or other fertilizer. Always make sure that combinations with pesticides are compatible.
Micronutrient blends should be jar tested first before mixing with KTS. In most situations, micronutrient chelates of neutral pH are preferred for blending with KTS. Strongly acidic and/or weak chelates do not blend well with KTS.
Blends of KTS should not be acidified below a pH of 6.0.

12: GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF KTS + P-SURE (APP) STARTER BLENDS

P-Sure contains 158 g/l N as ammoniacal nitrogen and 533 g/l P₂O₅

13: PRECAUTIONS

DO NOT apply KTS to foliage of crops sensitive (foliar burn) to sulfur.
DO NOT apply KTS to foliage of any crop when temperatures are, or will be, above 30 °C. Apply KTS in the early morning or in the evening.
Use caution when applying fertilizer to crops experiencing heat or moisture stress. Fertilizers are salts which compete with the crop for water. Crops should be hydrated before applying any fertilizer.
The total rate of fertilizer applied should be split among several irrigations at lower rates per application as temperatures increase.
DO NOT apply KTS with knife injectors or other types of fertilizer injecting equipment that may cause root pruning.
Do not apply KTS foliar with crop oil sprays. Allow at least 14 days before or after an application of crop oil before applying KTS as a foliar.
DO NOT apply KTS while chlorinating irrigation system. Thiosulfates will neutralize chlorine.
DO NOT mix KTS with acid or acidic fertilizers below a pH of 6.0: KTS will decompose.
DO NOT use high-pressure sprays (greater than 60 psi or 4.1 bar) when applying KTS over the top of a crop.
Recommendations are for KTS only; the addition of other fertilizers at or near the same time could increase the chance of phytotoxicity to the crop. Please allow several days between injections.
When mixing KTS or any liquid fertilizer with pesticides always keep agitators running during filling and spraying operations. Failure to maintain agitation may cause separation of products resulting in uneven spray application.
Many crops are sensitive to salts during germination. When soil moisture is low, delayed crop emergence and/or phytotoxicity may occur when fertilizer is placed too close to the seed.
Do NOT use KTS in pop-up fertilizer when soil moisture is limited, soil salinity is above an electrical conductivity of 1.0 mS/cm or when irrigation is delayed such that germination may be affected.
Fertigation application of KTS and other liquid or water-soluble fertilizers to an established crop may cause injury to a crop if: (i) Injection period is less than 60 minutes, which may cause an uneven distribution of KTS to the crop (ii) KTS rates are higher than suggested (iii) Ample irrigation water is not applied immediately before and after the injection of KTS.
Crop injury may result from unusual weather conditions (heat wave, drought, or hot drying wind), or improper application practices such as injecting fertilizer to quickly all of which are out of control of the manufacturer or seller.

For more information contact: Tessenderlo Kerley International, part of Tessenderlo Group, Troonstraat 130 - 1050 Brussels, Belgium

Tel. +32 2 639 18 11
tessenderlokerley@tessenderlo.com
www.tessenderlokerley.com

While every care has been taken to ensure that the information here is correct at the time of publication, Tessenderlo Group can neither give any guarantee as to its accuracy nor accept any liability resulting from its use. If in any doubt consult a qualified agronomist. KTS® is a registered trademark of Tessenderlo Group NV/SA.