What is 2x2 Fertilizer Placement?

Becky Worley • Apr 27, 2021

2x2 fertilizer placement (also known as pop-up or starter depending on what part of the country you are from) is a great companion to in-furrow fertility, creating a type of relay effect for prolonged root feeding potential. It is also a great way to provide planter-applied fertility when in less-than-ideal environments (low OM, sandy soils, etc.) or for use in salt sensitive crops (soybean, cotton, etc.). Although technically not exactly 2” to the side and 2” below the seed, it is however a band of highly concentrated fertilizer giving the plant a needed boost of nutrition early in the growing season.


2x2 is one of the most common options for starter fertilizer placement, with the other being in-furrow. Both methods are good options and are used commonly thorough the United States, with each having their own set of strengths and weaknesses. In-furrow uses less product and requires less equipment. However, 2x2 allows for more flexibility and placement of a higher percentage of nitrogen, one of the most essential building blocks for plant growth. Most importantly, you can achieve either method with a high-quality NACHURS fertilizer to ensure your crops get the nutrients they need.



NACHURS K-Fuse (6-0-12-12S) is a great option for 2x2 starter application due to its ability to be mixed UAN solutions (4 parts UAN32 or 3 parts UAN28 to 1 part K-fuse). Powered by Bio-K® potassium acetate and high in sulfur, it is designed to work with high-nitrogen fertility programs. It not only addresses deficiencies but also improves nitrogen use efficiency. In a 2019-2020 PTI field study, adding 3 gallons of K-Fuse was shown to increase yield by an average of 3.3 bushels per acre, with an increased ROI of $32.70 per acre. A good starter fertilizer is proven to increase yield!  The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

The early growth stages are the most important to ensure a healthy plant and high yields, making starter fertilizer invaluable during planting. This is especially true in cold soils where roots don’t grow as quickly. Most crop nutrients must be very near the root structure in order to be effective. This is why 2x2 fertilizer works so well, as applying nutrient in the proximity of the root system improves nutrient efficiency right from the start.



In addition to K-Fuse, NACHURS offers many product options to place high quality NPK, Micronutrient and Potassium-Sulfur treatments for 2x2 and other starter fertilizer applications. Take a look at our starter fertilizers or contact a NACHURS representative to find the best products for you.


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Wayne Becker, District Sales Manager & Agronomy Specialist Blending two NACHURS products (Triple Option® and Balance®) at a 1:1 ratio has proven to jump start soybeans and increase profitability. Many farmers would like to use in-furrow starter fertilizer with their beans but are uncertain of the benefits. When beans are first planted early growth is very important. • It is a race against time between soybeans and weeds, fighting for water, sunlight and nutrients. • The quicker a canopy is established, the less weeds are able to steal resources, which could affect yield potential. Traditional In-furrow fertilization of beans is usually not as easy to visually observe as when it is applied to corn or wheat. However, that does not mean that they are not extremely important. This treatment will provide early season fertility that will help the young crop remain strong and vibrant, enabling them to better deal with stresses like insects, drought or water logging. NACHURS liquid fertilizer has been providing the best in-furrow fertilizer treatments for 75+ years. With NACHURS in-furrow, producers have always been able to safely provide the traditional benefits without decreasing germination because of the fertilizer’s low-salt content and superior availability. New focus on plant and soil health has raised the bar even higher. The NACHURS Bio-K® line of fertilizers is the most available source of K on the market, yet it also promotes both soil and plant health. Because the Bio-K fertilizer is a carbon molecule combined with potassium, applying it in-furrow provides beneficial soil microbes with a food source. This enables microbes to increase nutrient availability – for all types of crops. Legumes use Rhizobia to “fix” their own nitrogen. NACHURS has developed a product specially designed to stimulate early development of these important soil microbes. It is called Balance®. We combine the rhizobia stimulating qualities of Balance with Triple Option which maximizes quantity of other nutrients. The result is improved potential for early season growth and greater profitability of soybeans
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MARION, OHIO – February 8, 2024 – The 2024 Commodity Classic in Houston will be here before we know it. This is one of the best opportunities to spend a few days with some of the most innovative people in agriculture. Commodity Classic is America’s largest farmer-led, farmer -focused agricultural and educational experience. This year is no exception to the continued excellence that you have come to expect. NACHURS is sure to create a lot of buzz with the unveiling of their new tradeshow booth (#2903), the launch of a new specialty additive technology presented by V.P. of Product Development, Tommy Roach during the “Mini What’s New” Session on Thursday morning at 10:00 am, and our in-booth panel discussions on Thursday and Friday at 2:30 pm. Each day will be a riveting conversation with the Xtreme Ag founders who are some of the top producers in the country. We will follow up with a daily happy hour, so please join us! The NACHURS name has long been synonymous with high quality precision placed fertility products. Our products form the foundation of environmentally sound and sustainable fertilizer programs for all crops across North America and beyond. For further information, please contact NACHURS at 800-622-4877 or stop by our booth #2903 at the show. ### About Nachurs Alpine Solutions® Nachurs Alpine Solutions (NAS) became a division of Wilbur-Ellis in 2019. NAS is a 75-year-old specialty chemical business that pioneered the low salt liquid starter fertilizer industry by introducing the first true solution liquid NPK fertilizer. Today, NPK liquid fertilizers sold by NAS are marketed under the NACHURS brand in the United States and under the ALPINE brand in Canada. For more information visit www.nachurs-alpine.com About the Wilbur-Ellis Companies Founded in 1921, the Wilbur-Ellis companies are leading international marketers, distributors and manufacturers of agricultural products, animal nutrients and specialty chemicals and ingredients. By developing strong relationships, making strategic market investments and capitalizing on new opportunities. For more information, please visit www.wilburellis.com
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