Pulse School: Balancing P-K-S Fertility when Margins Are Tight

Why It Matters

Balancing PKS while exploiting pulses’ nitrogen‑free advantage helps growers cut costs, protect yields, and maintain soil fertility amid rising fertilizer prices.

Key Takeaways

• Pulses require no nitrogen, reducing fertilizer costs amid price hikes.
• Balance P, K, and S rates; avoid limiting any single nutrient.
• Cut nutrients uniformly rather than heavily reducing one element.
• Fall soil testing ensures stable P and K recommendations for next season.
• Adjust crop mix, like faba beans to peas, based on moisture forecasts.

Summary

The Pulse School episode focuses on how pulse growers can balance phosphorus, potassium and sulfur (PKS) applications when profit margins are squeezed by soaring fertilizer prices. Host Amber Bell interviews Shane Stridehorse of Pulse Canada, who emphasizes that pulses’ lack of nitrogen demand offers a natural cost advantage and frames the discussion around precise nutrient management.

Stridhorse advises growers to follow soil‑test recommendations for all three nutrients and to cut rates evenly if reductions are necessary, noting that a shortfall in any single element becomes the limiting factor. He highlights the economic driver behind nutrient decisions, the limited mobility of P and K in the soil, and the benefit of fall soil testing to lock in stable recommendations for the next planting season.

Key moments include Stridhorse’s comment, “Pulses have no nitrogen needs, which is a big deal this year,” and his example of deliberately over‑applying PKS to build a nutrient reserve for future rotations. He also discusses shifting from faba beans to peas in response to a wetter winter, and confirms seed availability remains flexible despite late‑season changes.

The take‑away for producers is clear: leverage the nitrogen‑free nature of pulses, maintain balanced PKS nutrition, use fall testing to avoid last‑minute adjustments, and consider moisture‑driven crop swaps. These practices can safeguard yields, preserve soil health, and improve profitability in a volatile input market.

Original Description

With pulse crops requiring little to no added nitrogen, growers have a unique opportunity to focus on phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur (PKS) to drive yield and support long-term soil fertility. At the same time, questions around spring moisture, yield potential and crop prices add another layer to fertility planning.

In this episode of RealAgriculture’s Pulse School, Shane Strydhorst, vice-chair of Pulse Canada and director with Alberta Pulse Growers, discusses how to balance PKS nutrition in pulse crops, how economics factor into fertility decisions, and how moisture conditions can shape both nutrient management and crop choice.

Strydhorst points to the nitrogen advantage as a key starting point for pulses. “The awesome thing with pulse crops is no nitrogen needs… not having to put any nitrogen on a pulse crop is a great starting point,” he says, noting that this allows growers to not only meet PKS requirements but, in some cases, build soil fertility for the rotation.

From there, the focus shifts to balance. Strydhorst says that all nutrients must be managed together to avoid limiting yield potential. “Anytime that you skimp on one nutrient, that nutrient will become your limiting factor for that crop,” he says, adding that if rates need to be trimmed for economic or logistical reasons, smaller reductions across all nutrients are preferable.

Strydhorst also outlines how crop removal rates can act as a minimum benchmark to avoid mining soil reserves, and why fall soil testing has become a practical option, particularly given the limited mobility of phosphorus and potassium.

Moisture, however, remains a key variable. Dry conditions can leave behind residual nutrients, while pulses themselves are relatively water-use efficient. At the same time, Strydhorst says that crops such as faba beans require more moisture and earlier seeding, which may prompt adjustments in crop plans during a delayed spring.

Ultimately, the conversation highlights how PKS management, economics, soil testing, and moisture all intersect—reinforcing the importance of making balanced, informed decisions ahead of seeding.

Website: https://www.realagriculture.com/

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