Ontario field trial highlights the potential of TOP-PHOS® technology to optimize starter fertilizer inputs while maintaining strong crop performance.
For Canadian growers, making the most of every fertilizer application is essential. Optimizing nutrient inputs while maintaining crop productivity is an important part of managing fertilizer costs and supporting responsible nutrient management.
A 2025–2026 winter wheat field trial conducted in Bright, Ontario, compared TIMAC AGRO’s TOP-PHOS® 3-22 with two commonly used phosphorus fertilizer products: monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and MicroEssentials® SZ (MESZ).
The results were encouraging TOP-PHOS® achieved comparable grain yields despite substantially lower phosphorus and starter nitrogen inputs.
Comparable Yields with Lower Nutrient Inputs
TOP-PHOS® 3-22 produced 123.4 bu/ac, compared with 126.1 bu/ac for MAP and 123.3 bu/ac for MESZ. No statistically significant differences in grain yield were detected among treatments (p = 0.7155).
While yields were comparable, nutrient application rates differed considerably.
TOP-PHOS® supplied 10.75 kg of elemental phosphorus per hectare, compared with 25.41 kg P/ha for MAP and 20.25 kg P/ha for MESZ, representing 57.7% less applied phosphorus than MAP and 46.9% less than MESZ.
Due to differences in fertilizer composition, TOP-PHOS® also supplied substantially less starter nitrogen:
- 72.7% less starter nitrogen than MAP
- 75.9% less starter nitrogen than MESZ
MAP (11% N) and MESZ (12% N) supplied more nitrogen through their respective fertilizer formulations than TOP-PHOS® 3-22 (3% N).
Despite these lower starter nutrient inputs, TOP-PHOS® maintained comparable grain yield performance.
Winter Wheat Trial Results – Bright, Ontario
|
Parameter |
TOP-PHOS® 3-22 |
MAP |
MESZ |
|
Grain yield (bu/ac) |
123.4 |
126.1 |
123.3 |
|
Fertilizer rate (kg/ha) |
112 |
112 |
116 |
|
Phosphorus applied (kg P/ha) |
10.75 |
25.41 |
20.25 |
|
Starter nitrogen (lb N/ac) |
3.00 |
10.99 |
12.42 |
No statistically significant differences in grain yield were detected (p = 0.7155). Nutrient inputs reflect the reported fertilizer treatments.
The TOP-PHOS® Advantage: Protecting Phosphorus Availability
Phosphorus is essential for strong root development, early crop vigor and maximizing yield potential. However, a significant portion of applied phosphorus can become tied up in the soil, reducing its availability for crop uptake.
TOP-PHOS® is TIMAC AGRO’s patented granular phosphorus fertilizer technology, designed to help maintain phosphorus availability across a wide range of soil conditions.
Its unique humic-calcium matrix helps protect phosphorus from soil tie-up, supporting nutrient availability and root development.
TOP-PHOS® technology offers three key agronomic advantages:
- Phosphorus protection: Complexing agents help protect phosphorus from tie-up across a wide range of soil conditions, including acidic and alkaline soils.
- Root development: Supports strong root development and vigorous early crop growth.
- Cold soil performance: Helps maintain phosphorus availability under cooler soil conditions, supporting early-season crop nutrition.
These characteristics are particularly relevant for Canadian growers, where soil conditions and cool spring temperatures can influence phosphorus availability and early crop development.
Putting TOP-PHOS® to the Test in Ontario
The winter wheat trial was conducted on sandy loam soil with a pH of 7.5, a cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 9.4 and organic matter content of 3.2%.
These slightly alkaline soil conditions provide a relevant setting for evaluating a fertilizer technology designed to help protect phosphorus from soil tie-up.
Although phosphorus uptake and root development were not directly measured, TOP-PHOS® achieved comparable grain yields with considerably lower phosphorus and starter nitrogen inputs.
These findings highlight the potential of TOP-PHOS® as part of an optimized phosphorus fertilization strategy.
What Does This Mean for Canadian Growers?
The results highlight three important considerations for fertilizer management.
Maintaining crop productivity: TOP-PHOS® achieved comparable grain yields to MAP and MESZ despite lower starter phosphorus and nitrogen inputs.
Optimizing fertilizer investments: Reducing nutrient inputs while maintaining comparable yields may create opportunities to optimize fertilizer investments. Actual economic benefits depend on fertilizer prices, application rates and the overall fertility program.
Supporting responsible nutrient management: Applying nutrients according to soil fertility and crop requirements can help growers optimize fertilizer programs while supporting efficient resource use.
The Bottom Line: Making Every Nutrient Count
TOP-PHOS® 3-22 delivered comparable winter wheat yields with 57.6% less applied phosphorus and up to 75.9% less starter nitrogen in this Ontario field trial.
By combining patented phosphorus technology with a differentiated nutrient formulation, TOP-PHOS® offers Canadian growers an innovative approach to phosphorus fertilization.
While additional field evaluations across different soil types and fertility conditions are needed, these results highlight the potential of TOP-PHOS® to support competitive crop performance with lower starter nutrient inputs.
Interested in optimizing your phosphorus fertilization strategy?Contact your local TIMAC AGRO representative or our National Product Manager Christopher Pertschy ([email protected]) to learn more about TOP-PHOS® and how it can fit into your crop nutrition program.
Trial conducted by BlackCreek Research in Bright, Ontario, in 2025–2026, with four replications. Grain yields were comparable across treatments, with no statistically significant differences (p = 0.7155).
