With its new enzyme mode of action, Phosforce from Koch Agronomic Services is a novel phosphorus nutrient use efficiency product. It aims to make more phosphorus available to the plant during critical growth periods.
“Phosforce builds on our expertise with enzymes, but our previous work focused on nitrogen enzymes. It’s a new concept to bring to phosphorus,” says Tim Laatsch, director of agronomy for Koch Agronomic Services. “It is novel and differentiated in how it leverages natural biology to unlock the soil phosphorus.”
The enzyme in Phosforce is already in the soil but available in limited supply, and application accelerates the biochemical reactions in the soil to tap an previous unused pool of soil phosphorus.
“Phosforce highlights the untapped resource of organic phosphorus that is already in the soil. Only recently has organic phosphorus come to the forefront and we’ve started to understand how much organic phosphorus is in soils,” Laatsch says. “For example, I saw a study with a wide range of soils across Illinois and the samples ranged from 25 lb to 400 lb of organic phosphorus that we could potentially access.”
While phosphorus is relatively immobile in the soil, it’s even harder for the plant to use in cool and wet soil conditions. Making phosphorus available for plant uptake leads to healthy root development, improved vigor, and nutritional balance to overcome early environmental stress.
“In the early growing season, the plants need phosphorus to set a strong root foundation and grow rapidly,” Laatsch says. “Providing access to soil organic phosphorus is important especially during the window of time when the plant needs it the most.”
Laatsch says this is not to be confused with biological products on the market.
“This is a biochemical solution with concentrated enzymes. The end product works by adding enzymes to the soil, but we aren’t reliant on a microbe to survive in the package and then combine with the native biology,” Laatsch says. “We are starting to learn a lot more to unlock the organic phosphorus and be able to access it. You can think of it like phosphorus in your savings account. You can use the enzyme to unlock the savings account and make a withdrawal.”
The application rate for most row crops is 8 fl. oz per acre. Certain crops have higher recommended rates such as potatoes at 20 fl. oz per acre. Phosforce can be applied in furrow, banded (such as a 2x2 placement), at sidedress, in a broadcast application, or with fertigation. It’s active in the soil for up to eight weeks.
Applying additional amounts of the enzyme found in Phosforce augments a traditional phosphorus fertilizer program rather than replaces other phosphorus application rates.
“It doesn’t have to ride with a phosphorus fertilizer—it can go with UAN, ATS blends, and doesn’t necessarily have to ride with a starter,” Laatsch says. “It’s stable in fertilizer blends for three weeks. And it has a two year shelf life.”
Koch Agronomic Services has 10 years of product research data across 150 trials. Those show an average of 5.2 bu. yield response and an overall 81% numeric win rate.
“This product delivers consistent performance,” Laatsch says.
It’s labeled for all crops: row crops, specialty crops like potatoes, tree nuts, vines, turf, and ornamentals.
“All crops need phosphorus when they start growing,” Laatsch says. “So this product unlocks the organic phosphorus using its new mode of action, and it fits well into our nutrient enhancement product lineup.”
The product is available through major U.S. distributors for the 2025 growing season and can be purchased through that channel.
