TK47® Increases Crop Productivity, Reduces Pesticide Use and Improves Soil Conditions

TORONTO, June 2, 2015 /CNW/ - Verde Potash (TSX: "NPK") ("Verde" or the "Company") announces superior agronomic results for carrot and corn crops grown using TK47 as the source of potassium as well as significantly reducing the amount of pesticide used. For the last 8 years, Brazil has been the world's largest pesticide consumer. The tests validate TK47's multi-functionality benefits for plant nutrition, plant protection, soil improvement and increased sustainability. Requested by Brazil's largest carrot producer, the test was carried out by an independent research institute.

In earlier studies, the Company had already reported on results demonstrating TK47's plant nutrition benefits. The current test results evidence three other benefits: plant protection, soil improvement and increased sustainability.

• Plant protection: the results showed that the area treated with TK47 was more productive despite a reduced amount of pesticides. This demonstrates TK47's ability to increase plants' natural resistance against diseases and pests, thus allowing growers to use less pesticide.
• Soil improvement: the results showed that the soil conditions improved in the area where crops were grown using TK47. A significant amount of phosphate was unlocked from the soil and made available for plant uptake. The concentration of other nutrients in the soil such as calcium, magnesium and potassium were also elevated.
• Increased sustainability: the tests showed that the use of TK47 replaces multiple potassium applications and can reduce the amount of applied pesticide and phosphate.

Summary of Results on Carrots and Corn

The research institute planted carrots followed by corn to evaluate the productivity of each crop as well as carry out a soil analysis.

Carrots

Plant Nutrition:

• Half the dosage of potassium from TK47 produced 3.6 tonnes (5.68%) more carrots than the KCl plot;
• The same dosage of potassium from TK47 produced 5.9 tonnes (9.32%) more carrots than the KCl plot.
• Plant protection:
• The TK47 plot with less pesticide produced 5.4 tonnes (8.53%) more than the area with the same dosage of potassium from TK47 but without fewer pesticides. For this test, the following pesticides weren't applied to the TK47 plot: Abamex (Nufarm), Engeo Pleno (Syngenta), Caramba^®90 (BASF), Comet^® (BASF), Cabrio^® Top (Seiva do Vale), Imunit™ (BASF).

Soil improvement:

• A soil analysis showed that the TK47 plot, with half the dosage of potassium, had 3.3 mg/dm³ more phosphorus available than that of the KCl plot. This represents 5.7% more phosphate unlocked from the soil as a consequence of product usage;
• When the same potassium dosage as KCl is applied, the concentration of calcium + magnesium and potassium in the soil was 8.64% and 53.25%, respectively, greater when TK47 was applied.

Increased sustainability

• The plot with TK47 required only one application of potassium, whereas 3 additional applications were needed on the KCl plot;
• Compared to the KCl plot, the TK47 plot with less pesticide increased crop productivity and the concentration of nutrients in the soil and plant leaves.

Corn

Corn was planted in the same area where carrots had been cultivated without the application of more fertilizers. This was done in order to evaluate the residual effect TK47 has on improving overall soil conditions and fertility. Nowadays, advanced farming techniques promote an integrated approach to fertilization in which farmers focus on long-term soil improvement rather than just a single growing season.

Plant Nutrition:

• Half the dosage of potassium from TK47 produced 13.3 tonnes per hectare versus 12.5 tonnes per hectare from KCl, representing an increase of 6%.

Plant Protection:

• Even when significantly less pesticide was applied and the potassium dosage was kept the same, the TK47 plot produced 0.4 tonnes (3.10%) more corn than the KCl plot.

Soil Improvement:

•  Potassium from TK47 on the carrot crop was sufficient to assure corn productivity without additional potassium applications, supporting TK47's residual effect.

Pesticide Market

Since 2008, Brazil has ranked first in the world for pesticide consumption. In 2011, the country spent approximately $8.5 billion on pesticide related chemicals. In the last ten years, while the world market in this sector grew by 93%, the growth in Brazil was 190%[1]. Due to extensive acreage, the mix of crop cultures and its climatic conditions being favorable to the proliferation of pests, Brazil uses an average of two to three times more pesticides per acre than other global producers.

Next steps

Verde has retained an agronomic consultancy company to conduct an economic assessment of results achieved for carrots and corn. Results from this assessment will be presented by the end of Q2/2015.

About Verde Potash

Verde Potash is a Brazil focused agri-tech company promoting sustainable and profitable agriculture through the development of its Cerrado Verde Project. Cerrado Verde, located in the heart of Brazil's largest agriculture market, is the source of a potash-rich deposit from which the Company intends to produce TK47 and KCl. TK47 is a multi-function innovative product that combines benefits for plant nutrition, plant protection, water use efficiency, soil improvement and increased sustainability. Verde's mission is to offer technological and intelligent solutions that meet the needs of an increasingly demanding and conscious market. The Company is also developing its Calcario limestone project, limestone being a key raw material in Verde's process to produce TK47 and KCl.

About the Cerrado Verde Potash Project

Cerrado Verde is a unique project: 1) its high grade potash rock outcrops and is amenable to strip mining, allowing fast construction of a scalable operation; 2) it is located in the midst of the world's third largest and fastest growing fertilizer market; 3) it connects to Brazil's largest fertilizer distribution districts via existing and high quality infrastructure; 4) it has the potential to supply both TK47 and KCl to Brazil's local agriculture market from its large potash-rich deposit.

SOURCE Verde Potash Plc