FERTILIZER APPLICATION - Week 12

46%

82%

33%

• dissolved or suspended in water • can sometimes be mixed with other components • sprayed on the soil surface

• powder, granules, pills, slow release - applied to the soil, usually with some sort of drill and often added at planting time

• industrial production of Nitrogen for fertilizers that uses natural gas and N2 from the air • higher Natural Gas prices»_space; higher fertilizer prices

• Mineral – rock powders – low nutrient • Organic – contains hydrocarbons – from living things (plant or animal) – often low nutrient • Synthetic – chemically produced organic - high nutrient • Inorganic – mined or manufactured – no HCs – high nutrient

• Broadcast – Spread on surface (liquid or dry) P & K must be tilled in • Injection – chisels place liquids beneath the surface

• Banding – 2” down & 1” to the side of seed – more growth with less fertilizer - common • Pop Up – in row with seed – hi P and low in salt & ammonia

-hand applied water with dissolved fertilizer

• Topdressing – over soil once plants are established • Sidedressing – liquid or dry addition to the side of row crops (split application) • Fertigation – irrigation water with dissolved fertilizer • Foliar – sprays on leaves

Ammonia fertilizers»_space; lower pH (roots release H+ ions)

Nitrate Ferts»_space; raise pH (roots release hydroxide HO- ions)

= pounds of Calcium Carbonate that will be neutralized by one ton of fertilizer

salt

“C. Hopkins Cafe – Mighty Good” C H O P K N Ca Fe Mg