• Nutrition Management
• Crop Nutrient Requirements
• Fertiliser Application
• Soil Characteristics
• Sampling and Analysis
• Timing is Critical
  • Timing of fertiliser application
  • Nutrients and timing
• Record Keeping

Timing of fertiliser application

Timing of fertiliser application

• Growth stage of the crop – fertiliser should be applied when the crop is actively growing and can use the nutrients.
• Type of fertiliser applied and how often – to minimise leaching, fertilisers should be applied in small amounts but frequently, especially on sandy soils.
• Irrigation schedule – irrigation should be accurately scheduled, using evaporation replacement, and monitored with soil moisture probes.
• Rainfall – if heavy rains are predicted, do not apply fertilisers. Both ammonium and nitrogen in nitrate form are very soluble in water and will readily leach.
• Alkaline soils – losses of nitrogen through volatilisation (conversion to ammonia gas) can be higher in alkaline soils than in acid soils. Incorporation of urea and ammonium based fertiliser by irrigation will minimise such losses.