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Fertilizer Calibration!!!
Fertilizer Calibration!!!
Objective:
The objective of this lesson is to help you to learn to convert a fertilizer recommendation
to the required amounts per unit area.
These calculations are on a hectare basis or for a given size of an experimental plot.
Goal:
After completion of this lesson, you should:
Know the fertilizer materials and the expression of its chemical analysis and
grade. (% nutrient content).
Be able to calculate the needed quantities of fertilizers using combinations of
single and double nutrient fertilizers to apply a recommended fertilizer rate.
Have learned the procedure to compute the required quantities of fertilizers for a
given experimental plot or row.
Have had practice in solving the problems on fertilizer calibration.
Introduction
A fertilizer is any substance containing plant nutrients that are usually added to soil to
supplement the required plant nutrients.
Chemical fertilizers may be natural or synthetic.
Natural inorganic fertilizers would include material such as the Chilean nitrate, rock
phosphate, etc.
Synthetic fertilizers are manufactured products, such as urea, ammonium sulfate,
ammonium phosphate, single super phosphate, etc.
Synthetic fertilizers are available in various grades and analyses.
Fertilizer grade or analysis is the minimum guaranteed plant nutrient content as
percentage of total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and water-soluble potassium.
A complete fertilizer has all three primary fertilizer ingredients ( N, P, and K ) as part of
its formulation.
For example, 14-15-14 is a complete fertilizer. This fertilizer has 14% N, 15% P, and
14% K.
Fertilizers may be classified according to the nutrient elements present.
20
46
28
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
07
20
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
40
48
Double fertilizers:
Ammonium phosphate
Diammonium phosphate
11
18
23
20
0
0
Complete fertilizers:
Sampurna **
Vijay complex **
IFFCO grade I **
19
17
12
08
07
11
16
14
22
mass of fertilizer =
90
Ammonium sulfate = ------------ = 450 kg
(20/100)
21
Single super phosphate = ------------ = 300 kg
(7/100)
30
Potassium chloride = ------------ = 62.5 kg
(48/100)
Computation of double-nutrient fertilizers per hectare
Now let us look at the calculation procedures, for the use of double nutrient fertilizers or
complex fertilizers to supply the recommended rate.
One should realize that double nutrient fertilizers or complex fertilizers contain more than
one nutrient and these nutrients are inseparable.
The amount of nitrogen will usually be higher than the phosphorous in fertilizer
recommendations; e.g., 90N-17P-30K.
Hence, in converting the nutrient rate to the amount of double nutrient fertilizer or
complex fertilizer, we should begin by calculating the nutrient required in the smallest
amount. Suppose if we start with nitrogen, then the quantity of phosphorous would
exceed the required amount.
With this understanding, let us review these calculation procedures.
A farmer has diammonium phosphate (18-20-0) and urea (46% N) to fertilize his pearl
millet. How much of these fertilizers are required to supply the recommended rate of
100N-17P-0K?
We must start with phosphate. If we do that;
17
Diammonium phosphate (kg) to supply 17 P = ------------ = 85
(20/100)
Diammonium phosphate contains nitrogen also. Hence, we should calculate the amount
of N in 85 kg of diammonium phosphate.
100 kg of diammonium phosphate contains 18 kg of nitrogen. Then, 85 kg of
diammonium phosphate will have = (18 X 85)/100 = 15.3 kg N.
The recommendation calls for 100 kg N. 85 kg of diammonium phosphate supplies 15.3
kg of N.
Hence, the balance of nitrogen needed = 100 - 15.3 = 84.7 kg
The balance of 84.7 kg of N can be from urea. Hence:
84.7
kg of Urea to supply 84.7 kg of N = ------------ = 184
(46/100)
Therefore:
To meet the recommended rate of 100-17-0, we need to supply:
85 kg of diammonium phosphate, and 184 kg of urea.
Computation of fertilizers per plot or rows
So far, the calculations were for one hectare (ha) because the fertilizer recommendations
are on a ha basis.
But, in research, the experimental plots are usually confined to a few sq m and the
fertilizers are to be applied to each row.
Hence, there is need to calculate the required amount of fertilizers for small plots as well
as for a row, based on the fertilizer recommendation per ha.
Let us review these calculation procedures.
Recommended rate = 60-17-0
Fertilizers available: Urea (46% N), Single super phosphate (7% P).
Experimental plot size = 5 m x 3 m
Rows per plot = 4
Row spacing = 75 cm
Row spacing = 75 cm
Row spacing = 75 cm
First, calculate the amount of single super phosphate (SSP) required per ha.
17
SSP per ha = ------------- = 242.8 kg
(7/100)
Secondly, calculate the amount required per sq m in g.
242.8 kg X 1000 g
SSP per sq m = ------------------------- = 24.28 g
10000 sq m
Based on the amount of SSP required per sq m, calculate the amount needed per plot and
per row.
Single super phosphate (SSP) required per sq m = 24.28 g
Calculate the amount of SSP needed per plot of 5 x 3 m =15 sq m.
SSP per plot = 24.28 x 15 = 364.2 g
Calculate the amount of SSP needed per row of 0.75 x 5m=3.75 sq m.
SSP per row = 24.28 x 3.75 = 91.0 g
Thus, the amount of urea and single super phosphate required per plot and per row are
calculated.
Solving Problems on single nutrient fertilizers
Solving Problems on double nutrient fertilizers
Solving problems on per row and per plot