Identification and Calculation of Fertilizer Requirement of Crops

(a) NITROGENOUS FERTILIZERS

(i) Nitrate fertilizers:
Sodium nitrate 16%N
Calcium nitrate 15.5%N
(ii) Ammonium fertilizers
Ammonium sulphate 20%N
Ammonium chloride 25%N
Anhydrous ammonia 82%N
(iii) Nitrate and ammonium Fertilizers
Ammonium nitrate 33.5%N
Calcium ammonium nitrate 25%N
Ammonium sulphate nitrate 26%N
(iv) Amide Fertilizers
Urea 46%N
Calcium cyanide 21%N
Commonly used nitrogenous fertilizers
Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)
Ammonium sulphate
Urea
Ammonium chloride
Ammonium sulphate nitrate

(b) Phosphatic fertilizers

i) Water soluble
Single superphosphate 16% P2O5
Double superphosphate 32% P2O5
Tripe superphosphate 46% P2O5
ii) Citric acid soluble
Basic slag 15%-18% P2O5
Dicalcium phosphate 34% P2O5
iii) Insoluble
Rock phosphate 30% P2O5

Commonly used phosphatic fertilizers are

Single Superphosphate
Triple Superphosphate
Ground rock phosphate

(c) Potassic fertilizer

Muriate of potash 60% K2O
Sulphate of Potash 48% K2O
Commonly used potassic fertilizers are
Muriate of potash
 Sulphate of potash

d) Complex fertilizers
N (%) P2O5 (%) K2O (%)

Mono ammonium phosphate 11 48 -

Ammonium phosphate 20 20 -

Diammonium phosphate 18 46 -
Urea ammonium phosphate] 28 28 -

Ammonium phosphate sulphate 26 20 -

Mono potassium sulphate 20 20 -

Ammonium potassium phosphate -- 52 35

Ammonium potassium phosphate 5.5 54 18.5

N:P:K 12 32 16

Co Commonly used complex fertilizers are

Diammonium phosphate
Urea ammonium phosphate

N:P:K
 PRACTICE IN THE APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS BY DIFFERENT METHODS

To obtain the maximum benefit and to avoid the losses of nutrients through leaching,
fixation and volatilization, it is desirable to the utmost to apply the fertilizers by using some
suitable method. The commonly practiced methods are as under:
A. Application of fertilizers in the solid form:

1. Broadcasting: The fertilizer is applied by broadcasting either just before sowing or while
the crop is growing.

i) Broadcasting at planting: Just before sowing the crop, the fertilizers are broadcast on
the entire field and mixed with the soil thereafter.

ii) Top-dressing: The application of fertilizers, particularly nitrogenous in densely sown

standing crops like wheat or paddy, is done when the leaves are completely free from dew.

iii) Side dressing: Fertilizers are applied on one or both sides of the plant row by band in
widely spaced crops.

2. Placement: Fertilizers are placed in the soil, irrespective of the position of the seed, the
seedlings or the growing plants before sowing or after sowing the crop.

i) Plough-sole placement: Fertilizers, generally potassic and phosphatic, are placed in the
presence of adequate soil moisture at the bottom of the furrow through a sowing tube (por) tied
behind the plough. Since the fertilizer is placed in subsoil where soil moisture is available for
over a longer period, it will be available to the plant for longer time, especially during dry
season.

ii) Deep placement: The fertilizers are applied in deep furrows opened with machinery. For
example, phosphatic fertilizers are applied in the reduced zone to paddy fields.

3. Localized placement: It is the method of applying fertilizer to the soil close to the seed
or the plant.

i) Contact placements: It refers to the drilling of the seed and the fertilizer together. It is
generally not practised, since it produces adverse effects on the germination of the seed.

ii) Hill placement: Fertilizers are placed in circular bands just near the widely (more than 3'
x 3') spaced crops, generally practised in the case of fruit-trees.

iii) Row placement: It is practised in the case of row crops, like sugarcane, potato, maize,
tobacco, cotton, and vegetables. The fertilizer is placed in a continuous band just near the crop
rows.

iv) Pellet placement: Pellets of nitrogenous fertilizers and soil in the ratio of 1 : 10 are
placed at a depth of 2 - 3" in case of paddy.

B. Application of fertilizers in the form of solution

i) Starter solutions: Solutions of fertilizers in the ratios of 1:1:2 of N, P 2O5 and K2O
respectively are generally applied to young vegetables at the time of transplanting.

ii) Foliar application: Fertilizers in the form of a solution of low concentration are sprayed
on the leaves of the standing crops. It is generally practised in the case of N fertilizers, super
phosphate and fertilizers containing micro nutrients sprayed on the growing crops.

iii) Direct application of liquid fertilizers to the soil: The solution of a fertilizer, like
anhydrous ammonia, is injected into the soil with a high, pressure equipment. This method is not
practised commonly in India.

iv) Application through irrigation: Generally, nitrogenous fertilizers of the combination of

water-soluble fertilizers are applied by dissolving them in irrigation water. It should be practised
only when other methods are not possible.