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Fertilizer placement
The placement of nutrients is an important issue in nutrient management because placement strongly influences the subsequent availability of
nutrients.
Provided that a soil test indicates a particular nutrient deficiency, considerations of nutrient placement involve:
Choice of crop
Soil characteristics
Broadcast
PREPLANT
Prior to planting, fertilizers and/or liming materials are applied uniformly over the soil surface.
After broadcasting, the fertilizer can be incorporated into the soil through tillage
Incorporation usually reduces losses of nitrogen due to volatilization and denitrification from the soil surface.
Since phosphorus is an immobile nutrient, broadcasting phosphorus fertilizers is not advantageous. For greater efficiency, phosphorus
Surface Band
PREPLANT
Under certain conditions, nitrogen availability is increased when applied in a surface band as opposed to broadcasted.
AT P L A N T I N G
During planting, fertilizer is applied in a band along the top or side of rows.
Subsurface Band
PREPLANT
Fertilizer is placed in bands that lie 2 to 8 inches below the soil surface.
This can be an effective option for nutrient placement in reduced tillage systems.
AT P L A N T I N G
During planting, fertilizer is applied below the soil surface close to the seed row.
Often, the fertilizer is placed 1 to 2 inches below (or below and to the side) of the seed row.
In cool, wet areas, a “starter application” of fertilizer is placed in a subsurface band to boost seedling growth.
A major advantage of band application is enhanced seedling growth. Stronger seedlings are less prone to suffer from pests and diseases.
Nitrogen
To prevent seedling injury, high rates of nitrogen should not be placed near seeds.
Phosphorus
Banding phosphorus fertilizers near the seed row can increase phosphorus efficiency by reducing the degree of P fixation.
Despite an increase in efficiency, phosphorus recovery is typically lower than nitrogen and potassium.
While plants typically recover less than 20% of the applied phosphorus, 50 to 75% of applied nitrogen and potassium is generally
recoverable.
The low rate of phosphorus recovery should not necessarily be considered a drawback, since the build up of P fertility of your soil
Potassium
Banded potassium below or to the side of the seed row typically enhances early seedling growth and reduces the risk of salt damage.
Banding potassium is usually a more effective method than broadcasting, although this difference becomes less significant as the rate
When applying micronutrients with an NPK fertilizer, the fertilizer should be placed a couple inches away from seeds to avoid seedling
injury.
An important consideration when applying fertilizer bands is the fertilizer’s salt index, which is a measure of the potential salt damage to the
plant.
Salt damage
If highly concentrated, dissolved (soluble) salts in the soil solution can have a negative impact on plants. Soluble salts can originate from
minerals in the earth and/or heavily applied fertilizers. Soluble salts accumulate in the soil when there are high rates of evaporation and
insufficient leaching.
If the concentration of salt in the soil is greater than the salt concentration in plant roots, water will not be absorbed by the plant. Instead,
High concentrations of soluble salts may also result in elemental toxicities of sodium and chlorine.
Salt index
The fertilizer salt index was developed to classify fertilizers according their potential to cause salt injury to plants.
Other fertilizers are assigned a salt index value relative to 100, which describes the fertilizer’s potential to cause salt injury as compared
A fertilizer with a salt index less than 100 has a lesser potential to cause salt damage in comparison with a fertilizer with a salt index
Click on the web link below to see a table of common fertilizers and their salt indices. This site also presents a simple method for calculating the
salt index of any fertilizer using the information provided on the fertilizer bag and the salt index of each component of the fertilizer.
http://www.spectrumanalytic.com/support/library/ff/salt_index_calculation.htm
Topdress
AFTER PLANTING
When topdressing, fertilizers are applied over the soil and plant surface.
While topdressing of nitrogen is common in turf and pastures, this method is not recommended for phosphorus and potassium.
Sidedressing
AFTER PLANTING
When sidedressing, fertilizers are applied in surface or subsurface bands along the side of plant rows.
Care must be taken to avoid damage to the crop, especially the plant’s root system.
Sidedressing provides a valuable opportunity to split the recommended N into smaller applications and apply N throughout the season.
Splitting the total nitrogen application into smaller doses throughout the season can be favorable, especially in coarse soils that
Sidedressing is not effective as an effective method as preplant banding for immobile nutrients since sidedressing does not allow time
Foliar Applications
With the exception of certain micronutrients, it is difficult for most plants to absorb sufficient nutrients through their leaves to meet their
yield potential.
F O L I A R A P P L I C AT I O N V E R S U S S O I L A P P L I C AT I O N
When nutrients are obtained from the soil, the nutrients pass first through the root system and then travel through the xylem before
In contrast, nutrients from foliar fertilizers pass through cracks and/or stomata openings in the cuticle of the leaf and directly enter plant
cells.
Foliar fertilizers supply plant cells with nutrients more rapidly than the soil. Thus, foliar fertilizers can provide a quick way to correct
nutrient deficiencies.
However, due to the risk of foliage burn, the rates of nutrients in foliar fertilizers are much smaller (less than 1-2%) and several
Foliar P fertilizers have a greater risk of causing damage than N and are applied in lower concentrations (less than 0.4-0.5%).
Foliar fertilizers are a common way to apply micronutrients since micronutrients are required in much smaller quantities than
macronutrients.
In high-value horticulture crops, foliar fertilizers may be used in addition to soil nutrients.
Fertigation
Fertigation is the application of fertilizers to the soil through an irrigation system, which applies both water and nutrients to plants.
It allows for a high degree of flexibility in nutrient management because nutrients may be applied continually throughout the growth of
the crop.
Fertigation makes it possible to synchronize nutrient applications with crop demand. This is an effective strategy to prevent
Special features in certain fertigation designs allow for the recovery and recycling of irrigation water, which may reduce costs and
Fertigation may also reduce losses of nitrogen due to leaching and denitrification.
Finally, fertigation may reduce operation costs associated with repeated applications by broadcasting, banding and sidedressing.
Successful fertigation requires a well-managed and equipped irrigation system for uniform, maximum efficiency.
Applications of phosphorus and anhydrous ammonia are not as common because these nutrients form precipitants if the irrigation water
contains Ca, Mg, and HCO3- and clog the irrigation system. Click on the following web link to learn more about fertigation:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/Pubs/crops/00512.html.
Timing
NITROGEN
In warm climates, nitrification occurs readily. As a result, soil ammonium converts quickly to nitrate.
Losses of nitrate increase due to nitrate leaching during periods of intense rainfall.
To prevent nitrate losses, nitrogen can be applied throughout the season in smaller amounts, rather than applying the total nitrogen at
Another way to reduce nitrate losses is to apply fertilizers that contain nitrification and/or urease inhibitors or are slow release.
Nitrification and/or urease inhibitors slow the processes of nitrification and urea hydrolysis, respectively.
Slow release fertilizers contain a coat of sulfur which must break down before urea is released.
PHOSPHORUS
To increase the efficiency of phosphorus fertilizers, it is recommended to apply phosphorus before or at planting.
P OTA S S I U M
Like phosphorus, potassium is a relatively immobile nutrient in the soil. As a result, it should be applied before or at planting.
Tillage systems
CONVENTIONAL TILLAGE
In addition to leaving the soil surface relatively free of residues, conventional tillage:
Initial plowing may be followed by secondary tillage operations to remove weeds and further loosen the soil.
The most common and oldest tillage practice is moldboard plowing, often using a disk plow.
S O I L T I LT H
Soil tilth is a term used to describe the suitability of a soil toward optimal plant growth.
Tilth refers to the workability of the soil, which describes the ability of plant roots to proliferate and for seeds to emerge. It is highly
A soil with good tilth holds nutrients and water, but is also well drained and aerated.
Under natural vegetative conditions, the majority of soils have rapid infiltration, low compaction, good drainage, little soil erosion, and the
desired bulk density and water holding capacity. These characteristics describe “good” soil tilth.
However, soil tilth can diminish by long term tillage due to increased subsurface soil compaction, reduced in soil organic content, and
nutrient degradation.
Some Hawaii soils do not form stable aggregates. And so, as it rains, the aggregates break up and water infiltration declines.
Poorly aggregated soils are said to swell when wet and shrink when dry. Subsurface soil compaction is a major concern,
especially if these soils are tilled when wet. Over time, plow pans can develop in areas that are compacted by heavy equipment.
Other soils in Hawaii have more stable soil aggregates. An example of a well aggregated soil is a highly weathered soil. In this
case, the soil aggregates do not break up as readily when wet. Since these soils are less “sticky,” they are more workable. Thus,
O R G A N I C M AT T E R
In addition to soil structure, tillage has a large affect on soil organic matter.
Since tillage enhances soil aeration, the activity of soil organisms increases. As a result, the rate of decomposition of organic matter
The management of organic matter is important for soil tilth because organic matter:
Tillage also directly removes vegetation from the soil surface. This leaves the soil bare and exposed to rain and wind. As a result, soil
erosion increases.
C O N S E R VAT I O N T I L L A G E
In conservation tillage practices, farmers may choose to adopt minimal tillage or no-till practices.
In both minimal and no-till practices, there is minimal disturbance of plant residues.
In comparison to moldboard plowing, conservation tillage includes practices such as chisel plowing, ridge tillage, and stubble
mulching.
Reduced tillage
Chisel plowing
A chisel plow disturbs less soil by “stirring” the soil surface. This technique leaves 30% of the soil surface covered with plant residues,
Ridge Tillage
Thirty percent of the surface residues along the rows remain, while the rest is incorporated into the soil. Crops are then planting along
permanent ridges.
Stubble mulching
Residues are uniformly distributed onto the field, and the soil is minimally tilled.
No-till
The soil is left undisturbed. Fifty to one hundred percent of the residue from a previous rotation crop remains on the soil surface.
Benefits
Surface residues:
enhance aggregation
water infiltration
drainage
soil compaction
Minimal tillage enhances the activity and the diversity of soil organisms, which helps to prevent pests and disease problems.
Initially, reduced tillage systems may lead to the immobilization of nutrients. In comparison, conventional systems initially
encourage the mineralization of incorporated residues, although reducing overall soil organic matter content.
However, after initiated, mineralization increases to an even greater level than conventional systems. Since soil amendments are
applied to the surface of the soil and not incorporated, they tend to build up in the surface layer.
While acidification from organic residues may occur, lime may correct this problem.
Manure Placement
When broadcasting, the manure may either be applied as a solid, liquid, or slurry.
When applying manure to subsurface soils, slurry or liquid manure may be injected into subsurface bands.
Manures may also be placed in surface bands before and after planting.
Suggested Readings
http://www.nass.usda.gov/hi/stats/p85-98.pdf.01
Free Publications
Taro http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/SCM-3.pdf
Liming http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/AS-1.pdf
Mn toxicity http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/SCM-1.pdf
AMF http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/SCM-5.pdf
Manual http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/PIO/FreePubs/PlantNutrient.asp
P http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/AS-2.pdf
Salinity http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/SCM-12.pdf
BMP http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/SCM-2.pdf
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/PIO/FreePubs/FreePubs09.asp#SoilAndCropManagement
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