Methods of Fertilizer Application

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B.Sc.Ag. (Hons) Part-I 

Methods of Fertilizer Application

Fertilizer recovery is greatly influenced by method of its application. Method of application varies according to the spacing of crop, type of fertilizer material, time of application, etc. A brief account of these points could be explained as under

:

A.Method of application of solid fertilizer materials

Solid materials may be applied in following ways:

1. Broadcasting

Even and uniform spreading of dry solid fertilizers by hand or spreader over the entire field before or after sowing of the crop is termed as broadcasting. Well decomposed FYM, compost, oil cake, bone meal, urea, superphosphate and lime are applied by this method.

Advantages

This method is easy, less time taking, cheap and more convenient to the farmers. This method proves effective-

i.                     When the crops have a dense stand

ii.                   When the plant roots absorb nutrient from whole volume of soil

iii.                  When soil is rich in fertility

iv.                  When large amount of material is to be used

v.                   When potassic fertilizers are to be used on light soils, etc.

Disadvantages

i.                     It is not advantageous because it encourages weed growth all over the field.

ii.                   Most of the material remains on the soil surface and does not reach to the root zone for uptake by plants.

iii.                  There is greater loss of fertilizer nutrients due to washing, run-off, volatilization, etc. Hence the recovery (extent of fertilizer used by plants) ranges between 25 to 45 per cent or even less.

Broadcasting may be done in following ways:

a.Basal application

Spreading of fertilizers before sowing or planting of the crops and mixing them by cultivating the soil during seed bed preparation is termed as basal application through broadcasting.

Advantages

i.                     Controlled/slow release fertilizers are applied in this inctliod

ii.                   Bulky manures are applied in this method.

Disadvantage

Encourages early weed growth.

b. Top dressing and side dressing

Spreading of fertilizer in standing crops without considering the crop rows is termed as top dressing. But when the crop rows are taken into account and the material is dropped on the ground surface near the crop rows then it is called as side dressing.

Advantages

i.                     Highly mobile fertilizers are top dressed by split application.

ii.                   Side dressing reduces misuse of fertilizers in row crops

Disadvantage

Top dressing is not suitable for bulky manures.

2. Placement

This refers to applying fertilizers into the soil from where the crop roots can take them easily.

 Advantages

i.                     Maximum portion of the material can be used by plants.

ii.                   Losses through uptake by weeds, washing, run-off, volatilization etc. could be eliminated to the greatest extent.

Disadvantage

i.                     Is not suitable for bulky manures.

Placement could be done in following ways:

a.Plough sole placement

When the fertilizers are applied in open furrows at plough sole level while ploughing then it is termed as plough sole placement. Such furrows are covered immediately during the next run of the plough.

Advantages

This method is suitable when-

i.                     In dry soil where there is a moisture only in the plough sole layer

ii.                   In problem soils where there is the problem of fixation Disadvantage Is not suitable for bulky manures.

b. Deep placement

The method is adopted in dry land condition where the fertilizers are placed deeper than plough sole level then it is called as deep placement.

Advantages

i.                     Suitable for dry soil where there is a moisture deficit.

ii.                   Helps in root elongation.

iii.                  Eliminates various losses of nutrients from the soil.

iv.                 In wet land rice a reduced form of N fertilizer (ammonium sulphate) is placed deep in the reduced layer to avoid denitrification.

Disadvantage

Laborious and time consuming.

c. Sub-soil placement

When fertilizers are placed still deeper than the seeding or planting depth and also deeper than the previous two methods the method is termed as sub-soil placement.

Advantages

i.                     Suitable for dry soil where there is a moisture deficit.

ii.                   Helps in maximum root elongation.

iii.                  In strongly acidic soils P and K fertilizers .are placed in deeper layers by heavy machinery to avoid fixation.

Disadvantage

Laborious and time consuming.

3. Localized placement

There is distinction between placement and localized placement. The former refers to applying fertilizer into the soil without special reference to the location of seed or plant while the latter implies the application of fertilizer into the soil close to the seed or plant.

Advantages

Localized placement of fertilizers have many advantages over broadcasting method of application such as-

i.                     Relatively lesser quantity is required for production of an ideal crop

ii.                   Weed growth is suppressed

iii.                  Fertilizer losses are reduced

iv.                 Fertilizers are placed in moist zone where they remain available to plants for longer period of time

v.                   Fertilizers come in easy reach of crop roots

vi.                 Fertilizer recovery and response of crops to applied doses is increased.

Disadvantages

i.                     The method is very technical and needs special precaution.

ii.                   Besides, it is very expensive.

The method could be adopted in following ways:

a.Contact placement/combine drilling

When fertilizer is placed along with seed then it is called as contact placement. This is done by using seed-cum-fertilizer drill. Sometimes fertilizer is drilled by implement and seed is sown in the same furrow.

Advantage

Well decomposed manures, ashes and P and K fertilizers in small quantities are used along with seeds during sowing. 

Disadvantage 

Care must be taken so that seeds are not burnt by contact of fertilizers.

b. Band placement

This is a localized placement of fertilizers by the side of plants or seeds (about 5 cm apart). This may be of two types as the bands may be continuous or discontinuous:

i.                    Hill placement (discontinuous band)

In the hill for widely spaced plants like cotton, castor and cucurbits fertilizers are placed on either of both sides of plants along or across the row but not along the entire row. This method is also termed as discontinuous band application.

ii.                  Row placement (continuous band)

Along the entire rows of closely spaced crops like cereals, minor millets, potato and tobacco fertilizers are applied continuously at 2-2.5 cm depth. This method has a definite relationship of fertilizers with seedlings or seed as the fertilizer is placed to the side of seedlings or seeds some distance away from them or at the level of the seed, above or below or by the side of the seed level. When the soil surface is dry, this method gives very promising results.

iii.                Ring placement (continuous band)

Fertilizer is applied in a circle around individual plant or hill base at a depth of about 2.5-5 cm.

c. Pocket/spot placement

When fertilizers are placed at a fixed spot by the help of a bamboo peg having a hole at the bottom in case of very widely spaced crops then the method is termed as pocket/spot placement method. Fertilizers are placed deeper into the pocket (dibble) and seeds are sown in the same pocket about 5 cm above the fertilizers.

Advantages                                

i.                     Suitable for dry soil where there is a moisture deficit.

ii.                   Suitable for wide spaced crops like cotton, castor, cassava, cucurbits and chilli.

Disadvantage

i.                     Care must be taken so that seeds are not burnt by contact of fertilizers.

ii.                   Laborious and time consuming.

d. Pellet placement

This method is adopted specially in case of deep water rice cultivation where it is difficult to apply fertilizers in normal methods as the fertilizer granules get dissolved in water before reaching to the ground level. In this method fertilizers (specially nitrogenous ones) are mixed with clay soil in the ratio of one part of fertilizer into 10-15 parts of soil. The fertilizer is well mixed with soil after slight moistening then filled in gunny bags and stored for two-three days. Now small mud bolls are prepared and these boll or pellets are dropped near the crop rows in rice Jr jute under deep water conditions.

B. Method of application of liquid fertilizers

Use of liquid fertilizers is not very common practice but in advanced countries this is the most common method. It is the most suitable method under dry land agriculture and in the areas which are prone to erosion problems. Liquid fertilizers may be applied in following ways:

1. Use of starter solution

Starter solutions usually contain N, P, K in 1: 2: 1 or 1: 1: 2. This method is used for transplanted crops where in place of irrigation water this solution is applied just to wet the field so that the seedlings may establish quickly.

Advantages

i.                     Thus it serves as irrigation water as well as nutrient solution for the crops.

ii.                   This is also used for dipping the seedling roots and soaking of seeds or spraying to encourage early rooting and crop establishment.

Disadvantage

Requires careful attention to maintain proper concentration of solution.

2. Application through irrigation water

The required quantity of fertilizer material is dissolved in irrigation water and can be used in surface, sprinkler or drip irrigation systems.

Advantage

The concentrated fertilizer solution may be dripped in the channel of irrigation water while irrigating the crop.

Disadvantage

If the crop is to be given surface irrigation as flooding then excess water may lead to physiological problems in crops.

3. Nutrient injection method/direct application to soil

In USA and some other countries anhydrous ammonia is injected into the soil at a depth of about 20-25 cm and at a pressure of about 200 pound per square inch.

Advantages

i.                     The anhydrous ammonia is the cheapest source of nitrogen because of its lower unit value.

ii.                   Injecting hormonal solution and some micro nutrient solutions in the phloem region of the fruit trees is also becoming a distinct possibility in correcting the nutrient deficiency.

Disadvantage

For this method the soil should have fine tilth, enough moisture etc. so that loss of nitrogen in the form of ammonia does null take place.

4. Foliar spraying of nutrient solutions

In this method of fertilizer application urea, micro nutrients and other required materials are dissolved in water, filtered and sprayed over the crop foliage by the help of a suitable sprayer.

Advantages

i.                     This method is preferred over other methods because it needs very little quantity of materials.

ii.                   The crop plants respond within 24 hours of application.

iii.                  Soil reaction, topography and soil textures have no adverse effect on the nutrient availability and fertility status of the soil.

iv.                 Almost all nutrients can be applied by this method.

Disadvantage

i.                     Non-uniform spraying and improper concentration of the solution may lead to hazardous effect over the crop and entire plant population may get devastated.

ii.                   High concentration of solution may cause burning of foliage. 

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