Agricultural Fertilizers

Maximizing the Yield of a Crop With Agricultural Fertilizers

Understanding Agricultural Fertilizers
 

Agriculture fertilizers are substances used to improve the growth of plants and overall increase the productivity of crop yield. The use of fertilizers provides beneficial nutrients that plants need to grow. This ensures enhanced crop yields and helps for the healthy development of plants. Fertilizers play an important role in modern agriculture for the productivity of thousands of acres of crops. With access to agricultural fertilizers, the crops can grow in different weather conditions and different types of soil. 

Types of Agricultural Fertilizers
 

• Inorganic (Chemical) Fertilizers

Inorganic fertilizers or chemical fertilizers are chemically developed substances to provide essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to crops. It quickly provides nutrients with its concentrated solution or substance to promote the plants' growth and better yield of crops. In modern agriculture, it’s widely accepted by farmers to produce more crops from the same acres of land. The most common types of chemical fertilizers are urea, ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, and potassium chloride. 

• Organic Fertilizers

Organic fertilizers made from natural materials are the waste of animals and plants that help to improve the content of nutrients in soil. It releases the nutrients in slow form due to mechanism as it decomposes, improves soil’s texture, and retains water, and microbial activity. It helps to promote sustainable agriculture with long-time fertility of soil. Some common types of organic fertilizers are manure from animal waste, compost, bone meal for phosphorus, and green manure from plowed back crops. 

Application Methods
 

• Broadcasting

In the case of broadcasting, fertilizers spread uniformly with hands or machines over the surface of the soil.  It allows the fertilizers to spread to a large field with a simple and quick format. 

• Banding

The banding method allows the placement of fertilizers in narrow bands beside the seed or row of a plant. It helps to reduce nutrient loss, improves nutrient uptake, and reduces the growth of weeds. It is applied in row crops like corn and wheat. 

• Side-Dressing

Side dressing involves applying fertilizers along the row of growing plants. It helps plants take additional nutrients in the growing season. It will supply nutrients to lead to better growth. Crops like corn intake the nutrients for plant development. 

• Foliar Application

In the foliar method, fertilizers are sprayed directly over the leaves of plants. It is used to apply nutrients for fast absorption and effective methods to fulfill nutrient deficiencies. It helps to provide quick nutrients to plants. 

• Fertigation

In the case of fertigation, fertilizers are directly applied to the roots of plants with the help of an irrigation system. It makes the fertilizers efficiently used for high-value crops like fruits and vegetables. It allows efficient use of water and nutrients, minimizes labor, and accurate amount of nutrients delivery. 

Timing of Fertilizer Application

• Pre-Planting

Pre-planting prepares the soil with required nutrients before planting seeds or transplanting the seedlings. At this time, phosphorus and potassium are used. 

• At Planting

Fertilizers can be applied with the plantation of seeds or transplanting. It helps in the early growth of plants with immediate nutrients to young plants. Phosphorus helps to promote the growth of roots.

• Post-Emergence

Fertilizers are applied after the emergence of crops and in an actively growing stage. It helps to deliver the additional nutrients during important stages like vegetative growth or flowering. Nitrogen-rich fertilizers for leafy growth and flowering plants. 

• Split Applications

Fertilizers are applied in multiple doses to match the demand of plants in the complete growing season. It helps to reduce the wastage and minimize the impact on the environment. Here, nitrogen is applied to reduce the leaching. 

• Late-Season

Close to harvest, known as the late stage here, fertilizers are applied to improve the quality and to enhance the filling of fruit or grain. Potassium and nitrogen are common fertilizers and the rest depends upon the crop's requirement.   

Environmental Impact of Agricultural Fertilizers

Fertilizers impact the quality of water, soil, and air in the environment. The excessive utilization of inorganic fertilizers like nitrogen and phosphorus makes water polluted with eutrophication and harmful algal blooms which affects the aquatic ecosystem. Mixing of nitrates in underground water contaminated drinking water and posed health risks. Excessive use of fertilizers reduces the capability of soil and makes it acidic. It contributes to greenhouse emissions like nitrous oxide which impacts air quality. The use of organic fertilizers needs to be maximized and the inorganic fertilizer must be applied in a limited way with proper directed indications. 

Best Practices for Fertilizer Management

• Do the soil tests to understand the requirements of nutrients and always avoid the over-application.
• Make the habit of following the 4Rs principle —right nutrient source, right rate, right time, and right place.
• Always prefer to use organic fertilizers like compost to enhance the quality and health of soil.
• Use the fertilizers in split doses during the whole growing season to match the demand for nutrients in crops.
• Use the crop rotation method and cover crops to replenish nutrients of the soil naturally.
• Regularly monitor the growth of a crop to deliver the fertilizer at the right time.  
• Use the best practices to reduce the nutrient runoff and impact of fertilizers on the environment.
• Always try to promote long-term soil fertility and practices for sustainable agriculture.