The 5 Common Fertilizer Management Mistakes Growers

Make
Author: Mr. Arik Kaparovsky, Head Agronomist at SMART! Fertilizer Management software, and
an international expert in farm fertilizer management.

Proper fertilizer management is easier said than done. There are 5 mistakes that growers can
easily make that might seriously harm their crops.

We gathered the 5 most common fertilizing management mistakes, that growers around the
world make. Learn how to avoid them:

1. Considering only NPK, while overlooking other important

nutrients

As Liebig's Law of Minimum suggests, an imbalance of even

one nutrient will limit crop growth, while adequate levels of
other nutrients cannot compensate for the deficiency.

Plants require a balanced nutrition which consists of at least

13 essential nutrients in different quantities to grow to their
full potential.

Although nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the three

major nutrients and are consumed by the plant at larger
amounts, a deficiency of one of the secondary elements (sulfur, calcium and magnesium) or
even one of the micronutrients (iron, manganese, zinc, boron, copper and molybdenum), might
severely limit the yield.

Our advice:
Make sure that your crop has an adequate supply of all the essential nutrients.

2. Not testing the soil, plant and water

Many growers do not test their soil and plants, or do so only occasionally. Not testing the soil,
plant and water is not better than driving blind. Without tests you simply cannot know how much
fertilizer to apply.
Moreover, if tests are not taken in time, nutritional disorders might be discovered too late, when it
is practically impossible to correct them.

The type of tests you should do are determined by your production system.

Our advice:
Test your soil, water and plant regularly, considering your crop, production system and its
dynamics. This way you are able to see the big picture and manage your fertilizer programs
efficiently, to reach the full yield potential of your crop.

3. Applying too much fertilizer

Misuse of fertilizers is a global problem. A common assumption that lies among growers
regarding fertilizer application is the more, the merrier.

Well, plants are not bound by that assumption. Over-applying of fertilizer adversely affects the
crop, soil and the environment. Irreversible damage can be caused due to salinity build up or due
to toxicity of specific elements.

Our advice:
Dont be tempted to apply more fertilizer if not needed. Many times, deficiency symptoms are
confused with symptoms related to excess of certain nutrients.

4. Wrong timing

Using the correct rates of fertilizers is not enough. Failing to apply the right fertilizer rates at the
right time is a common mistake leading to loss of yield and to waste.

Plants uptake nutrients in different rates and ratios at the different phonological growth stages.
Each nutrient has its unique uptake curve.
If a nutrient is applied too late, after the crop had needed it, the plants development will be
limited and yield loss will occur.

Applying the right fertilizers too early holds the risk of nutrient loss due to leaching or runoff and
high salt level that might damage the crop.

Our advice:
Provide the right nutrients at the right time, according to the requirements of the specific crop at
its different growth stages.

5. Using a formula

Many growers use a general fertilizer recommendation or use the same fertilizer rates time after
time. The main reasons for doing so are the fear of making changes and the lack of knowledge
or tools that can help make more appropriate and precise decisions.

If a certain formula worked once, the natural instinct is to repeat what was proved to be
successful.

However, this turns out to be a big mistake, as field conditions are dynamic and what worked for
us once will not necessarily work positively for us again.

Our advice:
Dont stick to one formula or a general recommendation. Base your fertilizer programs on your
crop specific nutrient requirements, actual field data and local conditions.

Summary
To conclude, proper management of fertilizers is a crucial practice in agriculture. Considering the
fact that fertilizers account for up to 70% of the yield, better to address fertilization optimization
sooner rather than later.