Do You Fertilize Effectively With Phosphorus - Part 2

In the first part of the topic, we looked at the mechanism by which phosphorus ions in the soil move in the direction of plant roots. You can access it here. And as we promised you - in the continuation of the material we will compare the most common ways to import phosphorus.

AREA FERTILIZATION

Fertilizer application occurs through spreading it on the soil surface. This is the easiest method to implement, it is suitable for importing high rates and allows the technique to move at high speed. Usually, the scattering of fertilizer is followed by plowing or other type of processing. Through it, it is evenly distributed in the field and delivered closer to the roots of plants. Its incorporation has another benefit - it is protected from potential losses caused by factors of the external environment.The disadvantage of the technology is that when mixing the product and the soil, contact is created between the two, with which the danger of fixation of phosphorus ions increases. For this reason, under certain conditions (such as strongly acidic or alkaline pH), carrying out area fertilization should be avoided.

TARGETED FERTILIZATION

The application of phosphorus fertilizer takes place in narrow strip in the soil. Unlike acreage, targeted fertilization can be carried out both before and during sowing. Relative to the inventory at our disposal, the product can be located quite shallowly (2-4 cm) or at a greater depth (from 5 to 15 cm) in the profile. The specificity of the technology allows to reduce the norms, with which a saving effect is often achieved.Minus with targeted fertilization is the danger of accumulation of a high phosphorus background in the surface soil layer. Such a risk exists mainly with many years of application of the technology in combination with minimal treatments. This predisposes the roots of the plants to develop only in the surface area. Staying shallowly located, in the summer heat and in the absence of surface moisture, crops are highly vulnerable on land.

A variant of directional fertilization is the introduction of starter fertilizer at the time of sowing. The granule can be located on the side, under or in direct contact with the seed. Even with a high supply of phosphorus in the soil, positive results of fertilizer application at sowing are reported. This is due to the fact that nutrients are supplied in close proximity to the roots of the culture, which is especially important in the presence of stressful conditions during the germination periodof plants.

In conclusion, we can say that there is no right or wrong technologyfor the introduction of phosphorus into the soil. Among the factors determining the choice of one are the tillage system and the type of inventory we have on the farm. However, one thing is certain — making a working decision is not possible without monitoring the indicator in the soil. The laboratory of NIK Agro Serviceis certified in performing soil analyses, and our agronomists will help you build the best strategy for effective fertilization.If you want to know more about the subject and have any questions, you can contact our agronomists.