Applying Filters

Foliar

similar to fertigation, but water is applied to the leaves rather than the soil so the fertilizer is asorbed by the leaf surface and stomata to boost plant health quickly.

leaching

excess water applications can dissolve nitrogen and phosphorus cause them to seep into the ground and never used by the plants.

Winter

reduced nutrient availability to plants when applying in the off season due to the frozen ground.

Side dressing

dry fertilizer applied to the soil beside the plant base after plants are up and growing.

Fertigation

application of liquid fertilizer through irrigation water and distributed on the plants and commonly used in greenhouse operations with the use of a fertilizer injector.

Starter solutions

diluted solutions of fertilizer and water applied to plants at time of transplanting are known as….

Granular

the other way fertilizers are prepared is by pellets or coarse powders meant to break down over a period of weeks or months with periodic watering.

Top dress application

provides nutrients to plants such as shrubs and perennials without the need for plant specific application.

fall

late season fertilization is problematic because plants have slowed or stopped growth where they absorb less fertilizer.

Sprayer

tool that sprays concentrated liquid fertilizer mixed with water from a large reservoir onto plants at a calibrated rate of spray.

several factors impacting the timing of fertilizer application include...

types of being grown, the frequency and amount of irrigation or rainfall, the type of fertilizer applied, how quickly the nutrients releases

winter

reduced nutrient availability to plants when applying in the off season due to the frozen ground

spring

applying fertilizer prior to early warm season rains causes the nutrients to wash through the soil past the rooting zone

summer

fertilization should be applied at low rates and limited to times of water availability because applying applying fertilizer to extremely dry soils can cause plant burn

fall

late season fertilization is problematic because plants have slowed or stopped growth where they absorb less fertilizer

leaching

excess water applications can dissolve nitrogen and phosphorus cause them to seep into the ground and never used by the plants

preplanting

phase of planting where fertilizer applied prior to seeding or planting is called…

starter solutions

diluted solutions of fertilizer and water applied to plants at time of transplanting are known as…

side dressing

dry fertilizer applied to the soil beside the plant base after plants are up and growing

top dress application

provides nutrients to plants such as shrubs and perennials without the need for plant specific application

solutions

liquids that are free of solids and created by dissolving readily soluble sources of plant nutrients in water and often used in fertigation are called fertilizer

granular

the other way fertilizers are prepared is by pellets or coarse powders meant to break down over a period of weeks or months with periodic watering

five main ways that fertilizers can be applied

broadcasting, fertigation, foliar, soil injection, banding

broadcasting

spreading solid fertilizer granule over the growing area prior to mixing with the soil and often used to apply fertilizers to lawns

fertigation

application of liquid fertilizer through irrigation water and distributed on the plants and commonly used in greenhouse operations with the use of a fertilizer injector

foliar

similar to fertigation, but water is applied to the leaves rather than the soil so the fertilizer is asorbed by the leaf surface and stomata to boost plant health quickly

soil injection

process of injecting volatile fertilizer in the root zone of the soil usually for trees and shrubs

banding

narrow bands of fertilizer are applied in furrows several inches to the side and below the seeds or plants to concentrate fertilizer near the roots

application rate

the measured amount of fertilizer applied based on the plant species, area of application, and fertilizer formulation

four common pieces of equipment used for fertilizer application include

broadcast spreader, drop spreader, sprayer, fertilizer injection

broadcast spreader

machine that drops material from the bottom of a hopper onto a spinning flywheel to apply fertilizer in an arc over the ground

drop spreader

uses gravity to deposit fertilizer below the spreader through openings in the bottom of the machine for situations where precise amounts of fertilizer must be applied

sprayer

tool that sprays concentrated liquid fertilizer mixed with water from a large reservoir onto plants at a calibrated rate of spray

fertilizer injection

device attached to an irrigation water line that inserts a liquid fertilizer solution into the line at a prescribed rate