Hort I: Obj Demonstrate the application of various types of fertilizers.
A. General Rules Method used should be practical, effective & cost efficient. Method used affects nutrient availability for plant use. Fertilizer must be dissolved & reach plant roots.
B. Banding Placing a band of fertilizer about 2” to the sides & about 2” below seed depth. Do NOT place below seeds because fertilizer will burn roots.
C. Sidedressing Placing a band of fertilizer near the soil surface & to the sides after seedling emerge from soil
D. Topdressing Mixing fertilizer uniformly into the top 1-2” of growing media around the plant
E. Perforating Placing fertilizer in 12-18” holes drilled 18” to 24” around the canopy drip line of fruit trees. Cover the holes & the fertilizer slowly dissolves.
F. Broadcasting Spreading fertilizer to cover the entire production area.
G. Fertigation Incorporating water-soluble fertilizer into the irrigation system of greenhouse & nursery crops. Concentrated solutions usually pass thru proportioners or injectors to dilute to the correct ratio.
Types of proportioners Venturi-type: simple & inexpensive, less accurate. Ex. Hozon – depends on water pressure in the hose & in the smaller tube to proportion.
b. Positive displacement: more expensive, very accurate. Ex. Commander proportioner & Smith injectors. Physically inject & mix specific amounts of concentrated solution & water.
H. Foliar spraying Spraying micronutrients in a solution directly on plant leaves. It is used to quickly correct nutrient deficiencies, but the fertilizer concentration should not be too high or leaf burn will occur.