FERTILIZER AND SOIL HEALTH AGRICULTURE NOTES

Notes

1. Welcome
Presented by:
Name: P.Pushpa
I.D.No: NAM-12-004

2. Content
Time and methods of manure and fertilizer application1
Relative performance of organic and inorganic manures
2
Foliar application of nutrients-concept 3
Advantages of foliar application4

3. Introduction
Since most of the soils do not provide the requisite nutrients
necessary for the growth and health of plants, they have to be fed
with fertilizers to overcome the deficiency.
In order to get maximum benefit from manures and fertilizers,
they should be applied in proper time and in right manner, along
with the required quantity of fertilizer to be applied.
An improper fertilizer application may result in a complete loss of
the applied plant food nutrient.

4. Time of manure and fertilizer application:
The requirement of plants for different plant nutrients
varies in relation to their stage of growth.
The time and method of manure and fertilizer
application will vary in relation to:
The nature of manure and fertilizer
The soil type
The difference in nutrient requirement and nature of
field crops.

5. •Nitrogenous fertilizers should be applied in two to three split doses
to crops based on crop duration.
•On sandy soils or lighter soils, more frequent split application of
nitrogenous fertilizers is desirable, compared to heavy textured
soils, like clayey soils. This is important for reducing losses due to
leaching.
•The entire quantity of water soluble phosphotic fertilizers should
be applied in one dose at sowing time. In acid soils, it is advisable to
apply bone meal or rock phosphate a week or fortnight prior to
sowing.
•Potassic fertilizer also should be applied in one dose at a planting
time.

6. Classification of fertilizers based on their
forms of availability

7. Solid fertilizers

8. Broadcasting
Even and uniform spreading of manure or fertilizers by
hand over the entire surface of field while cultivation or
after the seed is sown in standing crop, termed as broad
casting.
Basal application: Broadcasting of manure and
fertilizers is done at planting or sowing of the crops.
Top dressing: Spreading or broadcasting of
fertilizers in the standing crop (after emergence of
crop) is known as top-dressing.

9. Placement
In this, the fertilizers are placed in the soil irrespective of the position
of seed, seedling or growing plant before or after sowing of the crops.
Plough sole placement: The fertilizer is placed in a continuous band
on the bottom of the furrow during the process of ploughing.
Deep placement or sub-surface placement: In this method,
fertilizers like Amm. Sulphate and Urea, is placed in the reduction
zone as in paddy fields, where it remains in ammonia form and is
available to the crop during the active vegetative period.
Localized placement: It refers to the application of fertilizers into
the soil close to the seed or plant.

10. Band placement:
In this, fertilizer is placed in bands which may be continuous or
discontinuous to the side of seedling, some distances away from
it and either at level with the seed, above the seed level or
below the seed level.
Hill placement: When the plants are spaced 3 ft. or more on
both sides, fertilizers are placed close to the plant in bands
son one or both sides of the plants.
Row placement: When the seeds or plants are sown close
together in a row, the fertilizer is put in continuous band on
one or both sides of the row by hand or a seed drill.

11. Pellet application:
In this method, fertilizer (N-ous fertilizers) is applied in the
form of pellets(2.5 – 5.0 cm), deep between the rows of paddy
crop.
Fertilizer is mixed with soil in the ratio of 1:10 and make into
dough.
Small pellets of a convenient size are then made and deposited
in the soft mud of paddy fields.
It increases the efficiency of N-ous fertilizers.
Side dressing: Fertilizers are spread in between the rows
or around the plants.

12. Liquid fertilizers

13. Starter solution:
It refers to the application of solution of N,
P
2
O
5
and K
2
O in the ratio of 1:2:1 and 1:1:2 to
young plants at the time of transplanting,
particularly for vegetables.
Starter solution helps in rapid establishment
and quick growth of seedlings.

14. Foliar application:
•
It refers to the spraying of fertilizer solutions containing one or
more nutrients on the foliage of growing plants.
Several nutrient elements are readily absorbed by leaves when
they are dissolved in water and sprayed on them.
The concentration of the spray solution has to be controlled,
otherwise serious damage may result due to scorching of the
leaves.
Foliar application is effective for the application of minor
nutrients like iron, copper, boron, zinc and manganese. Sometimes
insecticides are also applied along with fertilizers.

15. Application through irrigation water (Fertigation)
•It refers to the application of water soluble fertilizers
through irrigation water.
•The nutrients are thus carried into the soil in solution form.
•Generally nitrogenous fertilizers are applied through
irrigation water.

16. Injection into soil:
Liquid fertilizers for injection into the soil may be of
either pressure or non-pressure types.
Non-pressure solutions may be applied either on the
surface or in furrows without appreciable loss of plant
nutrients under most conditions.
Anhydrous ammonia must be placed in narrow furrows at a
depth of 12-15 cm and covered immediately to prevent loss
of ammonia.

17. Aerial application:
In areas where ground application is not practicable,
the fertilizer solutions are applied by aircraft
particularly in hilly areas, in forest lands, in grass
lands or in sugarcane fields etc.

18. Bio-fertilizers application methods

19. Methods of Biofertilizer application
 Root Dipping
•
The required quantity of Azospirillum has to be mixed with 5-10
ltr of water at one corner of the field and all the plants have to
kept for minimum ½ an hour before plating.
Soil Application
Mix 4 kg each of biofertilizers in 200 kg of compost and leave it
overnight. Apply this mixture in the soil at the time of sowing or
planting.
 In plantation crops apply this mixture near root zone and cover
with soil.

20. Seed treatment
Precautions:
•The adhesives like gum acacia, jaggery solution, etc. are used so
that the bioinoculants may get energy for their prolonged survival.
•Care should be taken to avoid any damage to seed coat.
Procedure:

21. Foliar application of nutrients

22. Foliar application
The nutrients may be applied to the soil or to the
foliage of the plants as the Plants absorb nutrients
through the roots and through the foliage.
When they are applied to the foliage, and the
plants absorb nutrients through the foliage, they
are known as foliar sprays.

23. The foliar applied nutrients mainly
enter through the stomata of the
leaf and in some cases through the
cuticles.
Although the quantity of nutrients absorbed by the
leaf during foliar application may be small, it is
compensated by a higher efficiency of uptake than
applying the same quantity of nutrients to the soil.

24. A range benefits associated with foliar fertilization
Rapid results
Prolonged blooming
Improved plant health
Increased crop yields
Reduced growth stress
Growth during dry spells
Better cold and heat tolerance
Improved resistance to disease.

25. Effect of foliar application of Zn and Fe on wheat yield and
quality Maralian Habib, 2009
Effect of foliar application of Zn and Fe on wheat
yield (kg ha-1), seed-Zn and Fe Concentration (mg
kg-1)
African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 8 (24), pp. 6795-6798,

26. Effect of foliar application of nutrients and biostimulant on nut quality and leaf nutrient
status of peanut. Naira Ashraf et al.,2013
Treatment Nut weight
(g)
Kernal
weight (g)
Kernal (%)Kernal oil (%)
Urea (0.5%) 6.21 3.65 57.38 67.23
Boric acid (0.!%) 6.28 3.54 57.49 68.52
Supramino (5ml/L) 6.30 3.57 57.53 65.09
Urea + Boric acid
(0.5%+0.!%)
6.47 3.70 57.51 71.35
Urea + supramino
(0.5%+5 ml)
6.52 3.73 57.85 87.40
Boric acid +
supramino (0.1%
+5ml/L)
7.02 3.82 57.88 88.77
Control 5.24 2.54 55.24 56.06
CD
0.05 0.56 0.03 0.28 0.75
SEM 0.19 0.01 0.09 0.25
African journal of agricultural research Vol 8(6), 559-563

27. Influence Of Foliar Nutrition On Growth And Yield Of Transplanted
Rice N.Jagathjothi et al.,2012
T1: 100% RDF through inorganic source
T2: 100% RDF through organic source
T3: Recommended INM practice
T4: T1 + 2% DAP spray at PI and 10 days later
T5: T1 + 2% UP spray at PI and 10 days later
T6: T2 + 2% DAP spray at PI and 10 days later
T7: T2 + 2% UP spray at PI and 10 days later
T8: T3 + 2% DAP spray at PI and 10 days later
T9: T3 + 2% UP spray at PI and 10 days later
RDF: Recommended Dose Of Fertilizer
UP: Urea Phosphate

28. Influence Of Foliar Nutrition On Growth And Yield Of Transplanted
Rice N.Jagathjothi et al.,2012
Treatments Grain
yield(kg/ha)
Seed yield
(kg/ha)
Gross
return (Rs.)
Net return
(Rs.)
B:C ratio
T1 4419 6483 46254 33054 3.50
T2 4036 5075 41396 8996 1.28
T3 5060 6850 52386 26486 2.02
T4 4833 6812 50310 36510 3.65
T5 5048 6702 52131 37781 3.63
T6 4333 5550 44551 11551 1.35
T7 4202 5408 43230 9680 1.29
T8 5439 7302 56253 29753 2.12
T9 5631 7647 58324 31274 2.16
SEd 159 221 - - -
CD (P=0.05)329 459 - - -
Madras agricultural journal 99(4-6): 275-278

29. Effect Of Different Levels Of FYM And P On Grain Yield Of Green gram and Wheat
Ramesh sharma et al.,2011
FYM levels P levels Mean
0 20 40 60
Green gram
0 5.42 7.34 9.25 9.60 7.90
5 7.08 8.72 10.2410.44 9.12
10 8.42 10.20 11.4611.78 10.42
15 8.96 10.92 11.8411.95 10.92
Mean 7.43 9.30 10.7010.95 -
CD(0.05) FYM & P=0.66, P× FYM = 1.32
Wheat
0 19.4 26.2 38.2 42.0 31.46
5 21.5 29.7 42.8 46.2 35.05
10 23.6 35.6 46.2 48.3 38.43
15 24.9 39.4 47.2 53.4 41.2
Mean 22.4 32.7 43.6 47.5 -
CD(0.05) FYM & P=2.1, P× FYM = 4.2
Indian journal of fertilizer, vol.7(2),12-16

30. Effect of levels and time of potassium application on the grain yield, straw yield
and harvest index of rice cultivars. Y. Vidya et al., 2012
Treatments Grain yield (kg/ha)Straw yield (kg/ha)Harvest index (%)
Cultivars
PA-6444 5252 6171 46.0
KRH-2 5198 5610 48.1
BPT-5204 (Local) 4214 4429 48.8
SEm ± 59.9 63.6 0.4
CD (P=0.05) 170.4 181.0 1.2
Levels of potassium (kg K
2O ha
-1
)
0 4763 5261 47.6
40 4828 5312 47.8
60 4931 5413 47.7
80 5030 5628 47.4
SEm ± 69.1 73.4 0.5
CD (P=0.05) 196.8 209 NS
The Andhra Agricultural Journal 59(3): 360-363

31. Treatments Grain yield (kg/ha)Straw yield (kg/ha)Harvest index (%)
Time of potassium application (T)
All Basal 4852 5243 48.1
½ Basal + ½ at PI4924 5564 47.1
SEm ± 48.9 51.9 0.4
CD (P=0.05) NS 147.8 NS
Interaction NS NS NS
CV (%) 6.0 5.8 4.4
Effect of levels and time of potassium application on the grain yield, straw yield
and harvest index of rice cultivars. Y. Vidya et al., 2012
The Andhra Agricultural Journal 59(3): 360-363

32. Effect of combination type of foliar application in the different
stages on the seed yield of maize (Zea mays L.) (LSD 5%= 42.55).
M.Yarnia et al.,2013
African Journal of Agricultural Research Vol.8(7), pp. 619-628