The 4 R's of Fertiliser
Choosing the Right Placement
By now we should all be familiar with the 4R’s fertilser stewardship program which is used all over the
world.
- The Right product
- The Right rate
- The Right timing
- The Right placement
In this final 4R’s bulletin we will discuss the Right
Placement
You may ask yourself, “what is so important about where my fertiliser hits the paddock? It all works out
the same , right?”
Wrong.
If fertiliser is applied to the soil surface as a broad application it risks substantial nitrogen loss from
volatilisation and all nutrients being lost in run off from the paddock during rain or irrigation events.
Applying fertiliser in a band too far away from the crop root zone risks poor crop uptake as the fertiliser is not reachable.
While not themselves overly acidic, applying acidifying granular product in a concentrated band too
close to plant roots and subsequent root zone acid soil pH can restrict plant growth and limit productivity.
Applying fertiliser low in the furrow where water flow is greatest and the soil remains wet for a longer period increases nitrogen losses
from denitrification under anaerobic conditions. It also maximises the risk of phosphorus loss with sediment carried into streams and
waterways.
LiquaForce liquid fertilisers are formulated to be pH neutral so as to avoid toxic shock to plant roots and other growth structures. They
are already hydrolysed so they are immediately available to the plant. When combined with placement directly to the crop root zone as stool
split applications in sugarcane, this means all of the risk factors above are removed or substantially reduced.
Some high pH sodic soils will be prone to structure collapse and compaction when wet – crops in these soils
are identified as benefitting from side dress application of liquid and granular fertiliser so as to maximise the interface between
fertiliser and water availability where wetting up into crop row is impaired. LiquaForce applicators have easy conversion kits for side
dressing in these situations.
LiquaForce also has available foliar applied products which are compatible with herbicides and can be applied by boom spray and or aircraft
during weed spraying operations. These foliar products are inherently highly efficient and the plant takes up the applied nutrient rapidly
through the leaves and stems. Foliar or basal application mid growth season affords a split application to lift the crops’ nutrient
utilisation.
To maximise your benefits from fertiliser use you only need to call your local LiquaForce representative for a full rundown on our agronomic
services and product supply options.