Contents

• Fertilizer usage at an agro-industrial enterprise
• Why do you need to fertilize soil?
• Types of fertilizers
  • Mineral fertilizers
  • Organic fertilizers
  • Micro fertilizers
• How to apply fertilizers to soil
• How to Choose and Use

Agricultural development and using hi-tech equipment at enterprises offer farmers new cultivation opportunities. However, soil fertility is gradually declining, and soil needs additional nutrients. Today, a whole range of fertilizers are introduced to the market. Let's look at their types and usage patterns.

Why Do You Need to Fertilize Soil?

If you want to reap a good harvest, it is important not only to follow the irrigation schedule and monitor soil conditions, but also to introduce nutrients necessary for the crops to grow. Without using fertilizers, it is almost impossible to get a good result, especially on an industrial scale.

Applying the right fertilizers in sufficient quantities allows to:

• provide soil with the components necessary for the development of crops,
• increase plant resistance to changes in weather conditions,
• increase soil fertility, making it more productive,
• strengthen the immunity of cultivated crops, reduce the risk of various diseases.

In agriculture, herbicides are used to protect plants from pests. However, these chemicals adversely affect soil characteristics. Using properly selected fertilizers, you can stabilize the biological processes disturbed by herbicides, restore soil condition.

Types of Fertilizers

Nutritional supplements are available from various manufacturers. Fertilizers fall into 3 categories:

1. Mineral fertilizers.
2. Organic fertilizers.
3. Micro fertilizers.

Let’s see into the specifics of each group.

Mineral Fertilizers

These include nutritional supplements synthesized from chemical substances. They are based on inorganic components in the complete absence of carbon. Agricultural enterprises use this mineral plant food extensively on large cultivated lands.

The high demand for these supplements owes to a number of their advantages, among which are the following:

• availability (sold in all specialized stores),
• wide range of uses and fast results,
• efficiency in a wide temperature range: mineral fertilizers can be used even when a crop is already harvested, applying them to the soil before winter sets in,
• ease of transportation and use,
• relatively low price.

The only disadvantage is the need to wear overalls and protective equipment when applying mineral fertilizers to the soil. However, on an industrial scale, it is applied by special equipment, which cancels out this drawback.

There are several types of mineral supplements:

1. Nitrogen fertilizers. Among the most popular in their category. Nitrogen is essential for rapid growth and good development. Without a sufficient content of this component in the soil, it is impossible to properly build plant cells and feed them with the necessary compounds. This plant food is divided into ammonia (ammonium sulfate, consisting of nitrogen, sulfur, hydrogen and oxygen), amide (urea containing 45% nitrogen) and nitrate (ammonium nitrate).
2. Phosphate fertilizers. This type makes plants more resistant to low temperatures and insufficient soil moisture. Phosphates are widely used at agricultural enterprises located in arid and cold regions. This plant food is divided into highly soluble, semi-soluble and poorly soluble groups. The most common nutritional supplements of this type are ammophos and nitroammophos. Slightly less popular are superphosphate and diammophos.
3. Potash. Necessary for the timely synthesis of plant cells. This plant food also increases the frost resistance of crops. For the preparation of supplements, fossil ore with a high content of potassium salts is used. Such fertilizers dissolve in water, quickly penetrate the soil and are easily absorbed by plants.
4. Compound fertilizers. Such fertilizers are characterized by the highest efficiency. They include at least two active components that strengthen the immunity of crops, promote their active growth, and have a good influence on soil quality. Compound plant food contains potassium, nitrogen and phosphates – singly or in combination.

As we can see, all types of mineral dressings are characterized by different bases and components.

Organic Fertilizers

This category includes nutritional supplements of natural origin. They are usually used to restore smaller land plots.

Organic plant food has the following advantages:

• high efficiency,
• wide spectrum,
• safety for humans and animals due to the total absence of artificial chemical components.

Such fertilizers are useful for all crops without exception. They are able to significantly increase yield of the soil, saturating it with substances necessary for plants (minerals, vitamins, microelements). The disadvantage of organic matter is the lack of its mass production since it is made only naturally.

There are several types of organic supplements:

• Peat. The most effective fertilizer of the type. Using it on one piece of land for several years ensures complete restoration of the soil structure.
• Manure. Experts consider bird droppings to be the best – in comparison with cow manure, they contain much more magnesium, potassium, and nitrogen.
• Compost. Helps restore soil structure and increase yields.

Ash and sawdust are also used to fertilize soil.

Micro Fertilizers

This plant food is so named because it is a combination of micronutrients necessary for plant growth and vegetation. An insufficient amount of these substances in the soil is the reason for its low fertility.

There are several types of micro fertilizers:

• boric,
• manganese,
• zinc,
• copper,
• molybdenum,
• cobalt.

The supplements take their names from their basic substances.

Micro fertilizers can include from one to three components. A wide range allows to choose the optimal type of nutrient supplement for different soils.

How to Apply Fertilizers to Soil

Good yields and high-quality products are only possible with proper fertilizing. Fertilizers should be applied as instructed by a manufacturer. In addition, certain rules must be followed:

• Mineral supplements are used before winter or in early spring. Substances must be introduced into the soil. This is a prerequisite, since on the surface, they will quickly lose effect under the influence of external factors.
• Phosphoric plant food is recommended after harvesting, in early autumn: these elements should have time to penetrate into the soil before it freezes. Should be applied deeper. For soils with a low phosphorus content, easily soluble phosphates are used. Semi- and poorly soluble types are suitable for highly acidic soils.
• Potash supplements are applied in late autumn, before plowing or cultivating the land.
• Complex fertilizers are used in spring, during growing season. They are also introduced in autumn, just before plowing.
• As for organics, the opinion that they are extremely useful in any quantity and form is not entirely feasible. They often contain pathogens that can harm plants. First of all, this concerns compost, which can only be used together with fungicides.
• Boron fertilizers are used for foliar application and pre-sowing seed treatments. Manganese, molybdenum and copper fertilizers are also used to treat seeds before planting. Zinc and cobalt ones are used for root dressing.

If applied incorrectly, fertilizers can not only be useless, but also harm crops. Therefore, it is important to follow the fertilizing rules.

How to Choose and Use

When choosing fertilizers, the following factors must be considered:

• soil type and acidity,
• the type of crop to grow,
• climatic conditions,
• groundwater level.

To achieve good yield, it is important to follow the recommendations of expert agriculturists having extensive agricultural experience. This is particularly important when crops are grown on a commercial scale:

• before applying fertilizers, it is necessary to carry out a laboratory analysis of the soil in order to determine certain substance deficiency. This will help to choose the right plant food,
• do not purchase fertilizers from a dubious manufacturer,
• pay close attention to the manufacturer's data on the original packaging,
• comply with fertilizing rules and schedule, do not use expired substances,
• do not fertilize heavy acid soils. You can reduce acidity with limestone,
• give your soil a rest. After growing potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes and some other vegetables, the best thing is to provide the next year for soil restoration and sow it with “light” crops (garlic, millet, rye, oats, wheat). This will allow the soil to accumulate the necessary substances for the future harvest.

Do not oversaturate soil with fertilizers. Too much chemical supplements can change soil structure, making it unsuitable for insects or their larvae, as well as microorganisms that are necessary for the normal course of biological processes.