Fertiliser is essential for growing high yielding annual crops. We’re sure you already know this. No doubt you’re also aware that not just any fertiliser will do. You need the right fertiliser at the right rate suited to the crop or crops you’ve chosen to plant.
But this need not be a problem. Armed with a recent soil test to calculate the nutrients needed, and access to fertiliser products that reduce issues around application, crop planting can be a straightforward task.
Soil tests are a must
Regular soil tests are always important, but to give your crop every opportunity to reach its potential, they’re essential. Knowing the current nutrient status of the soil is the starting point for working out what is actually needed to meet crop demand during the growing season. This not only applies to the specific nutrients required, but also to the amounts needed.
If you haven’t had a soil test in the last couple of years, book one soon.
At Fertco, we know soil sampling and testing is another job you just don’t need at this time of the year. But you can get a Fertco field rep to come and do it for you. We don’t charge for the sampling and subsequent advice. You only pay for the lab analysis.
A field rep is trained to know which tests are the most relevant for your crop. For example, if you are planning a maize crop, it will be useful to have a sulphate-S test and an available-N test alongside a basic soil profile test. This is because maize is a ‘hungry’ crop and these two elements must be present in sufficient quantities.
Our fertiliser reps also know which tests are relevant for particular growing situations. For instance, if you intend to crop your effluent blocks, they’re likely to have high nitrogen and potassium levels so tests for these nutrients should be included.
In NZ, trace elements can be deficient in some soils, so a herbage test can be useful too since this is often the best way to guard against deficiencies that could limit crop yield.
Soil tests save money
But soil and herbage tests aren’t just about achieving a high yielding crop. They can also save you money since they remove any guesswork and assumptions made about what is needed. You won’t apply the wrong nutrients. And you won’t need to apply an excess as insurance against poor crop performance.
Choosing the right fertiliser
Equipped with soil test results and information about your specific crop requirements, you can then work out which nutrients are needed. But choosing the right fertiliser should also take into account the growing conditions at your place.
In many cases, a pre-formulated fertiliser mix, specific to the crop being grown, will be a great starting point. For example, our Fertco 2-step Maize Programme is designed to yield 25t or more per hectare from a base dressing applied before planting and a second and final dressing applied at sowing. It contains all essential macronutrients, secondary nutrients, and trace elements specific for maize. Because it includes controlled release nutrients that reduce the number of applications needed, it is ideally suited to areas that tend to be wet.
Another example is our Fertco Smart Brassica Base. It includes controlled-release nitrogen to match germination and growth rate patterns, so there’s no need to side-dress. It’s also seed-safe so can be applied when seeds are sown.
With these kinds of fertilisers, there is less nutrient wastage from leaching and less soil damage from machinery compaction. Because they are granulated products, they are also more accurately spread.
Plan now
So planning for a successful crop starts with a soil test, but it’s equally important to select the fertiliser that best fits your situation. When you’re busy, don’t hesitate to get some help with this task.
This article was published in the Coast & Country News.
