Remember these 15 minefields you must not touch when fertilizing crops
At present, there are many problems in farmers' cultivation and fertilization of crops, and improper fertilization is prone to occur. How should you fertilize to avoid poor fertilizer efficiency, slow results, and even the possibility of total crop failure? Be careful not to touch the following 15 minefields, so that the fertilizer you apply can truly turn into a harvest of fruit!
1. The closer fertilization is to the plant stem, the more easily the fertilizer is absorbed
This is a fairly common phenomenon in rural areas, and this fertilization method is quite harmful. Because the part of the plant that absorbs nutrients is the root hair zone, the plant stem and roots (except the root hair zone) absorb very few nutrients or none at all. The closer fertilization is to the plant stem (except at the seedling stage), the farther the fertilizer is from the plant's nutrient absorption site, and therefore the less easily it is absorbed. If too much fertilizer is applied and the concentration is too high, it is prone to cause “seedling burn.” Therefore, when fertilizing, the fertilization position should be determined according to the aboveground growth of the plant and the underground root growth, to ensure the fertilization effect.
2. Fertilizing only after crops show signs of nutrient deficiency
After fertilizer is applied, it takes 3-5 days in paddy fields before it can be absorbed and used by crops, and generally 5-7 days in dry land before it can be absorbed and used. Therefore, if fertilization is carried out only after crops show signs of nutrient deficiency, it will prolong the period of crop nutrient deficiency and cause yield reduction. So fertilization work should be carried out according to the fertilizer requirements of the crops: apply 5-7 days in advance in paddy fields and 8-10 days in advance in dry land. At the same time, crop nutrient absorption is also related to light, temperature, water, and fertilization methods (such as dry application, drenching application, foliar topdressing, etc.). Strong light, high temperature, and sufficient water accelerate crop nutrient absorption; conversely, absorption slows down. Because nutrients in foliar topdressing are directly absorbed by the leaves, it takes effect quickly and can be applied later, but the concentration should be low to prevent leaf damage. Drenching application allows fertilizer to directly penetrate to the plant roots, takes effect relatively quickly, and can also be applied somewhat later. Dry application has slow fertilizer efficiency and should be applied early.
3. As long as the crops' vegetative growth is good, high yield can be obtained
Crop growth includes two stages: vegetative growth and reproductive growth (except for leafy vegetables and fleshy-stem crops). Applying sufficient nitrogen fertilizer in the early growth stage can promote vegetative growth, but if nitrogen fertilizer is excessively applied during the reproductive growth stage, it will cause the crops to remain green, affect reproductive growth, hinder the transformation of nutrients, and instead reduce yield and lower quality. Therefore, fertilization should be carried out according to the crop growth situation: mainly nitrogen fertilizer in the early stage to promote vegetative growth, and in the middle and late stages, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium should be applied in combination, with Jiamei Hongli, Yinglilai, and Neijiade applied to promote reproductive growth and increase yield.
4. As long as sufficient fertilizer is applied, high yield can be obtained
The types and amounts of nutrients required by various crops during the whole growth period and at different growth stages are all different. If fertilization is not carried out according to the fertilizer requirements of the crops, first, it will cause crops to develop nutrient deficiency symptoms and decline in stress resistance and disease resistance, resulting in reduced yield and lower quality; second, some nutrients that crops need in small amounts or basically do not absorb will remain or be lost, causing fertilizer waste. Therefore, the type and amount of fertilizer should be determined according to the growth characteristics of the plants, so as to fully utilize fertilizer efficiency.
5. As long as fertilizer is applied, there will be fertilizer efficiency
The fertilizer efficiency of fertilization is related to soil characteristics, crop nutrient absorption characteristics, fertilizer nutrient release characteristics, and many conditions such as water, air, and heat. If the influence of various factors is not fully considered, it is very easy to cause nutrient loss, nutrient deficiency, and other phenomena. Sandy soil has fast fertilizer efficiency but also fast loss, so it should follow the principle of applying less at a time and applying multiple times. Clay loam has slow fertilizer efficiency, so sufficient base fertilizer should be applied and topdressing should be applied early. Potassium fertilizer has good solubility but also loses quickly, so it should be applied in a timely manner according to the potassium requirements of the crops. Organic fertilizer and phosphate fertilizer have slow fertilizer efficiency and less loss, so they should be applied early. Ammonium bicarbonate is highly volatile and can be composted with organic fertilizer or phosphate fertilizer for 1-2 days before application, which can reduce nutrient loss.
6. Focusing only on the amount of fertilizer applied, not on nutrient content
Some compound fertilizers now on the market are widely used in rural areas because of their lower price. These compound fertilizers generally have the phenomenon of low effective ingredient content or very low content or even no content of one of the three major elements, but farmers do not pay enough attention to these situations and still continue the fertilization habits used for high-content compound fertilizers. As a result, the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium applied are insufficient, causing crop nutrient deficiency and nutrient deficiency symptoms, affecting yield and quality. Therefore, when using these compound fertilizers, one should fully understand the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content of these compound fertilizers and, according to the fertilizer requirements of various crops, apply Jiamei Yinglilai, Neijiade, Naobaijin, and Jindian in combination to ensure normal crop growth.
7. The more fertilizer applied, the higher the benefit
According to the principle of diminishing returns, after fertilization reaches a certain amount, the input-output ratio declines and benefits decline. If too much fertilizer is applied, it will cause yield reduction. Therefore, according to the fertilizer requirements of the crops throughout the growth period, soil fertility, crop planting density, etc., the best fertilization plan should be identified and carried out on the principle of supplying sufficient but not wasteful fertilizer, so as to fully utilize fertilizer efficiency and increase economic benefits.
8. Focusing only on applying macronutrients, not on applying micronutrients
Macronutrients are the basic elements on which crops depend for growth, but some crops require more of a certain micronutrient during the whole growth period or at a certain growth stage, or the soil lacks micronutrients. If micronutrients are not added, it will cause plant deformity, flower and fruit drop, and reduced product yield and quality. Therefore, while applying sufficient macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, it is necessary to apply multiple micronutrients such as iron, manganese, zinc, and boron in combination according to the fertilizer requirements of the crops and the soil nutrient composition, so as to ensure normal crop growth.
9. Applying only base fertilizer, not topdressing
Nowadays many users are afraid of trouble and, after applying base fertilizer, no longer topdress. This fertilization method is unscientific. Crops have relatively low nutrient requirements in the early stage, and applying sufficient base fertilizer can indeed guarantee crop nutrient requirements for a long time, but even for some fertilizers with relatively strong residual effect, the duration of their fertilizer efficiency is limited. Especially for soil with poor fertilizer and water retention capacity, failure to topdress in time is more likely to cause nutrient deficiency. Therefore, for crops with a growth period exceeding 2 months, Jiamei Jinli, Yinglilai, and Neijiade should be appropriately topdressed to ensure the crops' nutrient requirements during the vigorous growth period.
10. Fertilizing fruit trees based on flowers
Whether fruit trees have many or few flowers largely depends on tree vigor. To make fruit trees differentiate more flower buds and set more fruit the next year, sufficient fertilizer should be applied the previous year, especially post-fruit fertilization, which is very important, because after fruit picking the fruit trees are greatly weakened. At this time, nutrients should be supplemented in time to restore the fruit trees' vigor, enhance their resistance, and ensure their production capacity the next year. Some people like to apply winter fertilizer. Although it is useful, it is not the best timing, because the most important part for fruit trees to absorb nutrients is the roots. When winter begins, the tree root system is almost dormant, and its ability to absorb nutrients is very weak. The best time to fertilize fruit trees is after fruit picking and before leaf fall. The most direct result of fertilizing based on flowers is causing obvious alternate bearing in fruit trees.
11. Same formula, same dosage, same effect
The reasoning is very simple: the main difference between a fat person and a thin person is not how much they eat, but how much they absorb. The same is true of fertilizers. With the same formula and the same dosage, there will be an obvious difference in nutrient utilization rate due to the product itself. This is why some fertilizers with a total nutrient content of 40% may have a better effect than other fertilizers with 45% nutrients.
12. High price = high cost
Because fertilizer belongs to the category of means of production and is not a direct consumer good, the basis for analyzing whether the cost is high or low is not price but the input-output ratio. If, under the same dosage or the same input, a product brings higher benefits and higher yield, then the cost of that product is lower.
13. After using compound fertilizer, no other fertilizer is needed
Some users believe that after applying compound fertilizer, there is no need to apply other chemical fertilizers. This is wrong. Generally, compound fertilizers commonly contain only nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and a small number of varieties contain zinc and boron. If timely supplementation of effective medium and trace nutrient elements is not paid attention to, it will likewise affect crop yield.
14. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer in topdressing
Many users excessively apply nitrogen fertilizers such as ammonium bicarbonate and urea during topdressing. Although this has an obvious effect on crop growth, it cannot bring users an increase in yield, because for the early growth of crops, nitrogen is very important, but as the crops grow, the demand for phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrient fertilizers becomes higher and higher, while the need for nitrogen decreases instead. Excessive nitrogen application will only make crops grow excessively. Therefore, to ensure the yield-increasing effect, attention should be paid to topdressing the package nutrition series fertilizers Jiamei Yinglilai and Neijiade.
15. If yield does not increase, it is because the fertilizer is not good
A small number of users believe that failure of yield to increase is due to fertilizer. In fact, there are many reasons why yield does not increase, such as weather, soil quality, fertilization methods, selection of fertilizer product formulas, seeds, pesticides, and field management. It should be examined from all aspects. Whether the fertilizer is good or bad is only one of the factors.