Nutrient Application Details
Read your fertilizer bag!
Nutrient amounts in fertilizer differ even for the "same" product.
This may mean you have to apply different amounts of fertilizer in different years.
Nutrients must be applied at 10 g / m2/ year
Application Rates and timing: N, P, and K are applied at 10 g / m2/ year by elemental mass, before the growing season of each treatment year. The micronutrient mix is added once, at the first treatment application, into K treatment plots.
To get amount of fertilizer to use: divide 10 by the fraction of that element in the fertilizer. For instance, for a 43-0-0 urea formulation, you should apply (10 / 0.43) = 23.3 g / m2. Be sure to correct for the relative fraction of the appropriate compound given in the Analysis. For instance, if a label analysis states 45% P2O5, this means the fertilizer contains only 19.63% P by atomic mass. The amount of fertilizer would then be (10 / 0.1963) = 50.9 g m-2.
N Fertilizer types: N should be applied as time-release urea, which is polymer-coated to delay absorption and prevent loss due to volatilization. There are many types of timed-release urea. NutNet uses forms that are granular, non-sulfur coated, 60-90 day release urea. Be sure to check with your supplier to confirm these details, and always read the label information.
In areas where time-release urea is not available, ammonium nitrate has been used. However please avoid this if at all possible. If ammonium nitrate is used it should be applied in multiple visits over a few months, although the total N per year should be the same as with the time-release urea.
P Fertilizer types: P should be applied as "triple super phosphate" (TSP) which is a generic compound rather than a brand name. Be sure your P fertilizer is not sulfur-coated and does not contain added sulfur. The amount of sulfur in the TSP analysis should only be 1-3%.
K+ Fertilizer types: K is applied as potassium sulfate (K2SO4), meaning it is also a sulfur addition treatment.
If you are unable to locate a supply of Micromax for initial treatment year application, contact NutNet HQ and we may be able to help.
Example worksheet for fertilizer application | |||
| Nutrient | Form/Element | Analysis | mass fertilizer needed for rate (g m-2y-1) |
| Nitrogen: time-release urea | (NH2)2CO or N2H4CO | 43.00% N | 23.3 |
| (NH2)2CO or N2H4CO | 40.00% N | 25 | |
| Phosphorus: Triple Super Phosphate | P2O5 | 45% | 50.9 |
| P (by atomic mass) | 19.63% | (10g / 0.1963) | |
| Ca | 16% | ||
| S | 1% | ||
| Mg | 1% | ||
| Potassium Sulfate (K2SO4) | K (by atomic mass) | 44.9% | 22.3 |
| K | (10g / 0.449) | ||
| S (by atomic mass) | 18% | ||
| Micronutrient mix: "Micromax" | only applied in treatment year 1 | 100 | |
| Ca | 6% | ||
| Mg | 3% | ||
| S | 12% | ||
| B | 0.10% | ||
| Cu | 1% | ||
| Fe | 17% | ||
| Mn | 2.50% | ||
| Mo | 0.05% | ||
| Zn | 1% | ||
| Typical Plot Application AMOUNTS plot=25m2, 15 plots/nutrient treament (5 treatments X 3 reps) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fertilizer | grams/plot/year | pounds/exp/year | kg/exp/year | ||||||||||||||||
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Fertilizer Suppliers
Fertilizer type and availability varies widely even within regions. If you cannot find a certain fertilizer be sure to check with other NutNet colleagues from your continent, or with NutNet HQ.
| Region | Formulation | Brand name | Retail suppliers |
| United States | time-release urea (N) | Agrium "Duration" | Crop Protection Services |
| United States | triple-super phosphate | Triple Super Phosphate | widely available |
| United States | potassium sulfate | potassium sulfate | widely available |
| United States | micromax | Everris Micromax | BFG Supply Co. |