Hort I: Obj. 24.03

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Hort IObj. 24.03

• Demonstrate the application of various types of
  fertilizers.

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A. General Rules

• Method used should be practical, effective cost
  efficient.
• Method used affects nutrient availability for
  plant use.
• Fertilizer must be dissolved reach plant roots.

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B. Banding

• Placing a band of fertilizer about 2 to the
  sides about 2 below seed depth. Do NOT place
  below seeds because fertilizer will burn roots.

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C. Sidedressing

• Placing a band of fertilizer near the soil
  surface to the sides after seedling emerge from
  soil

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D. Topdressing

• Mixing fertilizer uniformly into the top 1-2 of
  growing media around the plant

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E. Perforating

• Placing fertilizer in 12-18 holes drilled 18 to
  24 around the canopy drip line of fruit trees.
  Cover the holes the fertilizer slowly dissolves.

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F. Broadcasting

• Spreading fertilizer to cover the entire
  production area.

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G. Fertigation

• Incorporating water-soluble fertilizer into the
  irrigation system of greenhouse nursery crops.
  Concentrated solutions usually pass thru
  proportioners or injectors to dilute to the
  correct ratio.

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Types of proportioners

• Venturi-type simple inexpensive, less
  accurate. Ex. Hozon depends on water pressure
  in the hose in the smaller tube to proportion.

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b. Positive displacement more expensive, very
accurate. Ex. Commander proportioner Smith
injectors.

• Physically inject mix specific amounts of
  concentrated solution water.

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H. Foliar spraying

• Spraying micronutrients in a solution directly on
  plant leaves. It is used to quickly correct
  nutrient deficiencies, but the fertilizer
  concentration should not be too high or leaf
• burn will occur.