Fertilization Placement, Kind and Amount

Placement, kind and amount of fertilizer are all important if you are to get the maximum from your fertilizer dollar. The amount and kind should be based on a soil test.

Three basic groups…

Vegetables are class-ified into three groups based on fertilizer needs. These are called heavy, medium and light feeders. Heavy feeders consist of crops that use a high rate of fertilizer up to 4 to 5 Ibs. per 100 square feet. Tomatoes, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cabbage fall into this group.

Medium feeders require 2 to 3 Ibs. per 100 square feet and include snap beans, turnip greens and the majority of other vegetables.

The only light feeder is Southern peas which require about 1 1¦2 Ibs. per 100 square feet. One pint of fertilizer will weigh about one pound. The type of fertilizer should be a complete fertilizer, such as 10-10-10 or 6-12-12. This should be a premium grade with minor elements. For side dressing, calcium nitrate or ammoni-um nitrate is satisfactory.

Fertilizer placement is important.

All of the fertilizer may be broadcast, but the efficiency is reduced by this methods. To eliminate this, part of the fertilizer may be broadcast and the other put in a band about 3 - 4 inches to the side of the seed and 2 - 3 inches below the seed level. Not over 400-500 pounds per acre should be banded.

Another way would be to band 1¦2 of the fertilizer and apply the other in 1 or 2 side dressing several weeks after the crop is up.

In side dressing, the material should not be applied too close to the plant as there is danger of burning the plant roots. Home Vegetable gardening leaflet #171 has a chart converting pounds per acre to pounds per 100 foot row or 100 square feet.

For more information on fertilization placement kind and amount, contact your local County Extension Office.