Agronomy 21

Fundamentals of Crop Production

Name: Aguilar, Isabelo Paul O. BSAB-1 Score:

Class Schedule: Tuesday (7:00-10:00) Date Submitted: 11/27/18

Exercise No. 4
Fertilizers, Fertilizer Calculations and their Applications

INTRODUCTION

An understanding of soil chemical properties is important because of their

effect on nutrient availability to plants. Also, these properties may usually be
favorably altered with the use of lime and/or fertilizer materials.
Soils need fertility maintenance. Soil is a natural body of divided rocks,
minerals and organic matter. Sand, clay, and organic matter help provide tillage,
and favorable water intake rates, but they seldom maintenance adequate plant
food to sustain continuous healthy plant growth. Fertilizers (also called plant food
element) are materials produce to supply these elements in a readily available form
for plant use.

Organic fertilizers are by-products of everyday life, such as manure and

plant refuse. They provide a slow release form of nutrients that stay in the soil
longer. Typically the nitrogen component is a complex organic form that is not
readily soluble in water. You can create your own source of organic fertilizer from
compost. Inorganic fertilizers are manufactured from diverse source and are
usually much more concentrated than organic fertilizers. The available nutrients
are typically very soluble, and if not applied properly, can leach rapidly from the
soil.
OBJECTIVES

1. To identify and describe the different forms of fertilizer materials.

2. To be able to compute for the amount of fertilizer materials needed, given
the area, sources of fertilizers and rate of application.
3. To acquire some skills in fertilizer application.
PROCEDURE
 Materials Percent Color
N1 P2O5 K2O
Complete 14 – 14 – 14 Brownish
Ammonium Phosphate 16 – 20 – 0 Light Brown
Ammonium Sulphate 21 – 0 – 0 White
Urea 46 – 0 – 0 White
Solophos 0 – 20 – 0 Gray
MOP 0 – 0 – 60 Red Orange
Cow Manure Dark Brown
Goat Manure Brown
Carabao Manure Ash Gray
Vermicast Black
Vermi Compost Brown
Carbonized Rice Black

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

1. Define the following:

a. Fertilizer materials or carrier - a mixtures of chemicals formulated in
ways that render them suitable application.
b. Mixed fertilizers - refers to a fertilizer containing two or more
elements of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) which are
essential from promoting plant growth and high crop yields. They are
obtained by mixing the ingredients either manually or mechanically.
c. Complete fertilizers - is a fertilizer blend or mix that contains three
main plant nutrients; nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium
(K) in the forms of potash, phosphoric acid and nitrogen. For
example, a fertilizer with equal amounts of each element would have
a N-P-K of 12-12-12 or 14-14-14.
d. Fertilizer grade - is an expression referring to the legal guarantee of
the available plant nutrients expressed as a percentage by weight in
a fertilizer, e.g. a 12-32-16 grade of N-P-K complex fertilizer,
indicates the presence of 12% nitrogen, 32% phosphorus and 16%
potash.

2. Explain the efficient use of fertilizer through proper fertilizer placement or

application.
  Fertilizer placement is an integral part of efficient crop management.
Correct placement often improves the efficiency by which plants take
up nutrients and consequently encourages maximum yields of
intensively managed agronomic crops. Correct fertilizer placement is
especially critical for maximum crop yields under reduced tillage
operations. Correct fertilizer placement can protect both surface and
quality. Subsurface banding of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)
fertilizers is a best management practice (BMP) designed to protect
surface water quality by reducing potential erosional losses.
Subsurface banding in many cases would also be a BMP for
protecting groundwater quality because plant N and P use efficiency
increases. High crop-use efficiency leaves less N in the soil to leach
into groundwater.

3. What are the different methods of fertilizer application or placement?

Differentiate one from the other.
 There are three different methods of fertilizer application or
placement. (1) Broadcast, it refers to a uniform distribution of
materials on the soil surface, (2) Localized placement, it refers to the
application of fertilizers into the soil seed or plant in order to supply
nutrients in adequate amount to the roots od growing plants, and (3)
Foliar application, an application of dissolve materials,usually
sprayed directly to the plant using knapsack sprayer or aerial spray.

4. In an intercropping experiment, the rate of fertilizer application to com is 90-

60-30 kg / N P2O5, K2O. Determine the amount of complete fertilizer (14-14-
14), urea (45-0-0) and ordinary superphosphate (0-20-0) you are going to
apply every treatment with an area of 55m2 (5 x 11).
 See in the next page
5. Explain the practical value of asking you to calculate the weight of one milk
can or one tablespoon in relation to fertilizer calculation and application.
 The practical value of calculating the weight of one milk can or one
tablespoon in relation to fertilizer calculation and application is that it
must always be accurate. Accuracy in calculation and application is
very essential in order to provide the exact amount needed, if there
is miscalculation, over dosage or lacking would occur. For instance,
the calculated weight of milk is more than the desired among, there
is a possibility te excess amount would not be utilized by the
consumer. Just like plants, if the amount of fertilizer given us more
than what is needed, that plant can't utilized it, hence leaching would
occur.