Nutrient Management

Maintain a sound nutrient budget on a regular basis, preferably with the aid of nutrient models and regular soil and plant tests.

Always have sound technical reasoning for fertiliser application (i.e. rate, type, timing). Fertiliser application should not be based just on past practices or practices perceived as increasing productivity. The decision of applying fertiliser should be based on your farm profitability, sound nutrient budget and soil, pasture and environmental conditions.

Focus on the type of fertiliser, its efficiency and compatibility with the profitability, type of crop, pasture, soil, topography, climatic and environmental conditions.

Timing of the fertiliser is critical with consideration to factors such as weather conditions and growth phase of the plants.

Use calibrated machinery to apply fertiliser. Fertilisers and fertiliser applications are becoming costly and hence it is worthwhile not wasting fertiliser or fertiliser application process.

While costly, split applications are environmentally and agronomically efficient than one-off applications.

Always consider soil conditioners such as lime to improve soil fertility.

Integrate fertiliser application with effluent and sludge application. Farm dairy effluent and sludge have very high level of potassium (K). High K will affect magnesium absorption by crops/plants. eNviroKNOWLEDGE strongly advises you to use farm dairy effluent or sludge as a main source of K and manage accordingly.