Organic fertilizers are by products of plant or animal matter and contain carbon compounds such as urea, sludge and animal tankage.
How to apply it the BEST way:
broadcasting on the surface
Advantages:
The fertilizer is released slowly reducing the risk of over fertilizing.
It is not easily leached from the soil.
It improves the water holding capacity of the soil. Improves the physical condition of the soil.
Adds organic components to the growing media.
Disadvantage:
It has a smell and is heavy.
It is expensive.
Some are not sterile.
It has low nutrient content.
METHODS TO APPLY IT: Banding or starter application is placing a band of fertilizer about two inches to the sides and about two inches below the seed depth. The band method is close enough to efficiently supply the young plants with nutrients, but not too close to damage developing roots.
Side-dressing refers to the spreading of fertilizer in between the rows and around the plants after seedling emerge from the soil.
Topdressing is mixing the fertilizer uniformly into the top one to two inches of growing media around the plant.
Perforating is placing the fertilizer in twelve- eighteen inch holes drilled eighteen to twenty four inches around the drip line of trees. Be sure to cover the holes after fertilizer is applied.
Broadcasting is spreading fertilizer to cover the entire production area.
Fertigation is incorporating water soluble fertilizer into the irrigation system of a greenhouse or on nursery crops. Concentrated solutions usually pass through an inexpensive proportioner (Hozon) or a more accurate injector (Smith injector) to dilute the correct ratio.
Foliar spray is spraying nutrients in a solution directly on plant leaves. It is used to correct nutrient deficiencies, but the fertilizer concentration should not be too high or leaf burn will occur.
