Soils, Crops and Fertilizer Use: Chapter 9: Using chemical fertilizers

Soils, Crops and Fertilizer Use

Chapter 9: Using chemical fertilizers

		What are chemical fertilizers?
		Are chemical fertilizers appropriate for limited-resource farmers?
		An introduction to chemical fertilizers
		Common chemical fertilizers and their characteristics
		The effect of fertilizers on soil pH
		Fertilizer salt index and "burn" potential
		Basic application principles for N, P, and K
		Fertilizer application methods explained and compared
		Troubleshooting faulty fertilizer practices
		Getting the most out of fertilizer use: crop management as an integrated system
		Understanding fertilizer math

This chapter will give you a strong grounding in the use of chemical fertilizers. It covers these areas:

• Types and characteristics of chemical fertilizers.

• Understanding fertilizer labels.

• Fertilizers and their effect on soil pH.

• Timing and placement guidelines.

• Avoiding fertilizer burn.

• Fertilizer rate guidelines.

• Troubleshooting faulty fertilizer practices.

• Fertilizer as one part of integrated crop management.

• Extension guidelines for using chemical fertilizers.

• Fertilizer math skills.