The document discusses fertilizer application methods in crops. It states that the major nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are required by plants and are applied through organic manures and fertilizers. It describes different fertilizer application methods like broadcasting, drilling, banding, and foliar spraying. It also discusses factors that affect nutrient availability in soils like soil properties, moisture, and microbial activity. Recommendations are given on fertilizer types and amounts depending on soil type, crop variety, and previous crop grown. The timing of fertilizer application is also an important consideration.

1. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Date: 2078/03/20
Methods and time of fertilizer
application in crop
Govinda Raj Sedai
Agricultural Coordinator/Instructor
Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal
School of Agriculture
Urlabari, Morang

2. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Soil fertility management in Crop
• All plants need N, P2O5 and K2O in large amounts.
• They are the major mineral nutrients and are therefore
applied through organic manures and as fertilizers.
• The main problem of fertility degradation is due to N
loss, where only 25-50% N is used by the crop.
• Long term fertility research indicated that the use of
NPK plus compost are essential for getting higher
productivity of field on a sustained basis.
• The integrated nutrients management (INM) maintain
the soil health very well.

3. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Requirement of manures and fertilizer
depends upon following conditions:
• Previous crop: crop rotation (Cowpea-Rice-
Wheat, Maize +Soyabean-Wheat, Rice-Rice-Rice)
• Soil types: Sandy soil, Loamy soil or heavy clay
soil.
• Type of land: irrigated or rainfed
• Crop selection:
i. Heavy feeder: cereals crops (N:P:K/100-150:60:40)
5:3:2/3:2:2,
ii. Medium feeder: oilseed crops 70:30:30
iii. Low feeder crop: eg legume crop (N:P:K/20:40:40/
20:40:20) i.e. 1:2:2/1:2:1.

4. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Soil fertility and productivity management
• Source of nutrients: FYM/Compost, fertilizer
• Time of application: Basal dose and
topdressing
• Method of Application: Broadcasting,
topdressing etc.

5. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Integrated nutrient management (INM)

6. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist

7. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Manure and fertilizer recommendation
• Recommendation rate is depends upon fertility status of
soil, previous crop grown, planting time, variety used
etc.
• The general recommendation of manure and fertilizers
for rice crop of Nepal are:
1. Organic manures : 8-25 tons ha-1
2. Fertilizers :
a. Improved varieties: 100:30:30
b. Local varieties: 60:30:20
• If high amount of organic manures are used the fertilizer
dose should be decreased.

8. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Time of application
• Organic manures are applied and incorporated in the soil
15-30 days before planting.
• Full doses of P, K and half dose of N should be applied and
incorporated in the soil before sowing/planting or
transplanting field crops.
• The other half dose of N is split into two doses.
• One fourth is applied as a top dressing 20-30 days after
planting or transplanting.
• One fourth is applied 40-50 days after planting or
transplanting.
• The early tillering/grand growth stage and panicle
initiation/flowering stage are the best times for applying N
fertilizer.

9. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Methods of application
Fertilizers:
1. Broadcasting :
• The fertilizers are spread uniformly over the entire
field which is most convenient and cheapest method.
2. Top dressing or side dressing:
• Application of fertilizers to the standing crop is called
top dressing.
• N fertilizers are top dressed in rice.
• Fertilizer should be applied after drying of dew.
• When the leaves are wet during top dressing, scorching
or burning of leaves may occur.

10. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Broadcasting

11. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
3. Drilling:
• Drilling is a method of placement of fertilizers in the sub
soil layer by the help of plough having special attachment
for drilling fertilizers.
• The bottom of the attachment is joined to the bottom of
the plough and through it fertilizer is drilled.
• It is suitable for drilling upland rice for better distribution
in the root zone and prevents loss from surface drainage.
4. Banding:
• This method is suitable for upland condition where
fertilizers are placed 5 cm below the seed and 3-5 cm to
the side of the row.

12. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Plough sole placement or drilling

13. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
5. Side dressing:
• This method is also suitable for upland condition where,
fertilizers are placed along the rows after upland rice have
started growing.
• Nitrogenous fertilizers are generally side dressed in upland
rice.
6. Ball or pellet application:
• This method is useful in low land rice where small balls of
convenient size are made and deposited into the soft mud
field of rice at a depth of 8-10 cm between rows.
• Super granules and sulfur coated urea are also found for
increasing rice yields with minimum loss of N.

14. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Pellet application

15. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Deep placement

16. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Sub soil placement

17. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Starter solution: it is mild solution of NPK in the ratio of 1:2:1
used for soaking seed, dipping roots and spraying over seedling for
early start of the crop. Feeding starter solution the seedlings establish
early and start growth soon
Fertigation: application of fertilizers along with irrigation water is
called Fertigation. Its either effective from drip irrigation system.
Foliar spray: mild solution of nutrient is applied over foliage
• It is used for correcting nutrient deficiencies in rice, where micro
nutrients like zinc, copper, iron and manganese are applied as a
spray on standing rice.
• Nitrogenous fertilizers can also be foliar sprayed if N deficiency
symptoms are observed in nursery or main field of rice.
• The crop plant respond within 24 hours of application.
7. Others forms of application:

18. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Foliar method of application

19. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Nitrogen deficiency Leaf colour chart
Phosphorus
deficiency
Potash deficiency Zinc deficiency

20. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist
Factors affecting nutrient availability in crop field
a) Total nutrient content of soil
b) Moisture content in soil
c) Soil pH
d) Soil texture and structure
e) Organic matter content
f) Microbial activity
g) Extra cellular enzyme activity
h) Ionic composition of soil solution

21. Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Affiliated to CTEVT)
Principles
and
Practices
of
Agronomy
by
Govinda
Raj
Sedai,
Agronomist