The Right Place: Fertilizer Application Options For The Northern Plains

eKonomics News Team

It’s the time of the season to talk about nutrient management. The agriculture industry had great foresight decades ago to establish science-based, best management practices for the sustainable use of fertilizers with the 4Rs – guiding the use of the right fertilizer source, at the right rate, the right time, and with the right placement.

Let’s zero in on the right placement. There are many factors to consider from crop, type of fertilizer, and soil conditions when choosing an application or placement method.

Why placement matters

Fertilizer placement and timing can affect crop yield and quality, as well as how efficiently the crop is able to use the nutrients. The ultimate goal when thinking about placement is how to maximize the contact between the fertilizer nutrients and the crop (seed or plant roots depending on placement and timing). This is particularly important at the early stages of crop development to encourage strong root growth. Proper fertilizer placement and timing in consideration of crop, soil, and weather variables can also reduce potential for nutrient losses. 

In the Northern Plains, banding and broadcasting are the most common fertilizer application methods used. Banding covers any method that applies fertilizer in concentrated strips, while broadcasting delivers a uniform application across the entire soil surface. Both methods can be used for applying granular or liquid fertilizer.

It’s important to remember that the expected response in crop yield and quality for either application method depends on the specific nutrient and its properties, how well the nutrients are able to move through soil, soil moisture, and crop rooting patterns.

Banding vs. broadcasting

Banding

• Any application where fertilizer is applied in strips on or below the soil surface.
• Application can be done at seeding, with or near the seedrow (starter), or after seeding.
• Efficient method for most fertilizers as the band is usually placed below or near the seedrow for greater root interception and to help jump start early growth.
• Provides a zone of high nutrient concentration to improve root interception, stimulate growth, and reduce nutrient fixation.
• For some nutrients, such as immobile micronutrients and phosphorus, banding may produce better crop response and nutrient efficiency at lower rates than for broadcasting because of higher nutrient concentration in the immediate crop root zone.    
• Banding phosphorus is important with low soil phosphorus levels and in cool soil conditions because of slow root growth and slow phosphorus diffusion in cool soils.
• More expensive option than broadcasting that comes with the risk of salt burn or seedling damage, but may allow for lower rates to be used for some nutrients.
• Especially advantageous with low rates of immobile nutrients, such as the micronutrients and phosphorus, that may be immobilized or “fixed” in soils by soil chemical reactions. 

Broadcasting

• Can be applied on the surface or incorporated.
• Rapid application method to cover large areas in the least time.
• Phosphorus efficiency is approximately 1/4 to 1/3 compared to banding. Broadcasting generally requires higher application rates of immobile nutrients than banding because of nutrient dilution in greater soil volume.
• Broadcasting provides broader nutrient distribution in a greater soil volume and may improve nutrient contact with a greater portion of the plant roots. 
• Preferred method for higher application rates when needing to build low soil-test levels. Surface broadcasting is fast and economical but can result in less uniform application and higher nutrient losses.
• Incorporating fertilizer increases root contact, plant growth, and minimizes surface nutrient loss.
• Broadcast equipment is generally less specialized and less expensive than for banding.

For more information or specific recommendations for your area, contact your local agronomist or crop advisor, or refer to these additional resources.

• Fertilizer Placement and Timing, Nutrient Management Module No. 11, Montana State University
• Getting the Most Out of Commercial Fertilizer Applications, Alberta Agriculture
• NutrientStewardship.org
• Advantages and Limitations of Fertilizer Application Methods, Cornell University, Northeast Region Certified Crop Advisor Study Resources