The Right Place: Fertilizer Application Options In Western Canada
Every spring serves up a unique combination of planting conditions. With fertilizer as one of your biggest input expenses, it’s a good time to review the 4R approach to nutrient management. These science-based, best management practices remain the gold standard for using the right fertilizer source, at the right rate, the right time, and with the right placement.
Let’s zero in on placement. Wherever you farm across Western Canada, and whatever your fall or spring conditions look like, there are many factors to consider with fertilizer placement options, from the crop, type of fertilizer, soil properties, and weather conditions.
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 Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, fertilizer is most often applied by banding or placing it in the seed row. Banding covers any method that applies fertilizer in concentrated strips, while seed row places fertilizer in the seedbed at the same time as planting. Both methods can be used for applying granular or liquid fertilizer. Broadcasting fertilizer may also be used in some cases, though this is less commonly preferred.
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. Aim for fertilizer application that coincides as closely as possible with the period of maximum crop uptake.
Banding vs. seed row vs. broadcast
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 seed row (starter), or after seeding.
- Preferred over broadcasting in no-till, dryland cropping systems.
- Efficient method for most fertilizers as the band is usually placed below or near the seed row 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 broadcasting because of higher nutrient concentration in the immediate crop root zone.
- More expensive equipment 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.
- Fall banding may be more practical in some situations because of better field conditions and time availability.
Seed row
- Convenient for one-pass, direct-seed systems.
- Places fertilizer where the crop’s developing root system can easily access nutrients, highly efficient for immobile nutrients like phosphorus.
- Reduces potential nutrient losses from erosion compared to surface placement.
- Can have advantages of less fuel consumption and less soil disturbance.
- May require other additional applications because of safety limits on the seed-placed rate. Can cause salt injury to seeds and seedlings if fertilizer is too concentrated; may require more than one application to meet crop’s fertilizer needs.
- Maximum rate to safely apply depends on several factors including the specific fertilizer, soil type, soil moisture, planter configuration (seedbed utilization), and crop. Consult provincial guidelines for safe rates of seed-placed fertilizer.
Broadcasting
- Can be applied on the surface or incorporated.
- Rapid application method to cover large areas in the least time.
- Disadvantaged in no-till systems where immobile nutrients may remain stranded on the soils surface.
- Nutrients more prone to runoff (phosphorus) or volatile losses (nitrogen).
- Phosphorus efficiency is approximately ¼ to ⅓ 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 but may limit nutrient availability if there is insufficient moisture to move nutrients into soil.
- 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 broadcast fertilizer increases root contact and minimizes surface nutrient loss but is prevented in no-till systems.
- Broadcast equipment is generally less specialized and less expensive than banding.
For more information or specific recommendations for your area, contact your local agronomist or crop advisor, or refer to these additional resources.
- Getting the Most Out of Commercial Fertilizer Applications, Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development
- Alberta Fertilizer Guide, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
- NutrientStewardship.org
- The Red Book, Canadian Society of Soil Science
- Advantages and Limitations of Fertilizer Application Methods, Cornell University, Northeast Region Certified Crop Advisor Study Resources
