Risks Associated with Fall Fertilization Decisions
Dr. Scott Murrell
The decision to apply fertilizer in the fall is often a juggling act between agronomic, environmental and economic risk. There’s more time to apply fertilizer in the fall than spring … a typical fall has twice as many days suitable for fieldwork as a typical spring … but does time alone justify the risk? Fall applied nutrients have more opportunity for loss by leaching or runoff, but the potential for compaction is greater in the spring. Compaction can dramatically cut yields and affect profits. Attempting too many field operations in the spring may delay planting resulting in significant yield losses, but start fertilizer may compensate for late planting. Nutrient efficiency, maximizing yield, and time management are all factors that must be considered in the decision related to applying fertilizer in the fall. Fall fertilization is not risk-free, but with careful management nutrient loss can be minimized and the advantages can out-weigh potential risks.
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