Fertilizer Placement Influences Profit: A look back to 1938

Six fertilizer placement demonstrations with potatoes in eastern North Carolina in 1937 proved that fertilizer placed to not injure seedlings, yet within ready access to feeder roots, will result in better crop stands and yields. The improved practice placed fertilizer in a band method to each side and slightly below the seed-piece level. The average yield increase was 15.2 barrels of No.1 grade potatoes per acre over the check plot, which was fertilized by the old method of placing the fertilizer in the drill and mixing it with the soil before planting the seed.