How a liquid fertilizer application system works
For many farmers, liquid fertilizer offers important benefits for their crop: quick nutrient absorption, even distribution in the fields, and better precision. But a strong nutrient program isn’t just about the fertilizer you choose. It’s about how you apply it.
Understanding how your liquid fertilizer application system works — and how to optimize its performance — will help you make better decisions in the field and give your plants their best chance of success.
What is a liquid fertilizer application system?
A liquid fertilizer system is the collection of equipment that transports, pumps, and sprays liquid fertilizer onto a field. This system is installed directly onto ag equipment, like a planter or tractor.
Applying liquid starter fertilizer using one of these systems can help ensure uniform distribution and strong nutrient uptake. Certain equipment additions can also enable a more targeted approach, where liquid fertilizer is applied directly to the seed trench.
The main components of a liquid fertilizer application system
A typical system will include:
Tank: Every application system needs somewhere to store the liquid fertilizer. Tanks come in various sizes and are typically made from either stainless steel or polyethylene.
Pump, plumbing, and placement tubes: There are various options for pumps, hoses, manifold systems, and fertilizer tubes to apply the liquid fertilizer. Totally Tubular can help you find a local dealer that can assist with setup of these on your planter.
Flow monitor: To ensure your crop is getting the right amount of fertilizer, you need to track (in real time) the product being applied in the field. An in-cab monitoring system uses sensors or sight gauges to monitor fertilizer flow. Depending on your system, it may also display field prescriptions.
Easy visualization of this information helps you avoid over- or under-application and helps you decide where and how to apply variable rates in your field. Most importantly, a flow monitoring system can alert you if there is a blockage. This ensures you never miss an application (or lose valuable input dollars through wasted fertilizer).
Blockages can happen fast, and are easy to miss without the right equipment. But they can cost you yield if left unchecked. Totally Tubular’s Wilger Flow Manifold quickly highlights plugged orifices or blocked screens so you can fix the system, get back to applying, and protect your valuable input dollars.
Fertilizer placement styles: What’s the difference between in-furrow vs 2x2?
Which kind of fertilizer and how much of it to apply aren’t the only important decisions to make. To maximize your chances of high yields, you also need to place that fertilizer in the right spot (on every row).
Here are two fertilizer placement methods:
- 2x2 placement: Applies starter fertilizer about 2 inches to the side and 2 inches beneath the seed
- In-furrow placement: Applies starter fertilizer directly into the seed trench. This style is also known as “pop-up” placement.
Both strategies have their own strengths and weaknesses. With 2x2 placement, farmers can usually apply higher concentrations of fertilizer. In-furrow placement(opens in new tab) allows for placement deeper into the soil profile, which can promote faster root uptake and plant growth.
Totally Tubular’s starter fertilizer application tube helps farmers use this method. The tube is an easy-to-install addition to your liquid fertilizer application system that evenly applies fertilizer in-furrow. It’s been proven in field trials to increase yields.
How Totally Tubular can help you build a better liquid fertilizer application system
While every liquid fertilizer system has a similar structure, with similar core parts, there are also additions farmers can make to enhance their system’s effectiveness.
Certain system add-ons can help optimize fertilizer applications, boost early growth and nutrition, and improve yields. Totally Tubular has built a portfolio of revolutionary products that do exactly that.
Our fertilizer tube empowers application deeper in the seed profile to boost absorption and early growth. And our Wilger Flow Manifold helps you keep an eye on each row’s flow volume.
Explore Totally Tubular fertilizer tubes and other planter accessories to build the right liquid fertilizer application system for your operation.
