Fertiliser

Introduction

All application of nutrients in the form of fertilisers must be based on good information and sound management planning, and this can only be achieved from the information gained from a good soil analysis.

Fertiliser may be applied to maintain the health of the grass and appearance of the football pitch. It is also used to help pitches recover after long periods of play. As with all turf surfaces different nutrient levels are applied at different times of the year.

The basic method of feeding turf is to apply small quantities of specially formulated fertilisers at various times of the year. Before doing this it is very important that you understand the reasons for using fertilisers of different types and forms.

Plants have the ability to use the energy from the sunlight to join together carbon dioxide and water to make sugar. The process is known as photosynthesis and takes place in all green plants. To make the process work, the plant requires a number of essential nutrients, most of which are obtained directly from the soil.

Plants require individual nutrients in different amounts. Most soils contain enough of the nutrients for healthy plant growth without additions being made. However, some nutrients are required in such large quantities that additional applications must be given if maximum growth is to be stimulated.

The Major Nutrients

There are three major nutrients that are required in large quantities by plants, namely, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and a further three minor nutrients that are required in smaller, but significant amounts; these are calcium, copper, zinc, boron and molybdenum.

Most of the micronutrients are involved in some way in the production of enzymes, although some are also used as catalysts to directly speed up chemical reactions.

The major and minor nutrients and their functions are as follows.