Get more out of your fertilization with the 4 J's

Want the best results when fertilizing your land? The 4 J's can help. In this article, three fellow farmers share how these practical fertilization tips—the right dosage, the right time, the right product, and the right fertilization technique—can help you achieve optimal results.

This depends on the soil's nitrogen-supplying capacity and the subsequent nitrogen supply from organic fertilizer. It's a matter of measurement: by gathering as much data and knowledge as possible from annual silage, soil, and manure analyses for your fertilization plan, you can calculate how much fertilizer you need to achieve your grassland management goals.

"Every year, I use soil samples to determine the crop's needs," explains arable farmer Willem Voncken from Eys in South Limburg. "We meet these needs as much as possible with nutrients from animal manure. We supplement the remaining needs with artificial fertilizer, which has the advantage of being able to apply it when the crop needs it most."

The right time: what's the weather like?
The timing of application determines how well the plant utilizes the fertilizer and how drivable the land is. The ideal timing depends on several factors, such as temperature, precipitation forecast, humidity, wind, slope, and sunlight. In the frequently changing Dutch weather conditions, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) fertilizer can offer a solution. The combination of rapidly absorbable nitrate, slower-release ammonium, and even slower-release nitrogen from liquid manure ensures a gradual nitrogen supply and perfectly matches the crop's needs.

"A good foundation is important for grass quality," says dairy farmer Martin Jansen from Duifzand in Drenthe. "By looking at the grass's bearing capacity and the amount of rain that has fallen, we determine when to spread the manure in the spring. We also monitor the development and needs in the following months, and adjust accordingly by spreading fertilizer."

The right product: quality granules first
The quality of the fertilizer granules plays a significant role in the fertilization results. More even and harder granules spread more easily. The orange granules of Nutramon KAS are not only homogeneous and round, but also smooth and dust-free. This ensures good spreading properties, even with larger spreading widths of over 50 meters. This distributes the fertilizer evenly across the field and prevents areas of under- and over-fertilized grassland.

"To test the spreadability of the fertilizer we intend to use, we use a fraction meter," says arable farmer Gert-Jan van Dongen from Zeewolde in Flevoland. "It shows exactly how many granules of the sample are the desired size. We see that Nutramon's fraction distribution is always of high quality and reliability."

The right fertilization technique: saving tip number 1
Using your fertilizer as efficiently as possible is a combination of granule quality and careful adjustment of the fertilizer spreader. It's all about balance. The working width must be precisely adjusted to the fertilizer type and environmental conditions, and the feed rate must be proportional to the machine speed. A stable, even spray during spreading is crucial for even distribution.

"We spread with a precision spreader with GPS," explains Martin Jansen. "We use application maps to determine the needs: where do we need more or less? This way, we ultimately use as little fertilizer as possible. The even shape and hardness of the Nutramon granules contributes to the most efficient possible use of every square meter of the plot."