Protect your Fertilizers Against Leaching: Tips for a Wet Autumn

Heavy autumn rainfall can wash nitrogen and potassium out of the root zone, reducing crop performance. Controlled release fertilizers like Agromaster help protect nutrients, improving availability, efficiency, and yield stability.

Why Does Heavy Rainfall Increase the Risk of Fertilizer Leaching?

Weather patterns across the Benelux countries are mirroring the global trend, becoming increasingly erratic, with intense rainfall events followed by prolonged dry periods. For growers, this creates a major challenge: nutrient leaching.

When heavy rain moves through the soil profile, mobile nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) can be washed beyond the root zone. Once lost, these nutrients are no longer available to the crop, leading to reduced nutrient uptake, lower yields, and poorer quality. In many cases, deficiencies only become visible later in the season, when it is too late to fully correct them.

How Can Fertilization Strategies Reduce Nutrient Losses?

An effective fertilization strategy plays a key role in protecting nutrients under wet conditions. Controlled Release Fertilizers (CRFs) are specifically designed to release nutrients gradually, matching crop demand over time.

This approach delivers two key advantages:

• Protection in wet conditions: A special coating regulates nutrient release, reducing the impact of heavy rainfall on nitrogen and potassium availability.
• Improved nutrient availability: Crops receive a steady, continuous supply of nutrients, supporting consistent growth even under the variable weather conditions of a wet autumn.

By aligning nutrient release with crop uptake, controlled release fertilizers (CRFs), such as ICL Agromaster, help minimize losses while maximizing efficiency.

What Makes Agromaster Effective Under High Rainfall Conditions?

Agromaster combines controlled release technology with specially selected conventional uncoated fertilizer granules, delivering both immediate and sustained nutrient availability.

This dual approach ensures:

• Early-season nutrient supply to support establishment
• Long-term nutrient availability during critical growth stages
• Reduced risk of leaching losses compared to standard fertilizers

As a result, Agromaster provides a more resilient fertilization strategy in seasons with unpredictable rainfall.

What do Trials Reveal About Performance in Wet Conditions?

Field trials and practical experience demonstrate that Agromaster performs reliably, even under heavy rainfall.

In arable crops such as potatoes and maize, nitrogen availability remains more stable following periods of intense rain. This leads to improved crop uniformity and more consistent yields compared to conventional fertilization programs.

A trial conducted in Fußgönheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany (2022) on cauliflower showed:

• Up to 13% yield increase
• 31% higher nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)

These results highlight how controlled release technology can significantly reduce nutrient losses while improving overall crop performance.

How Can You Prepare your Fertilization Strategy for a Wet Autumn?

To reduce the risk of leaching and protect your investment in nutrients, consider the following practical steps:

• Use controlled-release fertilizers (CRF) to minimize leaching and ensure consistent nutrient availability.
• Prioritize CRF application on crops that are highly sensitive to nitrogen and potassium deficiencies.
• Match fertilizer release longevity with specific crop demand, soil type, and predicted weather conditions.
• Combine fertilization with robust water and soil management practices.

Building Resilience Against Unpredictable Weather

Increasing weather variability requires more resilient nutrient management strategies. By integrating controlled release fertilizers such as Agromaster into your program, you can protect nutrients from leaching, improve efficiency, and maintain crop performance, even in challenging autumn conditions.