Broadcast Fertiliser application is one of agriculture’s most traditional fertiliser application methods. The longevity and popularity of the broadcast application technique are a reflection of its simplicity, efficiency, and adaptability. Of course, the tools used to broadcast fertilisers across fields have changed dramatically since ancient civilisations first developed the technique, and more importantly, so have the fertilisers that farmers apply.
Broadcast fertiliser application is:
- Simple, requiring relatively straight-forward equipment compared to some other fertiliser application methods
- Efficient, especially in large fields where large areas can be fertilised quickly
- Adaptable, suitable for large and small-scale application, and for various fertiliser types, including organic manures as well as granular, coated, and powdered fertilisers.
While broadcast application can fertilise small areas of land, it is particularly effective at applying fertiliser to broad-acre field crops and pastures. A modern fertiliser spreader applying a high-quality fertiliser with a consistent granule size and density can accurately spread granules up to 36 meters, providing a constant, even distribution of nutrients across a field.
Versatility of Broadcast Spreaders
Broadcast spreaders come in many diverse forms, including handheld tools, small walk-behind spreaders, aerial drone spreaders, larger tow-behind spreaders, and large tractor-mounted spreaders. At the core of each device lies a granular fertiliser-loaded hopper. As the spreader crosses the land, the hopper releases the fertiliser onto spinning disks that spread the fertiliser across the soil surface or growing crops, ensuring uniform dispersal.
When Should Broadcast Fertilisation be Used?
There are two core stages when growers typically use broadcast fertiliser application: pre-plant application and top-dressing. In pre-plant application, the fertiliser is applied before planting seeds or seedlings. Immediate soil incorporation is key to preventing nutrient losses through runoff, leaching, or volatilisation. Such incorporation enhances root contact and minimises surface nutrient loss.
In contrast, top-dressing is the application of fertiliser to the soil surface after the crop is established. With top-dressing, the fertiliser is not incorporated into the soil but instead relies on moisture to carry the nutrients from the fertiliser granules on the soil surface into the root zone.
What are the Benefits of Broadcast Fertiliser Application?
While pre-plant broadcast applications may result in lower fertiliser use efficiency compared to other application methods, expansive areas can be covered swiftly and cost-effectively. Broadcast application is adaptable to various terrains, particularly excelling on irregularly shaped fields, slopes, and obstructed spaces.
However, it’s important to note that in no-till systems, broadcasted nutrients may not be incorporated, potentially leading to nutrient imbalances.
Optimising Broadcast Fertiliser Application
To leverage the power of broadcast application and mitigate any drawbacks, farmers must account for variables like soil type, crop variety, weather patterns, and nutrient demands. Adjustments to application rates and timing based on these factors will significantly enhance its impact.
As well as determining the correct nutrient mix and application rate, growers must ensure the fertiliser’s granule size and density are compatible with the fertiliser spreader’s specification to help ensure even distribution.
ICL’s fertilisers are created from high-quality ingredients and manufactured to high standards to deliver a consistent granule size and density. Choosing high-quality fertilisers ensures an even distribution of nutrients through the field for the optimum crop response.
Whether you are applying a controlled-release fertiliser such as Agromaster®, one of our PLUS Polysulphate-based fertilisers, or our superior phosphate or potash fertilizers, you can be confident in our high-quality fertilisers.
Equipped with the appropriate ICL plant nutrition products, you can embrace the flexibility of broadcast application – benefitting from the convenience, adaptability, and efficiency of this approach to nourishing crops across diverse landscapes.
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Nutrients, yield and the environment: you're in control with Agromaster®
Your fertiliser programme needs to be superior to enhance the crop’s productivity and to ensure a secure and profitable business. For this reason, ICL created Agromaster® – a Controlled Release Fertiliser combining quick, initial release of coated nutrients over a longer period. Agromaster® combines ICL’s advanced coating technology with specially selected conventional uncoated granules. This powerful combination provides controlled release action and high-quality performance in one uniform product.
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Mini coated nutrition to start your crops
Agromaster® Start Mini is a safe starter fertiliser for all seeded crops, combining ICL’s advanced coating technology with specially selected mini granules. The controlled release of N and P will keep your plants fed in their early stages, without affecting germination and emergence of young plants. With ultra-localised application, close to the seeds, Agromaster® Start Mini boosts rooting and promotes fast establishment of the plants. Coated P-based products improve the availability and uptake of phosphorus by the young root system. Meanwhile the coated nitrogen provides a gradual release which means that stressful situations, especially in the cold season, will be avoided.
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Add up the benefits with FertilizerpluS.
ICL FertilizerpluS products contain multiple nutrients that enable farmers to maximise their nutrient use efficiency. Reducing greenhouse gases and producing more food with less inputs is the major challenge facing UK farmers over the next decade. This means increasing nutrient use efficiency and ensuring crops have an adequate supply of all the nutrients they need that are essential to optimise yields. Increasingly farmers will need to focus on making the most efficient use of nutrients for both arable and grassland production. That means making the most of nutrients in the soil through regular soil testing, as well as those applied as fertilisers or manures.
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Give your crops the power of phosphate
ICL PhosphatepluS is a high quality granular fertiliser combining the benefits of triplesuperphosphate (GTSP) and Polysulphate into a single granule. PhosphatepluS supplies your crop with five essential nutrients in every granule, helping to increase the efficiency of your phosphate application and boost crop establishment and root growth. PhosphatepluS is a highly effective starter fertiliser that is suitable to be used in direct drilling or can spread up to 36 metres. Trials show that applying some potash, sulphur calcium and magnesium together with phosphate at planting, increases nutrient uptake and establishment.
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Granular potassium fertiliser combining Polysulphate and potash for improved performance
ICL PotashpluS™ is a granular fertiliser made with Polysulphate and potassium chloride. It provides crops with vital potassium, sulphur, magnesium, and calcium in a single application. ICL PotashpluS provides 37% potassium oxide, consisting of 30% potassium chloride and 7% as potassium sulphate. The sulphur, magnesium, and calcium in PotashpluS are all in 100% sulphate (SO4) form. With ICL PotashpluS, there is no need to choose between chloride or sulphate forms of potassium fertiliser: 20% of the potassium is in sulphate form, which reduces the chloride input by 50% compared with KCl.
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PK premium granulated fertilisers featuring Polysulphate
ICLPKpluS is a range of premium high quality granulated fertilisers produced by ICL. Our ICLPKpluS fertilisers are tailor made fomulations that provide five essential macronutrients in each formula. As well as phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) all of our products contain sulphur (S), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) in one single granule. These fertilisers are ideally suited for direct single application on all crops and soils for superior yield, improved quality and increased profitability. ICLPKpluS is available in a variety of grades grouped into three types: high phosphorus (P) for best plant establishment balanced phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) for a balanced and efficient nutrient supply, and high potassium (K) for extra crop quality. Tailor-made ICLPKpluS fertilisers with additional micronutrients are also available by request.
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High-quality, readily available P
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant growth, stimulating root development and promoting flowering. ICL’s Phosphate fertilisers provide high-quality and readily available sources of phosphorus for efficient crop nutrition. ICL’s Phosphate fertilisers have high available phosphorus content which can easily be taken up by plants’ roots, providing the strength needed for crop growth. ICL’s portfolio of phosphorus fertilisers enables users to choose and use the right product to ensure the correct phosphorus availability, and therefore optimal agronomic performance, according to the crop and soil type. ICL’s professional agronomic and technical teams are on hand to provide the advice and support needed for efficient and sustainable phosphorus nutrition.
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The all-year-round sulphur fertiliser of choice with a low carbon footprint
Polysulphate fertiliser offers compelling environmental and sustainability benefits, making it a preferred choice for conscientious farmers worldwide. One key advantage lies in its composition, which includes a unique blend of essential nutrients: sulphur, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. This balanced formulation minimizes the need for multiple fertilizer applications, reducing the environmental impact associated with excessive nutrient runoff and leaching. Additionally, Polysulphate is mined from natural mineral deposits, making it a sustainable resource that can be responsibly managed and replenished over time. By promoting soil health and fertility, while simultaneously minimising nutrient waste and environmental harm, Polysulphate plays a vital role in sustainable agriculture practices, ensuring the long-term viability of farming systems for generations to come. Being a natural crystal, Polysulphate has a unique dissolution pattern that releases nutrients gradually after application. This prolonged availability reduces the chance of nutrient losses while also matching the uptake requirements of crops. Polysulphate stands out as an eco-friendly choice for farmers due to its natural composition and exceptionally low carbon footprint. Polysulphate sets the standard in environmental sustainability among fertilisers, with Polysulphate Standard, Granular, and Mini having the lowest carbon footprint (compared to similar products) of just 0.0029 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per kilogram of product. Polysulphate is suitable for organic farming systems and is approved for organic use by certification agencies around the world, including Ecocert, Ceres, and OMRI.
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Superior potash fertilisers
Potash (potassium chloride, or KCl), an essential nutrient for crop nutrition, is the most highly valued and widely used potassium fertiliser in the world, delivering the nutrient to the crop efficiently. ICL’s potash is a superb source of potassium, produced at our environmentally friendly production sites. Our unique Dead Sea production site uses a natural evaporation process to produce potash. This natural process enables us to manufacture premium, high-quality potash fertilisers with a significantly lower carbon footprint than alternative products. In addition, ICL’s professional agronomic and technical teams are on hand to provide our customers with advice and support to ensure optimum potassium nutrition.
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