The SOILING® POOL FAQ

Application accuracy allows even fertiliser application across the full working width right up to the headland with no wastage or under application. Ease of storage and handling, increased efficiency and wider operating windows.

You can use your conventional farm sprayer to apply liquid fertilisers, however you will need to fit suitable nozzles or stream bars.

If a tank is sited according to the industry code there is no need to bund liquid fertiliser tanks, although bunding is a sensible precaution where possible.

A wide range of plant protection products and micronutrients can be tank mixed with soiling NRF.

Fertilizers are one of the best ways to correct deficiencies or provide extra nutrients early, mid, or at the end of the growing season.

The following is a list of different types of fertilizers.

Mineral Fertilizers
Mineral Fertilizers are naturally occurring raw materials that are transformed into a form suitable for plants using industrial processing. The synthesis of atmospheric nitrogen with hydrogen produces ammonia with a high energy input, which is converted to a nitrogen mineral.

Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers are made from organic matter such as:

• Animal Manure is made from animal discharge like goat manure or cattle manure. Goat droppings are rich in nitrogen and potash, while cow manure is a great organic carbon and nitrogen source.
• Compost is organic matter (plants or animal manure) that goes through the decomposition process by composting.
• Chicken Litter is made out of chicken manure and sawdust. It contains a high level of potash and nitrogen.
• Vermicompost results from the organic material (such as food waste or animal manure) decomposed by various worms species. The vermicompost is also known as ‘worm manure’ and ‘earthworm manure'.
• Bone Meal is animal bones from a slaughterhouse ground into a fine powder or granules. Bone meal fertilizer is a perfect source of amino acids and phosphorus.
• Rock Phosphate is a source of phosphorus and calcium. It is mined from deposits of phosphate-rich rocks and has a composition similar to bone meal. Rock phosphate breaks down slower than the bone meal, so it can be used as a long-term phosphorus supply.
• Lime is commonly used as fertilizer for lawns and gardens to correct soil acidity. The correction allows microorganisms to thrive and break down organic matter in the soil. Consequently, releasing necessary elements for plants to grow healthy. Lime is a natural compound. It is a white crystalline solid mineral formed by the weathering of limestone.

The main advantage of using mineral fertilizer on organic basis is that it builds your soil over time. These fertilizers are made from natural sources, such as compost, manure, and other byproducts of animals or plants. They help plants grow, strengthening soil texture and overall health. Chemical fertilizers can deplete soil microorganisms and leach into waterways.
So, organic fertilizers are much more sustainable than chemical fertilizers. It is much more beneficial for the environment and the soil itself. The beneficial microbes that live in healthy, productive soil help plants grow, increase their immunity and help the soil stay fertile.

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are the three numbers that are separated by hyphens on the fertilizer packages. They represent the percentage of each nutrient in the fertilizer. For example, 10-20-10 fertilizer has 10% nitrogen (N), 20% phosphorus (P), and 10% potassium (K).

NPK is an abbreviation for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These are the three primary nutrients used by plants.
They are the macronutrients that are essential for plant growth and development. In short, NPK are the most critical factors in producing quality crops. We need these three elements in the correct ratio to grow our plants.

Nitrogen – improves foliage growth and pollen production.
Nitrogen is an essential component of green plant matter. Plants need nitrogen for growth to produce more leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruits, and pods. Plants look scraggly and pale green when the soil becomes depleted of nitrogen. So, when plants lack nitrogen, they cannot develop or reproduce.
Phosphorus – is vital for root development.
Phosphorus is also necessary for fertility, flowering, fruit set, and seed formation. Plants need it to make their seeds, produce flowers, fruits, and healthy root development. Phosphorus is essential for plant photosynthesis.
Potassium – improves plant stress tolerance and promotes flowering and fruiting.
Potassium plays a crucial role in cell division and improves growth and fruit production. It helps regulate the amount of water and nutrients in plant tissues and helps plants produce flowers.

Higher NPK amounts do not always mean more effective fertilizer. Higher amounts can cause problems for the plants. These problems include:

• Risk of “burning” your plant roots, causing them to become weak and possibly die.
• Risk of fertilizer runoff into waterways, which can cause water pollution.
• Risk of nutrient build-up in your plants. When this happens, the plants may look healthy, but they are not actually producing as much fruit or as many seeds as they could be.
• Excess nutrients could cause the risk of pests attacking your plants.

An excessive amount of fertilizer can cause plants to grow too fast. This means that plant roots don’t get enough time to develop to support growth, and plants can die.
Also, too much fertilizer can burn the plant roots. Always use as described on the label.

Liquid fertilizer should be mixed in water as directed on the package (usually every 14 days). Once the liquid fertilizer is mixed and diluted with water, it should be given to plants at the same time as your usual watering.
Liquid fertilizers are instant-release fertilizers that work quickly and are easy to use. They are designed to release nutrients into the soil as soon as they come into contact with water. Plants then absorb these nutrients.

If the soil is dry, you should water your plants before using liquid fertilizer.
This is to do with a simple law of physics. Water will always find its way to the lowest point in the fastest way possible. If your soil is dry and cracked, it will penetrate any crevices or paths that facilitate its flow downwards.
So, by pouring liquid fertilizer onto dry soil, most of it will run down into the cracks and lead to nutrient burn or nutrient leaching, especially if you are growing in raised garden beds.
The soil will soak in water if you water your plants before fertilizing. Wet soil will allow fertilizers to be evenly distributed.
If you use a slow-release fertilizer, you do not have to water your plants before use.

High-nitrogen (N) fertilizers are great for growing plants. Look for fertilizers with a high first number, which indicates that they have a high content of nitrogen (N).
Nitrogen is the primary building block of proteins, the main source of energy for plant growth and development, and a significant component of chlorophyll. Plants use nitrogen to make amino acids and other molecules used in cell structure, metabolism, and defense against environmental stresses.