Nitrogen Fertilization II: Fertilizer Requirements

The N balance allows the calculation of the fertilizer requirement that depends on crop N absorption, inorganic N in the soil at sowing or produced by mineralization, and N losses. A fertilization plan should consider the variability of environmental factors, especially rain, to distribute the N with flexibility to match the specific conditions of each year. Doing so, we will avoid yield reductions due to N deficiency and the negative environmental impact of excess application. Fertilization of trees should be based on the nutrient balance (mature trees) or the growth rate expected from actual transpiration.