Advice

Smart fertilisation in open-field cultivation: 5 ways to use fertilisers more efficiently

Efficient fertilisation in tree nurseries means more than ever achieving more results from every kilogram of fertiliser applied. Environmental regulations are becoming stricter and losses due to leaching or inefficient application cost money. By aligning fertilisation more closely with plant needs, soil conditions and application timing, and by making smart choices in fertiliser types, nutrient efficiency can be significantly improved. That means lower costs and less leaching.

Below are five practical strategies that can be applied in open-field tree nursery cultivation.

1. Split applications: using nitrogen more efficiently

One of the simplest ways to use fertilisers more efficiently is split application. This approach involves dividing the total nitrogen rate over several application moments. Rather than applying a single large dose in spring, a base application is made at the start of the season, followed by one or more top dressings later in the growing season.

This approach offers clear advantages:

Nitrogen becomes available when the crop needs it
Reduced risk of leaching or insufficient uptake
Improved control over crop growth

By splitting applications, nutrient use efficiency increases significantly.

2. Timing: aligning nutrition with growth stages

Plants do not have the same nutritional needs throughout the growing season. By adjusting fertilisation accordingly, nutrients are taken up more efficiently.

In tree nurseries, three growth stages are particularly important:

Early growth stage
In spring, when plants develop buds, leaves and shoots, nitrogen (N) is especially needed. It ensures a strong start to the growing season.
Main growth stage
During late spring and early summer, crop growth is intensive, and a continuous, well-balanced NPK supply is essential.
End of the growing season
Later in the season, nutrient needs shift towards higher potassium and lower nitrogen levels. Potassium supports shoot strength, improves wood lignification and enhances winter hardiness.

By tailoring fertilisation to these key moments, nutrient losses are minimised and the efficiency of each fertiliser application is significantly increased.

3. Targeted application: placing nutrients closer to the roots

Another effective strategy is precision fertilisation: Instead of spreading nutrients across the entire field, fertilisers are applied closer to the root zone. This can be achieved through row fertilisation or planting-hole application.

Row fertilisation

With row fertilisation, fertiliser is applied in or right next to the crop row, ensuring nutrients end up where needed and exactly where the plant can absorb them. As a result, little to no fertiliser is lost in the spaces between rows. It is important, however, that the fertiliser is evenly distributed along the row and not concentrated in a single spot.

This approach offers several advantages:

Nutrients are placed closer to the root system
Faster nutrient uptake by the plants
Less nutrients available for weeds between the rows
Lower overall fertiliser application rates

Planting-hole application

When planting young trees or shrubs, fertiliser is applied directly into the planting hole. As with other targeted methods, thorough mixing with the surrounding soil is important to ensure even nutrient distribution. This ensures that the nutrients reach the root zone immediately, resulting in rapid initial growth, highly efficient nutrient uptake and reduced losses.

Organo-mineral fertilisers such as DCM MIX 5 are particularly well suited for this application method, as they release nutrients gradually, with little risk of root burn.

In practice, precision fertilisation can lead to fertiliser savings of 20 to 30%, without compromising plant quality..

4. Reducing nutrient leaching

Leaching is a major cause of nutrient loss in open-field cultivation. Nitrogen, in particular, can be washed out of the root zone during periods of heavy rainfall.

The type of fertiliser used plays a decisive role in this process.

- Mineral fertilisers contain nutrients in a readily soluble form. While they are quickly available to plants, they are also more susceptible to leaching, leading to fertiliser losses and a higher environmental impact.

- With organic and organo-mineral fertilisers, nutrients are largely bound to organic matter. Under the influence of soil organisms, they are released gradually over time.

This results in:

A gradual nutrient release
Fewer nitrogen peaks
A reduced risk of leaching

The soil itself also influences leaching losses. Soils with higher organic matter and clay content have a higher cation exchange capacity (CEC). This enables them to retain nutrients such as potassium, magnesium and ammonium more effectively, making them less susceptible to leaching outside the root zone.

5. Soil life enhances nutrient use efficiency

A healthy soil life therefore plays a key role in efficient fertilisation. Bacteria, fungi and earthworms break down organic matter, make nutrients available to plants and improve soil structure. Improved soil structure allows roots to develop better and enables plants to absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. Organic fertilisers not only supply nutrients but also provide energy for soil organisms. An active soil life therefore translates into higher returns from the same fertiliser input.

Tip: Within fertiliser regulations, organic fertilisers are often assessed more favourably than mineral fertilisers. Always consult local fertiliser legislation and adapt your fertilisation strategy accordingly.

In practice

Tree nursery grower Geert Coppens has been successfully applying row fertilisation with DCM MIX 5 in his open-field crops for several years now. This approach delivers clear benefits.

In practice: less fertiliser, equally good results

More return from every kilogram of fertiliser

The future of fertilisation in tree nurseries does not lie in increasing inputs, but in smarter fertilisation. By focusing on split applications, targeted placement, well-considered timing, organic fertilisers and active soil life, nutrient use efficiency can be significantly improved. The result? Stronger growth, lower fertiliser use, reduced costs and less environmental impact.

This approach perfectly aligns with DCM's vision: investing in soil fertility while supporting tree nurseries with efficient and sustainable fertilisation solutions.

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Brief Summary

By splitting nitrogen applications, carefully timing fertilisation according to the growth stage, selecting fertiliser types smartly and applying them in a targeted way close to the roots. This allows plants to absorb nutrients more efficiently and reduces nutrient losses.

They release nutrients gradually through the soil life, ensuring that nutrient availability is more in line with crop growth. This reduces nitrogen peaks and lowers the risk of leaching.

Soils with active soil life, sufficient organic matter and a good cation exchange capacity (CEC) can retain nutrients and make them available more effectively. As a result, plants can absorb water and nutrients more efficiently.