ELABORATION OF A FERTILIZATION PLAN: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

This study presents a fertilization plan in Zadareni, Arad County, Romania, on an area of 113 ha cultivated with soybean and maize. The identified soils were mostly chernozem (108 ha) and eutricambosol (5 ha). Twenty-three soil samples were collected and, based on the soil analyses performed in the laboratory and on the specific consumption by the plants as kg/ha active substance, a series of calculations were made regarding the need for fertilizers for the two crops. A fertilisation plan was then elaborated taking into account the need for fertilizers on each plot, depending on area, soil type, soil properties, and crop. Results highlighted the fact that, on chernozem, there was a good content in humus, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and copper, with restrictions only in texture, clay-clayey, and the content in magnesium found in excess, which can raise problems in the development of plants, with the risk plant phytotoxicity. On eutricambosol, the content in humus, magnesium and copper was good, with restrictions only in texture, clay, and the content in manganese found in excess, along with a poor phosphorus supply, which requires the application of larger quantities of phosphorus fertilizers. In conclusion, the two types of soil identified have good features; however, on some plots, the soil has a poorly alkaline reaction, which requires the application of gypsum amendments, a poor supply with humus, which requires organic fertilization, and manganese in excess, hindering the development of plants.