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- Make sure you only buy known products from reputable dealers.
- Only buy sealed packages of fertilizer that bear their original label and brand.
- You should know what you need, so that you buy the right product to address your problem.
- Testing your soil will help you find what nutrients you need to add. Testing can be carried out at Kawanda and other research institutions. The will save you money.
- Seek the services of extension workers if you can’t do the testing yourself.
- Always keep the container and receipt of your fertilizer or any other farm input purchased.
- Do not apply fertilizer during rain or if heavy rain is expected soon after planting because they will be washed away.
- Avoid application of top dressing fertilisers early in the morning. Do it in the afternoon to avoid losing it as the dew sets.
- Do not mix fertilisers with seeds particulary with high-soluble fertilisers such as urea, AS and CAN because they will affect their germination.
- A small amount od fertilizer is applied during planting, while large applications are made later as top dressing for most crops. In most cases, the ratio is about 50kg of DAP per acre. However, check the measurement properly.
- Fertilisers are best placed at least 5cm below and on one side of the seed. The fertilizer are covered with soil, before the seed is planted above them so that roots can eventually grow down and pick the nutrients.
