Understanding Fertiliser Schedules
What You’ll Learn
Base your fertiliser rates on a soil test rather than guessing — it saves money and prevents costly imbalances.
Splitting applications across growth stages is far more efficient than adding everything at planting.
Over-fertilising wastes money, can burn roots, and risks contaminating groundwater.
Why Timing Matters
Your crops need different nutrients at different moments in their growth. Phosphorus is critical at planting to drive root development, nitrogen powers vegetative growth, and potassium lifts fruit quality and shelf life. Apply the right nutrient at the right time and you maximise uptake while wasting very little.
Planting and Establishment
At planting, apply a phosphorus-rich fertiliser such as DAP (18:46:0) at 150 kg per hectare, placed directly in the planting hole. Phosphorus moves very little in the soil, so getting it close to young roots is essential. This gives seedlings the energy for rapid root establishment and strong early growth.
Vegetative and Flowering Stages
About 3 weeks after transplanting, top-dress with a nitrogen source like CAN (26:0:0) at approximately 200 kg per hectare to fuel leaf and stem growth. At flowering, switch to a balanced fertiliser such as NPK 17:17:17 at 200 kg per hectare to support both continued growth and fruit set. During fruit development, apply Sulphate of Potash at 150 kg per hectare to improve fruit quality and storage life.
The Importance of Soil Testing
A soil test tells you precisely which nutrients your soil holds and which it is short of — eliminating expensive guesswork. Many farmers over-apply one nutrient while their crops quietly starve for another. Test every two to three seasons and adjust your programme accordingly — it can cut fertiliser costs by 20 to 30% while actually improving your yields.