Foliar Fertilizer: Yes or No?

Foliar fertilization provides an immediate nutritional boost to crops, which promotes better yield. However, it is important to note that foliar-applied fertilizer is not a replacement for soil-applied fertilizer, according to Anna Blazek, Federated’s Rush City location manager.
 
Blazek noted four principles to understand when deciding on foliar fertilization. Consider the 4Rs:

1. Right source – Ensure that you are applying the correct type of fertilizer, from the right source.
2. Right Rate – Remember that foliar fertilizers are used at a much lower rate than soil applied fertilizer and can be 8 to 10 times more effective as the amount of nutrients required.
3. Right Time- Typically, apply foliar fertilizer with post emergence herbicides.
4. Right Place- Foliar fertilizer is most effective when it makes contact and stays on the crop leaf.

There’s basically only one way to ascertain whether a crop needs foliar fertilization: by tissue sampling. The results of a tissue test reveal what the crop specifically needs as the season progresses.
 
Crops need their nutrients at specific points in the growing season, and foliar applications can help provide the right nutrients at the right time. Federated has a variety of foliar fertilizer products to help address those needs.
 
Talk to your Federated Agronomist for help with tissue sampling or interpreting tissue test results.