Fertiliser Essentials is a deep dive into the importance of fertiliser management to a successful farming enterprise. Whether your primary business is cropping, grazing, or horticulture... there is something for you. Whether you use manufactured or natural fertilisers... there is something for you. And whether you apply fertilisers using a tractor or a drone... there is something for you. Fertiliser Essentials is the quintessential reference work for fertiliser use in Australia in the early 21st Century. Beautifully designed and extensively referenced, it is a must-read for anyone working or interested in modern agriculture. In full colour and 224 pages. Originally produced in the mid 1990s, Fertiliser Essentials is the fifth edition of this seminal publication. The fifth edition is divided into four sections: 1. Soils and fertilisers 2. Major elements 3. Micronutrients and natural fertilisers 4. Equipment, precision and calculations The aims of the book are: · to give land managers a basic knowledge of the principles of fertiliser use · to show how these principles can be used in growing crops and pastures. The book covers some horticultural and viticultural topics, but these are not dealt with in detail · to examine the environmental effects of fertilisers · to briefly introduce alternatives to traditional fertiliser strategies. TABLE OF CONTENTS Part 1 Soils and fertilisers Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Safety Chapter 3. Understanding fertiliser terms Chapter 4. Soil testing Chapter 5. Healthy soils and nutrient management Chapter 6. Acid soils and the pH connection Chapter 7. Plant nutrition Chapter 8. Possible crop nutrition problems Part 2 major elements Chapter 9. The major element Nitrogen Chapter 10. Nitrogen in pastures Chapter 11. Nitrogen for crops Chapter 12. The major element Phosphorus Chapter 13. Phosphorus for pastures Chapter 14. Phosphorus for crops Chapter 15. The major element Potassium Chapter 16. The major element Sulfur Part 3 micronutrients and natural fertilisers Chapter 17. Micronutrients Chapter 18. The micronutrient Molybdenum Chapter 19. The micronutrient Boron Chapter 20. The micronutrient Zinc Chapter 21. The micronutrient Selenium Chapter 22. The micronutrient Cobalt Chapter 23. The micronutrient Copper Chapter 24. The micronutrient Manganese Chapter 25. The micronutrient chlorine Chapter 26. The micronutrient Iron Chapter 27. Naturally-derived fertilisers Part 4 equipment, precision and calculations Chapter 28. Application equipment Chapter 29. Precision Agriculture Chapter 30. Calculating fertiliser costs and rates Chapter 31. Scenarios Chapter 32. Nutrient program checklist Glossary Appendix 1. Managing work health and safety (WHS) risks Appendix 2. Relative tolerance of various crops and pastures to acid soils Appendix 3. Relative tolerance of crops and pastures to soil salinity Appendix 4. Fertiliser manufacturer product card Appendix 5. Nutrient removal by crops# Appendix 6 Legume inoculant groups Appendix 7. Bout width and application rate Appendix 8. Industry organisations Appendix 9. Record templates

The soil - plant growth situation; Nitrogen - The keystone of protein; Sulfur - essential for protein; Phosphorus - the key to life; Multinutrient fertilizers; Potassium - the catalyst; Calcium, magnesium and finely ground limestone; Micronutrients - for healthy plant growth; Protein - organic wastes; The fertilizer situation in the United States, 1973-1985; Wetland soil fertility; Fertilizer basics - an autotutorial laboratory exercise.

Introduction: Fertilizers in a changing world; Soil fertility: past and present; Growth and the factors affecting it; Elements required in plant nutrition; Basic soil-plant relationships; Soil and fertilizer nitrogen; Soil and fertilizer phosphorus; Soil and fertilizer potassium, magnesium, calcium and sodium; Sulfur and microelements in soils and fertilizers; Manufacture of nitrogen, phosphorius and potassium fertilizers; The manufacture and properties of mixed fertilizers; Liming; Soil fertility evaluation; Fundamentals of fertilizer application; Cropping systems and soil management; Economics and efficient use of water; Attacking soil fertility problems.

Agriculture extension work requires more than good intentions and rapport with farmers. The real challenge is usually establishing credibility in the agriculture skills area. Agriculture at the small farmer level in a developing country is a complex endeavor. Farmers have much they can teach you when it comes to land preparation, planting, harvesting, using tools, and other manual skills. Likewise, there are many yield boosting skills you can show them, especially in the areas of soil conservation, organic and chemical fertilizer use, and the safe and appropriate use of agricultural chemicals. This manual has been designed as an on-the-job reference for soil management and fertilizer use; hopefully, it will help along that sometimes bumpy road to credibility.

Rationale for the need of fertilizers (increase of production and increase of farm income); Nutrients - their role for the plant and their sources; Soils; Fertilizer recommendations for selected crops according to their needs; The importance of balanced fertilization; Fertilizers, their appearance, quality, labeling; Calculation of fertilizer rates; How to apply fertilizers; Hot to determine fertilizer needs; Other factors limiting crop yields; Fertilizer extension work.