Here is a short list of advantages of both fertilizer types. Equipment: The cost of converting equipment to handle liquid fertilizer can be an obstacle.Consistency: The nutrient content is identical in every drop of liquid fertilizer, while granulars have individual nutrient components in each granule.Liquids are often preferred for “starter.” Salt content: Granular fertilizers can be “hot.” Roots can steer away from a band of granular fertilizer that contains high levels of nitrogen and potassium.In liquid form, they are more mobile in the soil water solution. Less mobile nutrients like phosphorus can’t get closer than the individual granule containing them. Spatial: The distance from plant roots to fertilizer nutrients.Foliar applications are a good way to correct mid-season deficiencies or supplement soil applied nutrients.Īlthough there is no difference in the total amount of nutrients supplied by either granular or liquid fertilizer for a specified plant nutrient application, there are differences: However, the availability of foliar applied nutrients is short-lived and not continuous for the rest of the growing season. When foliar applied, the plant nutrients are absorbed through the leaves and are more readily available for plant use than if ground applied. Liquids can be broadcast, used in a band application at planting and as mid-season sidedress.

They can be either ground applied or foliar applied. Liquid fertilizers have greatly increased in popularity in recent years. If all goes well, this can result in more profitable crop production.

When farmers have access to custom blended granular fertilizer, they can fine-tune their crop fertility program and potentially improve crop production efficiency. Dry fertilizers can be ground applied as a broadcast applied at planting as a band, often placed 2 inches to the side and 2 inches below the seed (2-by-2 placement) or applied as sidedress and cultivated shallowly into the soil. Fertilizer blends can be created by mixing individual granular fertilizer of known analysis (e.g., 46-0-0, 18-46-0 and 0-0-60) in the proper ratio to create the desired blend. One logical way to look at them is as “granulars” and “liquids.” For the purposes of this comparison, anhydrous ammonia (technically a liquid) will not be considered.ĭry fertilizers are generally incorporated into granules. There are several ways to categorize fertilizers.