Michigan State University Extension
Soils & Soil Management - Fertilizer - 06209713
07/10/97
Fluid Fertilizers--Liquids and Suspensions MSU Ag Facts Extension Bulletin E-933, December 1984, Revised, destroy previous editions
by R. E. Lucas and M. L. Vitosh, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
A gallon of liquid fertilizer weighs about 11 pounds. Thus, a gallon of 5-20-5 analysis has about « pound of nitrogen, 2 pounds of phosphate and « pound of potash. Except possibly for a starter benefit, do not expect wonders from a few gallons per acre. In midseason, rapidly growing crops such as corn will take up 4 to 7 pounds of plant nutrients per acre daily. The total nutrient uptake for a 1 30-bushel corn crop is about 175 pounds of nitrogen, 70 pounds of phosphate and 160 pounds of potash. Some products on the market are recommended at rates of only 1 to 2 quarts of N-P-K fertilizer per acre. Obviously, this is not enough to meet crop needs. A good fertilizer program takes into account the plant nutrient uptake of the crop, the soil test and the expected economic return.