Fertilizer Composition and Equipment Calibration

1
CLT Preparation Workshops
Fertilizer Composition and Equipment Calibration
2
Acknowledgements

• Clackamas Community College in partnership with
  Oregon Landscape Contractors Association
  
• Certified Landscape Technician 2002-2003 State
  of Oregon Grant Project
  
• The State of Oregon administering the Department
  of Labor Workforce Investment Act Funds by acting
  through its Department of Community Colleges and
  Workforce Investment Council of Clackamas County
• Ken DeSantis, CLP, CLT of DeSantis Landscaping

3
Informational Material

• PLANETs Maintenance Training Manual
• Local community college classes

4
Learning Objectives

• Upon completion of this class, you will be able
  to
  
• Describe the properties of granular and liquid
  fertilizers.
  
• Apply granular and liquid chemicals.
• Calibrate spreaders and sprayers.
• Determine fertilizer formulations.
• Factors to consider when putting together a
  fertilization program.
  
• Identify timing for fertilizer application.
• Determine amount of fertilizer to apply.

5
Introduction

• Importance of turf chemicals.  
• Turf chemicals include both fertilizers and
  pesticides/fungicides.
  
•  Handling and applying turf chemicals.

6
Dry vs. Liquid Chemicals

• Granular Chemicals
• Liquid Chemicals

7
Turf Chemical Applicators

• Spreader
• Sprayer

8
Spreader Types

• Drop spreaders
• Broadcast spreaders

9
Operating a Spreader

• Filling the spreader.
• Applying the fertilizer.

10
Calibrating a Spreader

• To calibrate a spreader, determine the amount of
  granules the spreader distributes over a measured
  area.
  
• For example, calculate the square footage of
• 5 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of turf.

11
Calibrating a Spreader

• 1.  Read the product label and the spreaders
  product manual.
  
• 2.  Measure and mark off an area of lawn.  
• 3.  Weigh a quantity of the product and add it to
  the hopper.
  
• 4. Apply the product to measured area.
• 5.  Weigh the remaining product in the hopper.
• 6.  Calculate the application rate in lbs. per
  1000 sq. ft.

12
Spreader Maintenance

• Always read the product label for cleanup
  instructions and wear appropriate personal
  protective equipment while cleaning the
  spreader.
• Typical cleanup procedures are as follows
• 1. Return any remaining product back into the
  original packaging.
  
• 2. Place the spreader on a lawn area for
  cleaning.
  
• 3. Remove any debris from the openings.
• 4. Rinse well with a garden hose.
• 5. Lubricate moving parts.

13
Fertilizers

• Purpose of fertilizers
• 3 macronutrients  
• Nitrogen  
• Phosphorus  
• Potassium

14
Complete Fertilizers

• Fertilizer labeling.
• Fertilizer program factors
• safety awareness
• turf type
• climate
• soil type
• wear-and-tear
• desired turf quality

15
Fertilizer Program Factors

• Turf type
• Climate

16
Fertilizer Program Factors

• Soil type
• sandy soils
• clay soils
• Wear-and-Tear
• Desired turf quality

17
When to Fertilize

• How often to fertilize.
• Warm season grasses.
• Cool season grasses.
• When not to fertilize.

18
Fertilization Rates
After selecting a fertilizer formulation, you
need to determine how much fertilizer to apply.

• Soil test.
• Nitrogen.
• Phosphorus and potassium.
• Apply ¼ as much phosphorus and ½ as much
  potassium as nitrogen.

19
Calculating the Amount of Fertilizer to Apply.

• 1. Determine the desired rate of nitrogen per
  application.
  
• 2. Divide by the percent nitrogen of the
  fertilizer.  
  
• 3. Divide your lawn size by 1000 and multiply the
  result by the lbs. of fertilizer per 1000 sq. ft.
  calculated in step 2.
  
• Example
• Lawn size 5000 sq. ft.
• Fertilizer formulation 20-4-8
• Desired rate of nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. 1.25
  lbs.
  
• 1.25/.20 6.25 lbs. of fertilizer per 1000 sq.
  ft.
  
• (5000/1000) x 6.25 31.25 lbs. 
• An application of 31.25 lbs. of 20-4-8 fertilizer
  on this lawn provides 1.25 lbs. of nitrogen per
  1000 sq. ft.

 
20
Applying Fertilizer

• More fertilizer application considerations
• Distribute fertilizer uniformly over a lawn.
• After fertilizing with granular fertilizer, water
  according to instructions on product package.
  
• Seasonal requirements.

21
Safety

• Always read the label first.
• Always wear your PPEs.
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Dust mask
• Gloves
• Eye protection

22
Learning Objectives Review

• Describe the properties of granular and liquid
  chemicals.
  
• Explain how to apply granular and liquid
  chemicals.
  
• Demonstrate how to calibrate spreaders and
  sprayers.
  
• How do you determine fertilizer formulations?
• What are the factors to consider when putting
  together a fertilization program?
  
• When should you fertilize?
• How much should you fertilize?

23
What have you learned today?

• Before you leave today
• Complete the post-class test to help us determine
  how effective the class has been.
  
• Fill out the evaluation form.
• Thank you and good luck on the CLT test!