Technical note (TN734): Fertiliser recommendations for vegetables, minority arable crops and bulbs

Summary

Vegetables and some of the minority crops can have a high value.
Production costs are also often high, with fertilisers accounting for a very small percentage of variable costs.
Fertilisers should be applied at rates that are likely to result in the maximum yield of crops of acceptable quality, whilst ensuring protection of the surrounding environment.
Nitrogen (N) recommendations for these crops have been updated in the light of recent trials results and advisory experience.
Tables that take account of N released from previous crop residues, grass leys and N available from reserves in different soil types have been updated.
A soil specific approach to P management is presented that considers the relationship between differing soils capacity to regulate P availability for plant uptake.
N recommendations take account of NVZ Action Programme rules and Nmax and will minimise losses of N to the environment.
Recommendations are given for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulphur, sodium, boron, copper, manganese and molybdenum.