Fertiliser Evaluation

The purpose of an evaluation can be manyfold. The focus is often on the effects of different fertilisers on a sward and soil, as well as comparing management and environmental impacts and outcomes. Different types of evaluation might include:
• Comparing the cost of a unit of a particular nutrient, for example £x per 1kg of nitrogen.
• The extent of the typical release period for a nutrient, for example, 50% released in the first 4 weeks, then 50% between weeks 4 and 8. This may also include a cost comparison, so for one fertiliser it might be £x per week of release (over 8-weeks), whilst for another it might be £2x per week of release (but over 12-weeks).
• What impact does the fertiliser have on the quality of the sward surface? Grass species composition; weed content; disease incidence; colour; growth rate; etc.
• What impact does the fertiliser have on the soil? Soil pH; other nutrient availability; soil fauna / micro-organisms; root growth; etc.
• What is the leaching potential for the fertiliser?
• What a is the size of fertiliser particles? This will relate to how suitable they may be for different heights of cut.
• What environmental conditions are needed, for example, soil moisture content or temperature, for optimum release of nutrients.
• How much of an impact does or did the fertiliser contribute to pitch carrying capacity?
• What is the carbon footprint of the fertiliser?
• What is the potential maintenance time and cost saving form using the fertiliser compared with a different fertiliser?