Utilizing nutrient budgeting will allow Florida farmers to apply the right amount of fertilizer at the right time, two of the 4Rs.
“Water is key to nutrient uptake. It is also the limiting factor when it is absent since nutrient movement cannot happen from the soil to the root,” shared a UF/IFAS blog. This is important for Florida crops considering the drought conditions that much of the state is dealing with; the blog suggests Florida farmers and ranchers utilize nutrient budgeting to “make decisions moving forward as it relates to growing crops, gardening and even forage production for your livestock.” See the details below.
Nutrient Budgeting Defined
According to the article, nutrient budgeting is “the action of keeping track of what nutrients are in your system, what your crop needs, and what leaves the field. It’s not about applying more fertilizer—it’s about applying the right amount at the right time.”
The article explained further with “Our soils tend to be low in organic matter and highly permeable (water does not stay in the same place for long). This results in nutrients—especially nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) moving quickly below the root zone if we’re not careful. That’s not just a loss in efficiency; it’s also a loss to your bottom line and a potential environmental concern. Hence, we recommend that multiple small applications happen throughout the growing season taking into consideration the nature of your specific crop.”
Steps to Nutrient Budgeting
The blog article shared these steps:
“Step 1: Start with your soil (“nutrient account balance”)
Routine soil testing is one of the most valuable tools available to Florida growers. Sampling at a consistent depth (typically around 6 inches) and dividing fields into representative zones gives you a clearer picture of variability across your operation. Soil test results will reveal information on pH and key nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Soil pH (acidity level) is especially important. If your pH is out of range, nutrients may be present in the soil but unavailable to the plant. As UF/IFAS guidance often emphasizes, keeping pH in an optimal range ensures nutrients can be taken up by crops…
Step 2: Match nutrients to crop demand
Once you know your “nutrient account balance”, the next step is aligning it with crop requirements.
UF/IFAS recommendations are designed specifically for Florida conditions and should be your starting point. These recommendations consider realistic yield goals and existing soil nutrient levels. But don’t stop there, remember to account for all nutrient sources.
That includes:
- Previous fertilizer applications
- Organic amendments (manure, compost)
- Cover crops
- Nutrients from irrigation water
These sources can contribute to meeting some, or even all of the nutrient requirements of the crop. But again, if you don’t know the nutritional content of manure, for example, and you apply it to your field, you may under or over apply essential nutrients, thus potentially affecting yields and your pocketbook.
Step 3: Track nutrient outputs (what leaves the field)
Here’s a piece that often gets underestimated: nutrients don’t just disappear; they leave with your harvest.
Every crop removes nutrients from the soil. If those nutrients are not replaced, soil fertility declines over time. This is why nutrient removal rates matter. Knowing how much nutrient leaves per acre allows you to close the loop and maintain long-term productivity.
How do you determine this? You can estimate the nutrients lost in harvest by monitoring the soil at the end of the growing season.
Step 4: Recognize losses beyond harvest
Not all nutrient losses are visible.
In Florida, leaching is one of the biggest challenges. Sandy soils allow water—and dissolved nutrients—to move quickly through the profile. Excess irrigation or heavy rainfall can push nutrients below the root zone before plants can use them.
Runoff can also carry nutrients away from the field, especially during intense storms.
This is where Best Management Practices (BMPs) come into play:
- Proper irrigation scheduling
- Split fertilizer applications
- Cover cropping
- Mulching to conserve moisture and nutrients
Each of these helps keep nutrients where they belong—in the root zone.”
Our second blog looks at tips and the role of water.
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.