Appendix 3. Crop Fertilization

Nutrient Management Practices

Fertility management is particularly important in the quality and maturity of horticultural crops. For example, in vegetables, soil tests were conducted on at least 24% of the acreage and dry fertilizer was broadcast and incorporated on 92% of acres. Manure was used on 1% of the crops, mostly from beef feedlots, at the rate of 7 tons per acre. Fertilization practices are summarized below, with some comparisons with soil test recommendations from the Texas AgriLife Extension Service (recommended applications are emphasized).

Table 22. Summary of green industry segments, number of operators, and gross sales in Texas (1997 data from USDA)
Crops Average Number of Applications Nitrogen Phosophorous
Percent of Acres Pounds applied per Acre Percent of Acres Pounds applied per Acre
Vegetable crops
Broccoli 1.1 to 1.9 100 80 to 150 85 95 to 140
Cabbage 1.1 to 2.1 98 90 to 130 90 100 to 115
Carrots 1.1 to 2.1 98 90 to 130 85 90 to 175
Corn – sweet recommended 1.1 to 2.4 99 120 to 140 120 86 40 to 60 85
Cucumber recommended 1.4 to 1.6 96 80 to 170 80 90 60 to 100 85
Onions recommended 1.7 100 90 to 200 100 80 80 to 100 105
Peppers – bell recommended 1.6 98 80 to 160 120 75 85 to 110 85
Spinach 1.0 96 110 to 170 90 90 to 160
Watermelons 2.2 97 65 to 90 94 50 to 70
Tree crops
Grapefruit 1.1 99 100 to 120 26 30 to 40
Peaches 1.4 74 80 to 100 60 70 to 80
Pecans (improved) 1.7 46 120 to 160 23 40 to 60

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