Information Package / Course Catalogue
Fertilization of Field Crops
Course Code: TBB413
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 1
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 4
Objectives of the Course

The aim of this course is to provide students with the ability to prepare practical fertilization programs for field crops by jointly evaluating target yield, soil and plant analyses, nutrient removal, organic and chemical fertilizer sources, application timing and methods, and crop quality relationships.

Course Content

Decision-making based on target yield and analyses in field crop fertilization; evaluation of the use of farmyard manure, compost, and green manure; fertilizer labels and selection of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and compound fertilizers; fertilizer application timing, dose, and method; preparation of stage-based fertilization programs for major field crops such as wheat, barley, maize, and cotton; evaluation of fertilization in terms of yield, quality, economic feasibility, and environmental sustainability.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.Evaluates target yield, soil and plant analyses, nutrient removal, and growing conditions that form the basis of fertilization decisions in field crops.
2.Selects farmyard manure, compost, green manure, and chemical fertilizer sources according to purpose, timing, and application conditions in field crops.
3.Determines the application timing, method, and dose of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and compound fertilizers according to crop, soil, and irrigation conditions.
4.Prepares stage-based and integrated fertilization programs for major field crops such as wheat, barley, maize, and cotton.
5.Evaluates the outcomes of fertilization in terms of yield, quality, economic feasibility, environmental risk, and sustainability.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.IFA, 1992. World Fertilizer Use Manual.Int. Fert. Assoc. Paris.
2.Kacar, B., Katkat, A.V., 2007. Gübreler ve Gübreleme. 2. Baskı. Nobel Yayınları, Ankara.
3.Fageri, N.K., Baligar, V.C., and Jones, C.A., 1997. Growth and Mineral Nutrition of Field Crops. 2nd Ed. Marcel Dekker Inc. New York.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Fertilization decision process; target yield, production purpose, nutrient removal, and the role of fertilizer use in field crop productivity
Week 1 - Practice
Interpreting the contribution of fertilization to production using long-term fertilizer experiment results and fertilizer consumption data
Week 2 - Theoretical
Fertilization decisions based on soil and plant analyses; sampling, analysis parameters, and identification of limiting factors
Week 2 - Practice
Evaluating N, P, K, pH, lime, salinity, and micronutrient risks using sample soil and leaf analysis results
Week 3 - Theoretical
Use of farmyard manure in field crops; nutrient contribution, quality, storage, maturity, and application decision
Week 3 - Practice
Calculating application rate and mineral fertilizer dose reduction according to farmyard manure nutrient content
Week 4 - Theoretical
Decision for compost use; raw material, C/N ratio, moisture, temperature, maturity, hygiene, and field application conditions
Week 4 - Practice
Evaluation of different compost materials in terms of suitability, maturity, salinity, and risks
Week 5 - Theoretical
Decision criteria for green manuring; crop selection, sowing time, incorporation stage, nitrogen contribution, and crop rotation relationships
Week 5 - Practice
Selecting green manure crops, estimating expected N contribution, and calculating its effect on the main crop fertilization program
Week 6 - Theoretical
Chemical fertilizer selection; label reading, N-P2O5-K2O expression, physical forms, and pure nutrient calculation
Week 6 - Practice
Practices on calculating pure N, P2O5, P, K2O, and K amounts from fertilizer labels
Week 7 - Theoretical
Decision for nitrogen fertilizer use; nitrogen forms, soil behavior, loss risks, split application, and crop growth stages
Week 7 - Practice
Selection of CAN, ammonium sulfate, urea, and other nitrogen fertilizers according to soil pH, rainfall-irrigation, and crop stage
Week 8 - Theoretical
Decision for phosphorus fertilizer use; solubility, soil pH, lime, phosphorus fixation, band placement, and starter fertilization
Week 8 - Practice
Comparison of phosphorus fertilizers such as TSP, DAP, and MAP under calcareous and acidic soil conditions
Week 9 - Theoretical
Decision for potassium and compound fertilizer use; K source selection, chloride sensitivity, sulfur contribution, fertigation, and quality relationships
Week 9 - Practice
Selection of K2SO4, KNO3, KCl, and compound fertilizers according to crop sensitivity, irrigation system, and quality targets
Week 10 - Theoretical
Wheat and barley fertilization I; preceding crop, plant density, tillering, basal fertilization, and early nitrogen management
Week 10 - Practice
Planning basal fertilization and tillering-stage topdressing in wheat according to target yield, preceding crop, and soil analysis. Quiz exam
Week 11 - Theoretical
Wheat and barley fertilization II; stem elongation, late nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, lodging, disease, and quality targets
Week 11 - Practice
Preparing stage based fertilization programs for bread and durum wheat according to yield and quality targets
Week 12 - Theoretical
Maize fertilization; target yield, C4 physiology, grain-silage purpose, N-P-K-Zn requirement, split application, and fertigation
Week 12 - Practice
Preparing a target-yield-based fertilization program for maize according to sowing, hilling, and irrigation periods
Week 13 - Theoretical
Cotton fertilization; pH, lime, salinity, organic matter, texture, CEC, N-P-K-micronutrients, and fiber quality
Week 13 - Practice
Preparing N, P2O5, K2O, and micronutrient programs in cotton according to soil constraints and target seed cotton yield
Week 14 - Theoretical
Integrated fertilization program in field crops; joint evaluation of organic sources, mineral fertilizers, analyses, economic dose, and environmental risks
Week 14 - Practice
Preparation and presentation of a full-season practical fertilization program for wheat, maize, or cotton. Course Participation and Performance Assessment
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Attending Lectures1%5
Quiz1%5
Midterm Examination1%30
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory141242
Lecture - Practice142142
Quiz1101
Midterm Examination1516
Final Examination1819
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)100
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
OÇ-1
4
4
2
3
2
3
4
OÇ-2
3
3
2
2
2
2
3
4
OÇ-3
4
5
3
2
3
2
4
4
OÇ-4
4
5
4
3
4
2
3
3
2
4
4
OÇ-5
3
4
3
3
2
3
3
4
5
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026