When should fertilizer applications be avoided?

Fertilizer applications should be avoided during heavy rainfall, low humidity, and drought periods due to several reasons related to effectiveness and environmental impact.

When heavy rainfall occurs, the risk of runoff increases, leading to potential nutrient leaching into waterways rather than being absorbed by plants. This not only wastes fertilizer but also contributes to water pollution and issues such as algal blooms.

In low humidity, moisture levels in the air are insufficient for the efficient uptake of nutrients by plants. If plants are not able to effectively absorb nutrients due to low humidity, applying fertilizer is counterproductive since the plants are stressed and unable to utilize the fertilizer efficiently.

During drought periods, plants often experience stress and reduced growth, which means they are not in an optimal state to absorb nutrients. Applying fertilizer during such times can lead to further stress on the plants and can also result in nutrient runoff if irrigation is used later on without adequate moisture retention in the soil.

Thus, avoiding fertilizer applications during these circumstances ensures that the nutrients are utilized effectively and minimizes negative environmental impacts.