Fertiliser rates, methods, timing and effectiveness
To enrich soil with nutrients, special plants (alfalfa, white and yellow clover) are sown on some fields and then ploughed in: these are green manures. Organic fertilisers are waste of living organisms; they improve soil structure and, used at the right rate, are considered safer for the land’s ecology. All crops get manure or compost; fresh manure goes to cucumbers, rotted manure to the rest. After harvest the top layer of soil is loosened, which keeps moisture and destroys weeds. Fertiliser is applied during ploughing: the soil is ploughed to 20–35 cm and the fertiliser is mixed in. There are three application methods: before sowing (main), at sowing (a small amount in the rows or holes) and after sowing (feeding during growth). The rate depends on the crop and soil; applying too much on your own harms both crop and soil. Safety: adults apply fertiliser, especially chemical fertiliser; children do not touch it without gloves.
Table: write the three methods in a 3-column table and give one example for each. No actual fertiliser is applied.