Fertilizing carrots with well-rotted manure during the autumn primary tillage is desirable as it provides essential nutrients and ensures favorable soil structure.
Soil Preparation for Carrots
Primary autumn soil preparation involves plowing to a depth of about 25 – 30 cm. During the autumn tillage, well-rotted manure is incorporated into the soil. If a later sowing is planned (for autumn and winter consumption), spring soil preparation is also possible.
Soil preparation for carrots depends on the preceding crop and includes shallow summer plowing after crops that leave the soil early, and plowing during autumn, or a single deep autumn plowing after crops that leave the soil in autumn.
Supplementary tillage should ensure a loose surface layer to allow for uniform seed germination. Uniform germination ensures equal growth for all plants.
Fertilizing Carrots
Do not fertilize with fresh manure, as the undecomposed organic matter (straw) can contribute to irregular root growth (branching) and may also encourage carrot fly infestation.
Mineral fertilization of carrots is based on soil analysis and planned yield. Approximately 800 kg/ha of NPK 7 – 20 – 30 + Fe + Zn and 200 kg/ha of Urea (46% N) are applied before sowing.
During the growing season, top-dressing with CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate) is done at a rate of 300 kg/ha.
*A quick soil analysis can be conducted using handheld measuring instruments designed for this purpose, to determine soil pH and the levels of primary nutrients NPK.
