PROPER USE OF
​FERTILIZERS

WHY SHOULD i BE CONCERNED?

Excessive application rates, spills in storage areas, and seemingly insignificant spills during mixing and loading can lead to fertilizer movement into surface or ground waters. If contamination reaches drinking water sources, nitrates in the fertilizer can pose serious health risks-especially for infants and young livestock. In addition to health concerns, laws governing nutrients in surface water are being more strictly enforced than in the past. This is in part because fertilizer runoff into surface water can cause excess algae growth and result in fish kills.
Proper storage, handling and application of fertilizers on farmsteads or acreages are essential to protect water sources from chemical contamination.  Find out more about storing, mixing, cleaning up after and managing fertilizers to protect your water resources. 
  • STORING FERTILIZERS
  • MIXING & LOADING FERTILIZERS
  • SPILL CLEAN UP  & DISPOSAL
  • FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT
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STORE FERTILIZERS PROPERLY TO PROTECT YOUR WATER

STORAGE
If stored safely and in a secure location, fertilizers pose little danger of contaminating ground or surface water. Store fertilizers in a secure, well-marked, and well-ventilated location that is safe from children, livestock, and vandalism. The best storage is in a covered area that provides secondary containment in case of spills. Secondary containment should include curbing around an impermeable (water tight) floor with no drain. At the very least, fertilizer should be stored on an impervious surface and protected from rain, snow or flooding.
When storing fertilizer, also remember to:  
  • Label and keep records on fertilizer products for easy identification and tracking.
  • Store fertilizers away from flame, points of ignition, fuels, and water sources.
  • Consider the potential for flooding, fire, or other disasters before storing fertilizers.

MIXING AND LOADING PRACTICES FOR FERTILIZERS

MIXING & LOADING PRACTICES
Depending on the size of your operation, you should consider using a mixing and loading pad.   The figure above shows one common design that minimizes fertilizer transport by placing storage areas close to mixing and loading areas. This design also provides an impermeable surface allows rinse water to drain to a sump, where rinsate can be pumped into storage tanks and used for the next load. For dry fertilizers, the loading pad provides a solid surface so spilled fertilizer can easily be swept up and reused. The mixing pad should be large enough to park equipment on with sufficient room to catch spilled fertilizer and water from washing and rinsing.
MIXING & LOADING PRACTICES WITHOUT AN IMPERMEABLE PAD
To contain spills, it is best to mix and load fertilizer on an impermeable surface, such as sealed concrete. If you don’t have an impermeable mixing and loading pad, you can minimize water contamination by following some basic guidelines:
  • Avoid mixing and loading fertilizers near your well head or surface waters. With liquid fertilizers use a nurse tank to transport water to the mixing and loading site. 
  •  Move mixing site from year to year (within the field of application). 
  • Avoid mixing and loading on gravel driveways or sandy surfaces that will allow spills to pass quickly through the soil. 
  •  Always supervise the filling of application equipment. 
  •  Consider using a closed handling system where the fertilizer is directly transferred from the storage container to the application equipment. A closed system protects humans and the environment from exposure. 

CLEAN UP AND DISPOSE OF FERTILIZERS PROPERLY

SPILL CLEAN UP & DISPOSAL
Good mixing practices and sound containers are your first line of defense against spills. Remember that small spills may create a big problem if they occur repeatedly and are not cleaned up.  If spills do occur:
  • Promptly sweep up dry spills and reuse the fertilizer as intended.
  • Recover as much of a liquid spill as possible and reuse as intended.
  • Large spills that may threaten water resources should be reported immediately to the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation (DERR). 
  • In some situations, contaminated soil might need to be removed and applied to a field using specific procedures approved by the DERR.
CONTAINER DISPOSAL
Bulk deliveries of anhydrous ammonia, liquid fertilizers and dry bulk fertilizers have reduced the need to dispose of containers. If you do use bagged fertilizers, the best practice is to dispose of containers off-site at a sanitary landfill, which is the safest way to reduce risk to water.
​Do not let emptied bags and containers accumulate on your property.
DERR SPILL HOTLINE
Division of Environmental Response and Remediation (DERR) 24-hour hot-line for spills:(801) 536-4123

MANAGE FERTILIZERS TO PROTECT WATER RESOURCES

USE FERTILIZERS EFFICIENTLY
The best way to determine how much fertilizer is necessary is to test your soil and compare the results with what your crops need.  Because different plants have different nutrient requirements, you should test the different areas of your property used for pasture, gardens, lawns, berries, flowers,  and other distinct types of vegetation. The Utah State University Analytical Laboratory not only tests soil samples, but also has a wide range of resources to help you interpret the results and determine appropriate applications of nutrients for your different crops.  Use the tables provided by the Soils Lab to determine the additional phosphorus, nitrogen (and other nutrients) that your soils need.   Remember to include nutrients from manure or compost in your calculations. 
Phosphorus can build up in soils, so you may actually need less  than you imagined, which will save you money, protect water from nutrients that are not used, and will likely result in a better harvest.  ​
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN
For larger operations, Nutrient Management Plans provide a detailed accounting of nutrient additions and losses in an agricultural operation.  The plans account for nutrients going into and coming out of your soil from fertilizer, manure and compost application, irrigation water, and plant harvest.  This nutrient accounting approach ensures that you are not applying more fertilizer then necessary, which saves you money and protects water resources from contamination caused by excess nutrients.  These plans are a great planning tool for larger operations who often use the services of a certified agricultural waste management planner. 
REDUCE FERTILIZER WASTE & SAVE MONEY
​Apply at the right time and in the right amounts. If more fertilizer is applied than the crops can utilize, it can wash into nearby streams and lakes.
  • Get a soil test to see what your soil needs.
  • Keep records of past fertilizer applications.
  • Use a fertilizer with slow release nitrogen.
  • Buy only what you need, make long term storage unnecessary. ​
Utah Water Quality Task Force
We’ve designed this website for Utah’s small acreage farmers. We hope you like it. We value your feedback, questions and concerns.  Email us at waterquality@usu.edu.