Ultra-Precise Fertilizer Placement at Sowing: A Game-Changer for Sustainable Crop Yields

By FutureFarming | 2025

As agriculture faces tighter regulations, higher input costs, and sustainability demands, a new wave of seeding technologies is revolutionizing fertilizer application. Systems delivering ultra-precise micro-doses—whether in granular or liquid form—now enable farmers to reduce fertilizer use by up to 25% without compromising yield.

🎯 Micro-Zone Fertilization: Precision with Every Seed

Pioneering systems like PUDAMA (Kverneland) and FertiSpot (Amazone) concentrate fertilizer in precise spots near and beneath each seed, maximizing nutrient uptake during early root development.

• PUDAMA (from German: "Punktgenaue DüngerApplikation bei der MAisaussaat") uses a conical brush and air impulse to place granules directly beneath maize or sugar beet seeds.
• FertiSpot employs a rotating metering blade that positions granules alongside or between seeds and is available as a retrofit for Amazone Precea planters.

✅ Result: Same yield, 20–25% less fertilizer use, reduced environmental impact.

💧 Liquid vs. Granular: Agronomic and Logistical Trade-offs

While granular fertilization remains common in regions like the Netherlands, liquid micro-dosing systems dominate in North America, offering several practical advantages:

• Easier logistics: No granular residue to collect post-application.
• Superior shelf-life: Liquids resist humidity degradation.
• Streamlined operations: Fertilizer supply and application can be handled independently by contractors.

Leading liquid systems include:

• CapstanAG SelectShot
• Precision Planting FurrowJet
• Great Plains AccuShot
• John Deere ExactShot (launched 2024)

However, granules remain cheaper and require no specialized front tanks, making them attractive for many growers.

🌱 Efficiency Beyond Reduction: Timing and Placement

The real gain in ultra-precise fertilization lies in targeted application timing and spatial accuracy. Whether granular or liquid, applying micro-doses near the seed ensures:

• Optimal uptake of N, P, and micronutrients
• Reduced nutrient leaching and volatilization
• Minimized seedling burn risk

In liquid systems, variable rate application can be integrated with seeding maps and GIS/GPS data, tailoring dosage in real time based on soil conditions.

💰 Costs and Challenges

Precision comes at a price:

• PUDAMA: ~€17,450 for an 8-row planter
• FertiSpot retrofit: ~€8,000
• Liquid systems: Require tanks, pumps, and software integration

Each system faces terrain-specific challenges—granules may clump in humid climates, liquids require careful handling in colder conditions—but both demonstrate robust ROI through input savings and yield consistency.

✅ Conclusion: The Technology Is Ready—Is Your Farm?

In a landscape where yield security meets sustainability goals, micro-dose placement at sowing has proven its value. Major manufacturers like Kverneland, Amazone, John Deere, and CapstanAG have brought precision fertilization from theory to field reality.

📌 Whether your operation leans toward granular precision or liquid intelligence, the tools exist to reduce input costs, protect the environment, and maintain crop performance. The decision now rests with the farmer: how will you leverage precision for your future fields?

(Photo: Freepik)