Carrot Fertilizer Requirements

How to grow carrots with Haifa fertilizers

Fertilization recommendation for growing carrots with Haifa fertilizers, to achieve optimal plant nutrition & excellent yield

Growing medium: open field.
Plant population: 1,800,000-2,000,000 Seeds/ha.
Expected yield: 60-80 T/ha.

Important note: The application of chloride fertilizers should be avoided since this element severely reduces carotene content of the carrot.

Recommended rates of nutrients (Kg/ha):

N	P₂O₅	K₂O	CaO	MgO
120	100	300	100	50

A. Base-Dressing

Apply at this stage the organic manure (20 T/ha), 20% of N and K₂O and the entire amount of phosphate

Required nutrients (Kg/ha)				Recommended fertilizers (Kg/ha)
N	P₂O₅	K₂O	MgO	SOP	SSP*	AN	Epsom salt**
30	75	60	65	110	530	100	500

* SSP = Single-superphosphate (19% P₂O₅).
** Epsom salt = MgSO₄ (13% MgO).

B. Side-Dressing

Days after sowing	Nutrient demand (Kg/ha)			Recommended fertilizer
Days after sowing	N	P₂O₅	K₂O	AN	Multi-KMg*
total	90	-	240	70	620
30	45	-	120	35	310
60	45	-	120	35	310

*Multi-KMg = Multi-K enriched with Mg (11-0-39 + 4%MgO).

For more information on Haifa potassium nitrate products' benefits and applications, visit Multi-K™ potassium nitrate fertilizers.

Recommendations prevailing in the UK

Growing Medium: Open field.
Soil type: Sandy silt.
Cultivars: Royal Sluice PX55392 ; Nairobi.
Expected yield: 50 MT/ha.

Base-Dressing

N	P₂O₅	K₂O	MgO
(Kg/Ha)
150	100	125	50

Top-Dressing

1. Multi-KMg 200 kg/ha, 86 days after sowing.
2. Foliar spray of boron and manganese.

Baby carrot – Fertilization program from South Africa^

Growth period: 80-120 days.
Yield: 35 MT/Ha.

	N	P₂O₅	K₂O
	<----------------------Kg/Ha------------------------>
B.D.	40	345	120
T.D*	40	0	120
Total	80	150	240

* 75 Kg/Ha of K₂O are fertigated during vegetative development, as Multi-K, combined with A.N.
Additional 55 Kg/Ha of K₂O are sprayed as Multi-K during bulking up stage.

^ Farm: Crest International , Bapsfotein.
Source: O. Rottenberg, 1994.

Macro elements removed by 1 ton marketable product

(In Baby Carrot )

N	P₂O₅	K₂O	CaO	Mg	S
---------------------------------------------------Kg / ton-----------------------------------------
3.8	1.37	6.0	1.4	1.66	1.5

“White” Carrots (parsnips)

Macro elements removed by 1 ton marketable product
(In Witwortel=White Carrot )

N	P	K	Ca	Mg	S
---------------------------------------------------Kg / ton-----------------------------------------
13.4	4.3	18.0

Source: Kinoch’s flyer, RSA. Processed by Frans Lourens, Haifa, RSA, May, 1999.

Plant analysis guide

Nutrient sufficiency ranges (source: A & L, Agronomy Handbook, Ankerman & Large Eds.)

Carrots	N	S	P	K	Mg	Ca	Na	B	Zn	Mn	Fe	Cu	Al
Carrots	------------------------ % -------------------------							--------------- p.p.m ---------------
From	3.50	0.30	0.25	3.0	0.25	1.50	0.01	20	25	50	75	5	20
To	6.0	0.75	0.80	7.0	1.0	4.0	0.20	80	60	200	250	20	300

Plant part & sampling procedures

Growth stage	Plant part
At mid-growth before root enlargement	Petiole of young mature leaf

Source: https://www.hortnet.co.nz/publications/guides/fertmanual/vege2.htm#I7

Umbelliferae (carrots, parsnips, celery)

Nutrient requirements
Total nitrogen (kg N/ha):

Celery	350
Spring carrots	200
Carrots and parsnips	100

Target Olsen P values

	Phosphate retention
	0 - 40	41 - 75	76 - 100%
Carrots and parsnips	35 - 45	46 - 55	56 - 75
Celery	45 - 55	56 - 75	76 - 90

Recommended method of P application: Broadcast.

Target K values

	Soil texture
	Sand	Loam	Clay
Carrots and parsnips	8	10	12
Celery	12	15	20

Recommended method of K application: Broadcast and fertigation.

Optimum pH range

carrots	5.6 - 6.7
Parsnips	5.6 - 7.1
Celery	6.1 - 7.0

Nutrient uptake (kg/ha)

Crop	Yield	(Ton/ha)	N	P	K	Ca	Mg
Carrot	foliage	15	72	5	62	-	-
	roots	80	121	27	194	-	-
Top-weight		79	242	34	313	121	24
Royal Chantenny		31	96	16	165	21	6
Parsnips	roots	44	146	36	183	-	-
Celery		80	307	79	984	228	38

Tissue analysis

Critical N, P and K concentrations (%) in whole plants:

		Plant age (days)
		40	80	120	160
Carrots	N	3.2	2.4	1.8	-
	P	0.38	0.32	0.27	0.24
	K	4.3	2.8	1.9	-
Parsnips	N	3.8	3.2	2.8	2.0
	P	0.59	0.48	0.39	0.32
	K	5.0	3.8	2.8	2.2

Specific deficiency symptoms

Carrots
N	Uniformly pale yellow with fine leaflets.
P	No yellowing, old leaves purple. Distinguish from carrot fly attack by examining damage on tap root and from carrot 'mottley dwarf' virus by yellow young leaves and red or purple older leaves.
S	As for N, distinguish by plant analysis.
K	Old leaves scorched and collapse, later entire petioles look water soaked before drying and collapsing.
Ca	Water soaked appearance of petioles (like K) but more restricted, the distal part and leaf staying green initially. Roots may have a brown core.
Mg	Similar to N deficiency but red tints near margins and leaves not so fine; can also be confused with 'mottley dwarf' disease; distinguish by analysis.
Mn	Uniform pale yellowish-green; often patchy distribution in field.
Cu	Youngest leaves very dark green and fail to open.
B	Corky splits in petioles; roots split showing core, which may contain hollows, browning of skin on root giving dull appearance.
	Parsnips
S	New, pale leaves have sharply toothed margins and a fine network of recessed veins.
Ca	Water soaked petiole resulting in collapse of leaflets.
Mn	Marginal and interveinal chlorosis of most leaves; distinguished from Mg and K deficiency because chlorotic areas remain pale green rather than yellow and whole plant affected.
B	Older, pale leaves may have a red margin; section of root shows discoloration around the central xylem.