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In-furrow application

Also known as
in-furrow, IF application

An in-furrow application is the placement of a crop input, such as a starter fertilizer, crop protection product or biological, directly into the seed furrow at planting, so it is close to the seed and the emerging roots.

What is an in-furrow application?

When a planter opens the soil to drop seed, it creates a narrow trench, the furrow. An in-furrow application puts a product into that furrow at the same time, usually as a liquid dribbled or sprayed from planter-mounted equipment, or as granules. The product ends up in the soil right around the seed, where the young root system will grow.

What is applied in furrow

  • Starter fertilizers, which give seedlings an early supply of nutrients.
  • Insecticides and fungicides for soil pests and seedling diseases.
  • Biologicals, such as microbial inoculants, biostimulants and root-colonizing microbes, positioned to colonize roots from the start.

In-furrow vs. seed treatment and banding

In-furrowSeed treatmentBand beside the row
PlacementIn the furrow with the seedOn the seed coatOffset from the seed, such as two inches to the side and two inches below
Rate flexibilityModerate to highLimited by what the seed can holdHigh
EquipmentPlanter tanks and delivery linesTreated before plantingPlanter or separate equipment

In-furrow placement allows higher rates than a seed treatment and avoids contact between biologicals and chemical seed treatments. The trade-offs are equipment, extra handling at planting, and, for fertilizers, the risk of salt injury to seedlings when too much is placed in contact with the seed.

Practical considerations

  • Keep in-furrow fertilizer rates within guidelines for the crop and soil to avoid seedling injury.
  • Check compatibility before mixing biologicals with fertilizers or pesticides in the same tank.
  • Calibrate equipment so each row receives the intended rate.

In-furrow applications at Locus

Locus lists in-furrow application among the methods for several of its agricultural biologicals, including its Rhizolizer products and soybean inoculants.

Frequently asked questions

In-furrow application allows higher rates, avoids contact with chemical seed treatments that can harm microbes, and puts the product in the soil where roots will grow.

Yes. Fertilizer salts placed in direct contact with seed can injure germinating seedlings if rates are too high. Extension guidelines give safe rates by crop and soil type.

  • Biological seed treatment

    A biological seed treatment is a product containing beneficial microorganisms or biologically derived substances that is applied to seed before planting, so that the organisms or compounds are in place as the seed germinates and roots begin to grow.

  • Foliar application

    A foliar application is the spraying of a crop input, such as a nutrient, biostimulant or crop protection product, directly onto a plant's leaves so that it is absorbed or acts through the foliage rather than through the roots.

  • Microbial inoculant

    A microbial inoculant is an agricultural product containing live beneficial microorganisms that is applied to seed, soil or plants so the organisms can establish and benefit the crop. Rhizobia inoculants for legumes are the oldest and most widely used example.

  • Box-applied biological

    A box-applied biological is a microbial product applied to seed in the planter box or seed hopper at planting, rather than as a seed treatment days or weeks in advance. It is typically a dry formulation mixed with the seed as the planter is filled.

Sources

  1. Starter fertilizer and in-furrow application guides, Land-grant university extension
  2. Seed treatment and inoculation guides, Land-grant university extension