Which of the following is NOT one of the five factors used to tie fertilizer timing?

• A. Soil pH
• B. Season
• C. Species
• D. Fertilizer source

Answer: (B)

Fertilizer timing is about aligning nutrient supply with what the plant can actually use, which depends on soil chemistry, the plant’s characteristics, and how the fertilizer releases nutrients. Soil pH determines nutrient availability in the root zone, so it directly influences when nutrients can be taken up. Different plant species have different nutrient needs and uptake patterns, so their timing for feeding varies. The fertilizer source controls how quickly nutrients are released into the soil, affecting the immediacy of availability to the plant. Season isn’t a direct factor in this framework because it doesn’t inherently change nutrient availability or the plant’s immediate nutrient demand in the same structured way as soil pH, species, and fertilizer release. So season is not one of the factors used to tie fertilizer timing.