Storing, measuring and applying fertiliser safely
Quick answer
The product label is the binding authority for amount, timing, method of application and safety precautions — any figure that contradicts it should not be relied on. Beyond that: measure by weight rather than by scoop, keep products dry and sealed and clearly labelled, keep them away from children and animals, and never mix products without label instruction.
The label governs
This is the single most important handling rule, and it is not a formality. The label states what the product contains, which crops or uses it names, the amount, method and timing of application, whether it is applied through irrigation water or to the soil, and its safety and storage precautions. Where any other source disagrees with the label, follow the label.
Measuring
The percentage on the bag is a proportion by weight, so the only reliable way to know how much nutrient you are applying is to know the weight you are applying. An unmarked scoop does not tell you that — bulk density varies between products, and a scoop of one granule is not a scoop of another.
Liquids need the extra care described in the analysis guide: a percentage may be by weight or by volume, and confusing the two changes the figure by roughly a third.
Handling sequence
- Read the label before opening the product, including the safety section.
- Work out the actual nutrient content for the quantity you intend to use.
- Measure by weight where you can.
- Apply to the root zone, not against the stem.
- Water in where the label says to — for surface-applied nitrogen on alkaline soil this is not optional, since ammonia is lost from unincorporated product.
- Reseal and store dry, closed and labelled.
- Wash hands and equipment, and keep the label with the product.
Storage
- Dry. Many products are hygroscopic; moisture cakes them and changes how they spread.
- Sealed and in the original container, so the analysis and safety instructions stay with the contents.
- Out of reach of children and animals.
- Separate from food, seed and pesticides.
- Not mixed with another product unless the label says it is compatible.
In Kuwait's conditions
Heat and humidity are the practical storage constraints. Wet Summer, from 20 July to 4 November, is described as bringing a great increase in humidity and temperature, with maxima of 45–46°C. A product stored in an uninsulated outdoor store passes through those conditions, and caking is the usual result.
Dust is the other one: after storms, irrigation filters need checking before any fertigation, since sediments may clog drip or sprinkler systems.
Common mistakes
- Decanting product into an unlabelled container, losing the analysis and the safety instructions.
- Measuring by scoop and assuming a known weight.
- Mixing two products because both are fertilisers.
- Storing opened bags in humid heat and then applying caked material unevenly.
- Applying against the stem, where it does most harm and least good.
Boundary
This guide gives no rate, no dilution and no protective-equipment specification. Safety precautions, protective equipment and first-aid information are stated on the product label and in its safety data sheet, which are the authorities. Regulatory requirements in force in the State of Kuwait take precedence over anything on this page.
Related glossary terms
Sources
- FAO — Fertilizer and Plant Nutrition Bulletin 16, Chapters 4, 5 and 7.
- FAO — Irrigation Water Management Training Manual No. 5.
- Kuwait Meteorological Department — Climate.
All accessed 26 August 2026. Last reviewed: 27 August 2026.