A majority of the crop varieties cultivated in Finland are spring varieties and sowed in May. Fertilizer placement during sowing can be considered a special characteristic of Finnish crop production. The fertilizers are placed in the immediate vicinity of the seed during sowing, which increases the plant’s use of nutrients. The amount of fertilizer is determined according to the needs of the plant and the crop`s yield potential, taking into consideration the parcel and the conditions of agri-environmental aid and the EU’s Nitrates Directive. Livestock manure can also be used as a fertilizer. Additional fertilization for winter varieties is applied during the spring as a surface application.

In Finland, only products for which the composition has been analyzed may be used as fertilizers and soil conditioners. In this way, heavy metals can be prevented from ending up in the soil and the products.