When certain fertilizers are mixed with the soil in contact with the seed, sprouting may be delayed or prevented, young roots may be injured, and a satisfactory stand is difficult to obtain. Although not always reliable, the reduction of the initial stand is the most practical indication of fertilizer injury. Experiments carried out with corn at the Central Experimental Station, Campinas, showed that the common practice of sowing experimental plots rather thickly compensated partially or entirely for the reduction in stand due to fertilizer injury. Since enough plants are thus obtained in the plots, it becomes difficult to recognize that such type of injury occurred. This fact may lead the experimenter to misinterpret the results of fertilizer experiments in which the improper application of fertilizer did not increase the yield or even depressed it, whereas if properly applied a favorable response could have been obtained.