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Fertilizers
Fertilizers
Based on the type of improvement desired for the soil
quality, fertilizers are divided in three categories:
1. Organic: enrich the soil with one or more nutritional
elements absorbed by plants;
2. Amendments: any organic or inorganic substance that
can provide the plant with the elements necessary for
growth;
3. Corrective: as the name implies, these are any
substance that is capable of modifying or improving
the chemical composition of soil. For example, they are
used to change the pH of soil to desired levels.
The most essential requirements for plants are
water and sunlight. Then there are the
nutritional requirements:
• Macronutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous
(N), Potassium (K), and Calcium (Ca);
• Micronutrients: Iron, Copper, Manganese,
Zing, and Sulphur, which plants assimilate
from the soil.
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Natural fertilizers are organic products that have been extracted
from living things or from the earth. They can be either plantderived or animal-derived. Some examples would be mushroom
manure,, cottonseed meal, kelp meal, poultry or horse manure
(aged) and compost.
In general, natural fertilizers contain lesser amounts of N-P-K than
their synthesized counterparts, so you need to use more of them
to supply the plant with the required amount of nitrogen,
phosphorus or potassium.
Natural fertilizers add vital organic matter, they also improve soil
texture — an important advantage
Organic fertilizers add humus to the soil and help in better water
retention and aeration of soil.
Also provide food to soil organisms like earthworms, bacteria and
fungi.
Donot pollute the environment and are not toxic.
• Synthetic fertilizers are those composed of the
synthesized chemicals of nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium.
Important nutrients (NPK)
• Nitrogen :
• Phosphorous
• Potassium
TYPES
Chemical, or inorganic, fertilizers are those produced
industrially and are nutritionally balanced by mixing
macro and micronutrients in proportions based on
desired plant requirements.
There are various types of chemical fertilizers, such as:
1. Nitrogen-rich, that promotes stem and leaf growth,
and is suitable for evergreens and grasses;
• Urea
• Ammonium sulphate
• Ammonium nitrate
• Sodium nitrate
2. Phosphorous-rich, that stimulate root growth
and is thus suitable for plant early growth. It is
indicated mostly for flowering plants;
- deficiency causes stunted growth and graying
of leaves.
• Calcium dihydrogen phosphate
• Ammonium hydrogen phosphate
• Ammonium phosphate
• Di-ammonium phosphate
3. Potassium-rich, that stimulates flower and
fruit growth, and the formation of the
lignifying protective layer of stem;
- deficiency causes leaves to die early.
• Potassium nitrate
• Potassium chloride
• Potassium sulphate
Manufacture of urea