Types of Fertilizers

ByMr.Allah Dad

Khan

Organic Fertilizers• Naturally occurring fertilizers include:• Manure• Worm castings• Peat moss• Seaweed• Sewage• Guano• Organic fertilizers are used to enrich soil through nitrogen fixation from the

atmosphere by bacterial nodules on plant roots, as well as phosphorus content of soils. Processed organic materials from natural sources include compost, blood meal powdered blood, and bone (crushed ground bones) meal from organic meat production facilities, and seaweed extracts.

• There is more diversity with organic fertilizers, so choosing the right one is not always easy. In general organic fertilizers cannot cause plant burns, get into ground water,

affect surrounding growth and do not need as strict of watering schedules.

Inorganic fertilizers

• Inorganic fertilizers are actually artificial or synthetic fertilizers. When plants are in dire need of nutrients because they are already dying, an inorganic fertilizer is the most immediate solution to infuse nutrients immediately to the plants. Inorganic fertilizers are synthesized using the Haber-Bosch process and they immediately produce ammonia as a by-product which dying and malnourished plants need immediately. Having an inorganic fertilizer ready at all times is a must.

Plant specific fertilizers• Over-fertilizing can be harmful to plants. There are plants that are

“choosy” and they need a need to be given a specific ratio of nutrients. The degree of specificity that these plants require may be over may not be available using conventional fertilizer preparations. The plant may go under-fertilized or over-fertilized if the specific nutrient percentage of nutrients is given. Neither is a good option for the plants to go. Plant-specific fertilizers are special formulas designed to meet the adequate nutrient needs of a particular plant in order to grow optimally.

Liquid fertilizer

• Liquid fertilizers great in delivering nutrients to the plants since the liquids seeps right into the roots where plants may immediately take up the necessary nutrient needed. However, the effect of a liquid fertilizer is also term and hence it would only take a short time for the need to re-fertilize your plants again. When having a huge lawn or garden using liquid fertilizers are highly uneconomical. Furthermore, it does not do well for plants that grow best in well-drained soil.

Time release fertilizer

•This kind of fertilizer has been more popular these days. Time release fertilizer usually releases the fertilizer slowly over a certain period, usually around 2-6 months. This is really good for the plants because there is a lesser chance of getting burned because the plants do not receive a full blast of nutrients. After initial application, gardeners will just have to wait until the specified time period that the time release fertilizer is supposed to be used up already.The release of nutrients is accelerated in the presence of water and moisture. Hence, this works best during warm weather. This type of fertilizer is also more expensive than the conventional ones.

Fertilizer with Pesticide• Using a fertilizer that contains pesticide certainly hits two

birds with one stone. The plants get their nourishment and they are also protected from pests that may damage them. This even comes a whole lot cheaper than getting the two separately. When getting this 2 in 1 product, make sure that there is balance between the two.The pesticide should not come in too strong otherwise it may also kill the plants in addition to killing the pests.Each fertilizer type has its own advantage. It recommended that one should know which fertilizer works best with the plants in your garden. Having some ready anytime will help prevent your plants from starving.

Complete vs. Incomplete• Complete Fertilizers

• Contain all 3 primary nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus, & potassium.

• Examples:• 10-10-10• 15-30-15• 20-5-20

Complete vs. Incomplete• Incomplete

Fertilizers• DO NOT have all 3

primary nutrients.• Examples:

• 20-0-0• 0-20-0• 12-0-44

Organic vs. Inorganic• Organic Fertilizers

• Come from plant or animal matter & contain carbon compounds.

• Examples:• Urea• Sludge• Animal Tankage

Organic vs. Inorganic• Advantages of

Organic Fertilizers• Slow release of

nutrients.• Not easily leached

from soil.• Add organic

components to growing media.

Organic vs. Inorganic• Disadvantages of Organic Fertilizers

• Hard to get.• Expensive.• Not sterile.• Low nutrient content.

Organic vs. Inorganic• Inorganic

Fertilizers• Come from

sources other than animals or plants….• Chemical products.

Organic vs. Inorganic• Advantages of Inorganic Fertilizers

• Can make desired ratio of nutrients.• Lower cost.• Easy to get

Organic vs. Inorganic• Disadvantages of

Inorganic Fertilizers• No organic

material.• Possible chemical

building up in growing media.

Soluble vs. Insoluble• Soluble Fertilizer

• Dissolves in water & are applied as a liquid solution.

• Advantages• Can fertilizer through the irrigation

water in a process called fertigation.

Soluble vs. Insoluble• Insoluble Fertilizer

• Includes granular & slow release fertilizers applied to the growing media.

Soluble vs. Insoluble• Granular Fertilizer

• Relatively inexpensive• Easy to find

• Slow Release Fertilizer• More expensive than granular

because it is coated.• Gives a more uniform release of

nutrients over time period.

Fertilizer Analysis & Ratio• Analysis

• Expresses the percent by weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, & potassium.

• Ratio• Is a comparison of primary nutrients• 10-10-10 = 1:1:1• 24- 8 -16 = 3:1:2

Fertilizer Analysis

Choosing a Fertilizer

Nitrogenous Fertilizers:# Name of Fertilizer %age Nitrogen1. Ammonium Sulphate  –(NH4)2SO4 20.62. Ammonium nitrate---NH4NO3 33-34 3. Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)

Ca(No3) 2NH4NO3 254. Ammonium Sulphate Nitrate (ASN)

(NH4) 2SO4NH4NO3

26

5. Urea CO(NH2) 2 46

Phosphatic Fertilizers:# Name of Fertilizer %age Phosphorus 1. Single Superphosphate (CaH2PO4)16 18% P2O52. Triple superphosphate Ca(H2 PO4) 2 46 to 48% P2O53.

4.5.

Potashic Fertilizers:# Name of Fertilizer %age Phosphorus 1. Potassium chloride or muriate of potash

(KCI)48 to 62%

2. Potassium sulphate or sulphate of potash (K2SO4)

48 to 52%

3.4.5.

Compound fertilizers

A compound fertilizer contains two or more essential plant nutrients and can include secondary nutrients and trace elements

# Fertilizer N:P:K

1. Nitrophos 20:20 :025:25:028:14:020:3) :0

2. Diammonium Phosphate 18:46

3 NPK 08:23:1817:17:1715:!5:1512:15:2010:20:2012:24:12

Types of Fertilizers• By form

• Synthetic - Miracle Grow®, Osmocote®

• Organic - manure, fish meal, bone meal

• By physical state• Solid - manure, compost, granulated• Liquid - seaweed extract, anhydrous

• By rate of release• Fast release - mostly synthetic types• Slow release - carbon-based (organic),

Osmocote®

Fertilizer Grade• Definition -

guaranteed minimum % of total N, available P, and water-soluble K• 10-10-5 =

• 10% total nitrogen• 10% available

phosphoric acid• 5% water-soluble

potash

Determining Fertilizer Needs

• Soil Testing• Must collect representative samples• Professional labs analyze soil for a fee

• Also provide fertilizer recommendations• Home testing kits available• Indicates levels of P, K, Mg, pH, and CEC• Poor indicator of nitrogen levels due to

• Leaching losses• Mineralization

Calculating Fertilizer Rates• Measure area to be

fertilized• 10ft x 40ft = 400ft2

• Determine amount applied/Acre using soil test recommendations• Need - 100lb/A total N

100lb/A available P 50lb/A water-soluble K

Calculating Fertilizer Rates…

• Use fertilizer grade to convert amount of nutrients/A to amount fertilizer/A• 100lbs/A total N = 1000lbs fertilizer/A

.10• 100lbs/A available P = 1000lbs fertilizer/A

.10• 50lbs/A water-soluble K = 1000lbs

fertilizer/A .05

Calculating Fertilizer Rates…

• Determine amount fertilizer for your garden space - 400ft2 • 43,560 ft2 in an acre• Set up a proportion• 1000lbs fertilizer = x__

43,560 ft2 400ft2

• x = 9.18 lbs fertilizer• 9.18 lbs x 454.6g/lb = 4,172g

fertilizer!