There are several types of fertilizers that can be used to enrich soil and provide nutrients to plants. Organic fertilizers include materials like manure, compost and bone meal which enrich the soil through nitrogen fixation and release nutrients slowly over time. Inorganic fertilizers are synthetic and release nutrients immediately to address nutrient deficiencies in dying plants. Some fertilizers are designed to release nutrients at specific rates, like time-release fertilizers which provide a steady supply of nutrients over several months. Proper fertilizer selection depends on the individual plant needs and soil conditions.

2. Types of
Fertilizers
By
Mr.Allah Dad
Khan

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

10. Complete vs. Incomplete
• Complete Fertilizers
• Contain all 3 primary nutrients of
nitrogen, phosphorus, & potassium.
• Examples:
• 10-10-10
• 15-30-15
• 20-5-20

11. Complete vs. Incomplete
• Incomplete Fertilizers
• DO NOT have all 3
primary nutrients.
• Examples:
• 20-0-0
• 0-20-0
• 12-0-44

12. Organic vs. Inorganic
• Organic Fertilizers
• Come from plant or animal matter &
contain carbon compounds.
• Examples:
• Urea
• Sludge
• Animal Tankage

13. Organic vs. Inorganic
• Advantages of
Organic Fertilizers
• Slow release of
nutrients.
• Not easily leached
from soil.
• Add organic
components to
growing media.

14. Organic vs. Inorganic
• Disadvantages of Organic Fertilizers
• Hard to get.
• Expensive.
• Not sterile.
• Low nutrient content.

15. Organic vs. Inorganic
• Inorganic Fertilizers
• Come from sources
other than animals
or plants….
• Chemical products.

16. Organic vs. Inorganic
• Advantages of Inorganic Fertilizers
• Can make desired ratio of nutrients.
• Lower cost.
• Easy to get

17. Organic vs. Inorganic
• Disadvantages of
Inorganic Fertilizers
• No organic material.
• Possible chemical
building up in
growing media.

18. 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.

19. Soluble vs. Insoluble
• Insoluble Fertilizer
• Includes granular & slow release fertilizers
applied to the growing media.

20. 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.

21. 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

22. Fertilizer Analysis

23. Choosing a Fertilizer

24. Nitrogenous Fertilizers:
# Name of Fertilizer %age Nitrogen
1. Ammonium Sulphate –(NH4)2SO4 20.6
2. Ammonium nitrate---NH4NO3 33-34
3. Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)
Ca(No3) 2NH4NO3 25
4. Ammonium Sulphate Nitrate (ASN)
(NH4) 2SO4NH4NO3
26
5. Urea CO(NH2) 2 46

25. Phosphatic Fertilizers:
# Name of Fertilizer %age Phosphorus
1. Single Superphosphate (CaH2PO4)16 18% P2O5
2. Triple superphosphate Ca(H2 PO4) 2 46 to 48% P2O5
3.
4.
5.

26. 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.

27. 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 :0
25:25:0
28:14:0
20:3) :0
2. Diammonium Phosphate 18:46
3 NPK 08:23:18
17:17:17
15:!5:15
12:15:20
10:20:20
12:24:12

28. 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®

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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!