Many farmers or farm workers find the numbers on compound fertilizer brands confusing. You’re not alone! Grasping fertilizer numbers and compositions can greatly impact your farm’s budget, health, and productivity. Let’s explain it to you.
WHAT ARE COMPOUND FERTILISERS AND WHAT DOES THEIR COMPOSITION RATIO IMPLY?
Compound fertilizers are formulations of several key plant nutrients; they come in granulated blends. Unlike a single nutrient form such as Urea (Nitrogen), compound formulations provide a cocktail of nutrients to balance plant growth and development. These different primary nutrient mixtures may include the following and their composition ratios:
- Nitrogen (N) is essential for leaf growth and development, providing plants with a lush green color due to chlorophyll, which is crucial for photosynthesis—the process by which plants produce their food. A deficiency in nitrogen is characterized by noticeable yellowing of the leaves, beginning at the tip and spreading to the midribs. Other symptoms include smaller-than-normal foliage, delayed flowering, and poor fruit formation.
- Phosphorus (P) is essential for root development, as it aids in the differentiation of root apical cells and increases their ability to access nutrients from the soil. It also plays a key role in flowering by facilitating the conversion of leaves into reproductive structures and in fruiting. When there is a deficiency of phosphorus, it often presents as a noticeable purplish to reddish discoloration beginning at the tips of the leaves and extending to the base. Prolonged deficiency can lead to impaired fruit formation and development.
- Potassium (K) plays a crucial role in supporting the overall health of plants and fruits. It enhances disease resistance, promotes fruit vigor and quality, and helps regulate water. A deficiency in potassium is characterized by a clear yellowing at the leaf margins that progresses to brown burns, eventually extending inward. This deficiency can lead to poor photosynthesis, as well as stunted growth and development.
Secondary nutrients such as
4. Calcium (Ca): Plays the vital role of structural strength and vigour, ensuring healthy, strong, and uniform growth and development. Calcium deficiency in plants manifests as malformed leaves, necrotic young tissues, poorly formed and cracked fruits, and an increased susceptibility to disease
5. Magnesium (Mg): involved in chlorophyll synthesis to aid photosynthesis and transport of food and nutrient materials. Deficiency manifests as yellowing in between leaf veins, this usually starts from older leaves and then spreads to younger leaves, resulting in stunted growth, and fruit abortion.
6. Sulphur (S): Essential for protein synthesis and nitrogen metabolism. Sulphur-deficient plants manifest symptoms of short and spindly stems and yellowing of young leaves
7. Iron (Fe): A crucial nutrient playing key roles in the metabolic pathways of numerous growth and development processes as well as fertility, immunity, and stress management. Deficient plants show clear symptoms of yellowing of leaves, stunted growth, and reduced yields.
8. Manganese (Mn): Essentially helps plants manage stress and root vigour. Deficiency manifests as interveinal yellowing in young leaves and a clear stunted growth.
9. Zinc (Zn): An essential micronutrient responsible for key cellular growth and development. Deficient plants manifest stunted growth and development delayed or poor fruiting.
10. Copper (Cu): Functions in strengthening cellular structures, key enzymatic processes, and reproductive structures. Deficient plants turn pale, have low photosynthesis, and reduce fruiting activity.
11. Boron (B): An essential micronutrient for the growth, development, and reproductive quality of plants. Its deficiency can greatly hamper the development and reproductive potential of plants, particularly in acidic] and overused soils as is common today. Together with other nutrients, they work to provide the key carbohydrate and protein metabolism. Boron deficiency can lead to severely impaired development and reproduction.
12. Molybdenum (Mo): key micronutrient for the overall efficient function of cellular processes. Deficiency results in poor uptake of nutrients, and stunted growth and development.
NUTRIENT RATIOS AND HOW TO READ FERTILIZER NUMBERS
The three numbers generally indicate: First Number (N): Percentage of Nitrogen. Second Number (P): Percentage of Phosphorus. Third Number (K): Percentage of Potassium. Then the combined composition of other micronutrient NPK (S, Ca, Mn)
These nutrient ratios appear on the fertilizer label in a sequence, such as are common to farmers in Nigeria, but can vary from region to region, common examples include: 20.10.10, (Here N is 20%, P is 10%, K is 10%), 20%.20%.20%, 15%.15%.15%, (often used for uniform, balanced nutrient management in plants, at a young age). 46%N (urea), – used to boost vegetative growth.0%.45%.0%, – used to boost Phosphorus levels and 0%.13%. 45%-used to boost Potassium levels. And so on.
RELEVANCE OF COMPOUND FERTILISERS
Compound fertilizers offer a balanced mix of essential nutrients, ensuring that plants receive the nutrients they need for growth and development. A crucial aspect of managing plant nutrients is the controlled release of these nutrients. Due to rising input costs and the unpredictable nature of weather, including increased rainfall and erratic rain patterns, farmers and industry experts often find it challenging to determine the best formulation technology for achieving a slow, precise, and consistent release of nutrients to their crops over a combined blend as against several single nutrient applications.
The Ecofarms and Agroservices Company has been working to develop and enhance nutrient sources for crops, such as Richyiel Organic NPK fertilizers. This approach to nutrient release focuses on integrated soil fertility and crop nutrient management by combining a largely organic formulation with sufficient inorganic plant nutrients. The goal is to provide a consistent and sustainable release of nutrients to crops over an extended period, addressing the challenges faced by farmers.
TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT FERTILIZER
The right fertilizer depends on your plant’s needs, the soil type, the soil content, previous soil management, and the plant growth stage. This is best decided after a comprehensive soil/plant nutrient analysis: As a rule of thumb, fertilizer application is best spread accordingly across the three key plant cycles which include the Nursery, (balanced nutrient) Vegetative (balanced but largely vegetative growth), and Reproductive stages (balanced with higher calcium and potassium).
- For young plants from nursery to vegetative stage: A balanced fertilizer with higher nitrogen (e.g., 20-20-20, or 15.15.15) with accompanied micronutrients. is ideal.
- For vegetative growth and development (Largely Nitrogen Urea 46%, or NPK 20.10.10) with accompanied micronutrients.
- For plants at their reproductive stage: A potassium-rich fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-45) with accompanied micronutrients maintains growth, development, and excellent fruit formation. Note this is not exhaustive, but a guide.
Overall, compound fertilizers offer a balanced nutrient supply that promotes strong crop growth and development. They help minimize losses of nutrients, energy, and labor by enhancing soil and crop health while simplifying nutrient application and management. To optimize nutrient and health management on your farm or field, please reach out to us at hello@ecofarmsandagroservices.com. Our local field assistants are ready to assist you.
