What is Fertilizer?
Fertilizers are plant food. They give plants the nutrients required to grow big, strong, and healthy. When fertilizers are added into the soil, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium which are the key players in the plant's life process, such as photosynthesis, energy production, and others, are made avail.
Now, imagine a plant trying to grow in soil that's run out of nutrients. That's where fertilizers come in. While soil does naturally hold some nutrients, it's not a bottomless pit. Fertilizers top up the tank, giving plants what they need to produce food, oxygen, and all that good stuff. Without fertilizers, we'd be slowing down our crops, gardens and even the ecosystems that keep the planet running.
It's not just about feeding plants, but it's about feeding life itself.
Staple versus Supplement
Fertilizers
The plant staples are required in large amounts to grow and thrive. They provide the critical building blocks that support the plant’s growth and development. Think of fertilizers as the plant’s essential diet which includes macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
These nutrients are responsible for enabling the plant to grow strong roots, develop healthy stems and produce the energy required for flowering and fruiting. Without fertilizers, plants don’t reach their full potential, since they lack the necessary nutrients to power these vital processes.
Fertilizers are the heart of plant nutrition, providing an ongoing supply of what the plant needs to simply survive and grow.
Fertilizing Products
The boosters are formulated to target specific growth phases or to enhance particular functions. For example, a targeted fertilizing product can be designed to promote flowering, giving the plant extra nudge to produce beautiful blooms.
These products may be used in smaller amounts, but their role is just as crucial because they address specific, moment-to-moment needs in a plant’s development.
Where fertilizers provide the base nutrients required for overall growth, fertilizing products fine-tune the process, delivering exactly what the plant needs in support of a targeted process or metabolic activity.
Fertilizer & fertilizing products
The synergy between fertilizers and fertilizing products is where the magic happens. Fertilizers establish the strong foundation for healthy growth, while fertilizing products provide that extra boost when the plant needs a little more focused attention. Together, they create a harmonious balance that ensures plants not only grow but thrive gracefully, producing rich and abundant harvests.
Fertilizers keep the plant healthy, while fertilizing products help it shine at its best.
Plant nutrients
Plants require a balanced diet of macronutrients (needed in large amount) and micronutrients (needed in smaller amount and yet vital).
Macronutrients
| Nutrient | Role | Quantity Required | Forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | For plant growth, proteins, enzymes, chlorophyll, photosynthesis, metabolism, and vegetative growth. | 1.5% - 5% of the plant's dry weight | Ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) ions |
| Phosphorus (P) | For energy transfer, ATP, cell division, root development, and flowering. | 0.1% - 1.0% of the plant's dry weight | Phosphate ions (PO₄³⁻) |
| Potassium (K) | Regulates water uptake, enzyme activation, and photosynthesis, and enhances fruit quality. | 1.0% - 2.0% of the plant's dry weight | Potassium ions (K⁺) |
| Calcium (Ca) | For cell wall structure, nutrient uptake, and enzyme function, especially in roots and shoots. | 0.5% - 2.0% of the plant's dry weight | Calcium ions (Ca²⁺) |
| Magnesium (Mg) | Central atom in chlorophyll, essential for photosynthesis, energy transfer, and enzyme activation. | 0.2% - 0.5% of the plant's dry weight | Magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) |
| Sulfur (S) | Involved in amino acid synthesis, metabolism, and the formation of vitamins and enzymes. | 0.1% - 0.5% of the plant's dry weight | Sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻) |
Micronutrients
| Nutrient | Role | Quantity Required | Forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron (Fe) | Vital for chlorophyll synthesis and electron transport during photosynthesis. | 0.01% of the plant's dry weight | Ferrous (Fe²⁺) and ferric (Fe³⁺) ions |
| Manganese (Mn) | Involved in photosynthesis, enzyme activation, and stress tolerance. | 0.01% of the plant's dry weight | Manganese ions (Mn²⁺) |
| Boron (B) | Important for cell wall formation, membrane function, and reproductive growth. | 0.0001% of the plant's dry weight | Boron ions (B₄O₇²⁻) |
| Zinc (Zn) | Required for enzyme activation, protein synthesis, and growth regulation. | 0.001% - 0.01% of the plant's dry weight | Zinc ions (Zn²⁺) |
| Copper (Cu) | Involved in electron transport during photosynthesis, enzyme activity, and respiration. | 0.0005% of the plant's dry weight | Copper ions (Cu²⁺) |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | Essential for nitrogen fixation in legumes and nitrate reduction. | 0.00005% of the plant's dry weight | Molybdate ions (MoO₄²⁻) |
| Chlorine (Cl) | Plays a role in osmoregulation, photosynthesis, and cell division. | 0.001% - 0.05% of the plant's dry weight | Chloride ions (Cl⁻) |
| Nickel (Ni) | Required for the proper function of certain enzymes, such as urease. | Extremely small quantities, typically trace amounts | Nickel ions (Ni²⁺) |
These micronutrients are involved in specific biochemical reactions and help plants with processes like enzyme activation, photosynthesis, and stress resistance.
Macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S): >95% of total nutrient requirement by weight.
Micronutrients (Fe, Mn, B, Zn, Cu, Mo, Cl, Ni): <5% of total nutrient requirement by weight.