FERTILISERS (MACRO ELEMENTS)

Fertilisers are combinations of the nutrients that plants must have to grow, in a form they can use. The primary nutrients in fertilizers are three essential elements: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), which are often combined into an NPK blend, other elements includes sulphur (S), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg).  Fertilisers are any solid, liquid or gaseous substances which contains one or more plant nutrients in a percentage. It can be applied to the soil directly, on the plant (leaves) or added to aqueous solutions (as in fertigation) to maintain soil fertility, improve plant development, yield and/or plant quality. 

The purpose of fertiliser is specifically for healthier plants, it enhance the natural soil nutrient and build up soil fertility in order to satisfy the demand of the plant.  Fertilisers are classified into two major forms: organic and mineral manufactured. There are two types of combinations which are mixed fertilizers and bulk-blends. This is a  physical mixture of two or more single-nutrient or multi-nutrient fertilisers and complex fertilisers are products in which two or more of the nutrients are chemically combined (e.g. nitrophosphates, ammonium phosphates). The nutrient can be released by quick-acting water-soluble and immediately available; slow-acting transformation into soluble form required, e.g. direct application of phosphate rock; controlled-release by coating or stabilised by inhibitors.

Can you tell if your plant is in need of fertiliser?