Help understanding fertilizers
General None Given
Dear village family :)
I've always found it hard to understand fertilizers not because it's complex in its own but in terms of using which ones for which ?!!
I know the numbers 20.10.10 for example translates to N.P.K - as in nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Is that right? And they said N is for green and growth and the P a d K are for fruits, herbs, and roots?? I'm confused in all the above I need more explanation
I've always found it hard to understand fertilizers not because it's complex in its own but in terms of using which ones for which ?!!
I know the numbers 20.10.10 for example translates to N.P.K - as in nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Is that right? And they said N is for green and growth and the P a d K are for fruits, herbs, and roots?? I'm confused in all the above I need more explanation
Posted
by: reem
(9 points)
Posted: April 18, 2014
Answers
To simplify:
Nitrogen is needed for leafy growth; too much nitrogen will inhibit fruiting and cause potassium deficiency.
Phosphorus is needed for healthy roots and production of fruit. Too much phosphorus inhibits the ability of the plant to take up nutrients.
Potassium is needed for healthy stems and roots. Too much inhibits nitrogen uptake as well as calcium, boron and magnesium uptake.
So a balance is needed, and that means you need to know what you are starting with before adding anything. In the United States, state extension services provide affordable soil testing. (For example, it's $7 in Alabama.) Most home landscapes and gardens in the United States have excess potassium and phosphorus, so only nitrogen is needed.
Nitrogen is needed for leafy growth; too much nitrogen will inhibit fruiting and cause potassium deficiency.
Phosphorus is needed for healthy roots and production of fruit. Too much phosphorus inhibits the ability of the plant to take up nutrients.
Potassium is needed for healthy stems and roots. Too much inhibits nitrogen uptake as well as calcium, boron and magnesium uptake.
So a balance is needed, and that means you need to know what you are starting with before adding anything. In the United States, state extension services provide affordable soil testing. (For example, it's $7 in Alabama.) Most home landscapes and gardens in the United States have excess potassium and phosphorus, so only nitrogen is needed.
Posted
by: Nicole Castle Brookus
(21 points)
Posted: April 19, 2014
reem commented,
Thanks for simplifying it :)
So ur saying the best thing is to use a balanced fertilizer like a 20.20.20 for example !! about 10 years ago.
Thanks for simplifying it :)
So ur saying the best thing is to use a balanced fertilizer like a 20.20.20 for example !! about 10 years ago.
Tanya in the Garden commented,
If you want to add only N, good sources include alfalfa pellets or any seed meals (soybean meal, cottonseed meal, etc.). I use only alfalfa pellets when I plant tomatoes. I get good crops of big tomatoes even when gardeners around me are complaining that it's a bad tomato year. about 10 years ago.
If you want to add only N, good sources include alfalfa pellets or any seed meals (soybean meal, cottonseed meal, etc.). I use only alfalfa pellets when I plant tomatoes. I get good crops of big tomatoes even when gardeners around me are complaining that it's a bad tomato year. about 10 years ago.
Nicole Castle Brookus commented,
No, you shouldn't. The uptake rates P and K are ,much slower than N, so this strategy will cause (or make worse) excess levels of P and K.
Get your soil tested now and periodically, and only add what you need. about 10 years ago.
No, you shouldn't. The uptake rates P and K are ,much slower than N, so this strategy will cause (or make worse) excess levels of P and K.
Get your soil tested now and periodically, and only add what you need. about 10 years ago.
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I'm not surprised you're confused - all those different bags of fertiliser in the nursery makes the subject look confusing! this website gives a goos general explanation of what the NPK ratios mean and how to use them - http://www.cleanairgardening.com/npke... . Different ratios are best for different kinds of plants - you wouldn't use the same NPK ratio on your lawn (which is leafy) as you would on your tomatoes (which are fruit) or your Australian native plants (which have very specific NPK requirements). While you can buy your specialised fertilisers at the nursery, it's worth remembering that, for general gardening, a good mix of compost, well-rotted manure, blood and bone, and worm castings will make most plants very happy indeed :) almost 10 years ago.