Fertilizer
Fertilizers are compounds whose origin can be both synthetic as well as natural. These are applied to soils either directly or as coatings on seeds and then the seeds are planted in the soil. Fertilizers help plant development by providing them certain nutrients that the soil might lack. Fertilizer may be of a single type or it could also be available as a blend of different nutrients and trace elements.
If you’ve always desired a magnificent garden or lawn but were unable to create one yourself, fertilizers are a great way to do so. They not only enrich the soil with various minerals and other elements but also aid the development of the plant. There are many different kinds of fertilizers available in the market, so it is important to know about their types before utilizing them in the field or garden.
Types of fertilizers
Bio-fertilizer:
In nature, there are a various amount of valuable microorganisms which play a vital role in plant development by helping them reach and absorb nutrients. Their utility can be improved with human help by selecting and screening for the most efficient organisms, culturing them and adding them back to the soil, either directly or as coatings on the seeds. The cultured microorganisms are also applied with the help of some carrier materials and are thus known as Bio-fertilizers.
Organic fertilizers:
Organic fertilizers are made of a material that occurs naturally and are biodegradable. An organic fertilizer could comprise of the following compounds:
- Deposits of minerals
- Peat moss
- Compost
- Seaweed
- Animal manure
Organic fertilizers are excellent in their terms since they are good for field and gardens alike. As soon as an organic fertilizer is in use, it starts exerting its beneficial effects into the soil and in the plants. Furthermore, these fertilizers improve soil health and productivity in the long term.
Inorganic fertilizers:
These come in different forms such as liquid, powdered or granular that comes in bags boxes. Inorganic fertilizers mostly consist of concentrated ammonia diluted with water. Commonly, inorganic fertilizers are used to treat industrial fields since they are less expensive and can be synthesised with no effort on a larger scale. Inorganic fertilizers are less bulky than their organic counterpart and thus nutrients can be carried to different parts of the plant easily.
Chemical nitrogenous fertilizer:
Such fertilizers are rich in nitrogen content. Nitrogen in the fertilizer is converted into ammonia and is dissolved when water from the rain or any other source wets the area. The nutrients from the fertilizers are then carried through the ground and it finally reaches the plant root system. Nitrogenous fertilizers are commonly available as pellets or in the form of white granules that are utilized before or during planting.
Complete fertilizer/ NPK fertilizer:
Compound fertilizers do not always get adjusted to the various types of soils. Therefore a form of fertilizer that consists of more than two minerals or elements in reasonable proportions is utilized. Such fertilizers get acclimatized easily to different types of soils they are mixed with. A blend of different types of fertilizers eliminates various deficiencies in the plant and the soil. These fertilizers require less labour for applying to the soil. The blend consists of three primary nutrients which are Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium. Such fertilizers are called complete fertilizers.
Online course on agribusiness at James Lind Institute
To learn more about the different types of fertilizers and their application in agriculture, enroll yourself in an online training programme on agribusiness being launched at James Lind Institute. This module acquaints you with various aspects of agriculture and allied fields. James Lind Institute provides online training courses in various fields such as clinical development, public health and tropical medicine, pharmaceutical medicine, medical communication and journalism and social and environmental sciences. The globally accredited and industry-specific training fine-tunes your skills to match the needs of the ever-growing market. James Lind Institute will soon be launching online training programs on agribusiness. For more details, please visit www.jliedu.com
