When looking at fertilizers and deciding which one to buy, you might notice an NPK label, followed by several numbers. Typically they’re written in a series such as 10-10-10, 20-20-20, 20-5-5, etc. If you’re wondering what is NPK fertilizer, today’s your lucky day!
If you haven’t dealt with fertilizers in the past, all of that may seem Greek to you. However, the truth is that those numbers are pretty significant – and it helps to know what NPK means, and what the numbers stand for.
What is NPK Fertilizer?
The simple answer for what is NPK fertilizer is this. Simply put, NPK stands for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium – the three main components of complete fertilizers. Plants require these nutrients to grow, and each will affect them in different ways:
Nitrogen
is mainly for leaf development and plays a role in its coloring and chlorophyll.
Phosphorus
helps to promote root growth, and can also affect blooming and fruiting.
Potassium
affects root growth, stem development, and the plant’s overall functions.
Because each of these nutrients has a different role, you must select a fertilizer with the right quantities of the nutrients your plant needs. For example, a leafy vegetable plant may require higher nitrogen than phosphorus. On the other hand, a flowering plant may require more phosphorus instead.
It should be noted that choosing the wrong fertilizer can be detrimental to some plants. For example, if you select a fertilizer high in nitrogen but not phosphorus, it may force the plant to focus on producing leaves instead of flowering.
What Do the NPK Numbers Stand For?
As you may have guessed, the NPK numbers represent the amount of each nutrient that is in the fertilizer in terms of Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K). For example:
- 10-10-10 would mean the fertilizer contains 10% Nitrogen, 10% Phosphorus, and 10% Potassium.
- 20-20-20 would mean the fertilizer contains 20% Nitrogen, 20% Phosphorus, and 20% Potassium.
- 20-5-5 would mean the fertilizer contains 20% Nitrogen, 5% Phosphorus, and 5% Potassium.
It should be noted that some fertilizers may only contain one macro-nutrient and may be labeled 10-0-0, 0-10-0, 0-0-10, and so on.
How to Choose
To choose the right fertilizer, you should not only take into account the type of plant – but also the soil. After all, plants absorb nutrients from the soil, and you will add fertilizer to the soil, not the plants.
In short, the liquid NPK fertilizer you choose should make up for any of the shortcomings of your soil to provide your plant with the nutrients it needs.
If your soil is high in phosphorus and potassium but low in nitrogen, you should choose a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen.
Remember, your first step should be to get your soil tested. Based on the results, you can decide which fertilizer is best to supplement the nutrients it contains.
Truth About NPK Fertilizers
NPK fertilizers may be good for the plants when you initially use them to improve crop growth, but that fades away when you look at the disadvantages of using them. Here’s a list of all the ways NPK fertilizers should be used sparingly:
- They compromise tree root systems
- Block the uptake of micronutrients
- Encourages attack of harmful pests
- Pollute waterways, thereby affecting aquatic life
Alternatives to NPK fertilizers:
- Compost
- Manure
- Bone meal
- Vermicompost
Look for products with the following ratio:
- No phosphorous
- Low to no nitrogen
- Beneficial bacteria
- Beneficial fungi
Using alternatives will help you preserve the soil’s health and ensure that you are not compromising on your and your consumer’s health. The natural source of these nutrients such as potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other micronutrients help promote healthy plant growth.
This reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers. In addition, the soil organic matter content, microbial diversity, and productivity. They are great for nutrient retention, and soil nutrient cycling and improve soil phosphorous levels naturally.
This is essential for phosphorous-deficient soil, where these types of fertilizers add to that deficient nutrient in the soil. Thereby, helping the soil microorganisms and the plants thrive.
Conclusion
That’s all about what is NPK fertilizer and how it helps your soil. The article also discusses the meaning of the numbers associated with these fertilizers. There are a lot of benefits to using this fertilizer for plant growth, however, they come with harm too.
The use of NPK fertilizer is a lot less now, with all the negative effects that were reported over the years. Once the best fertilizer in agriculture, slowly organic fertilizers are replacing them. After all, production may increase, but the negative impact is greater. For instance, to the health of the soil.
Share the article with your friends with a green thumb!
Frequently Asked Questions
A good NPK fertilizer ratio stands at 4:2:1 as it has proven benefits for plants. This ratio of nutrients acts as an efficient and balanced source of nutrition for the plants. 4:2:1 fertilizer is ideal for macro-level monitoring of plant nutrient consumption.
You can use this fertilizer either through the leafy spray method or drip irrigation method. The dose of this fertilizer is nearly 1.5-2 grams per liter of water. It depends on the soil and plant type.
Thus, it is best to consider both these factors and consult an expert before you use it for your plants.
The triple 20 NPK fertilizer is a great source of nutrients for the plant as it provides the major nutrients in equal quantity. This is what makes it suitable for use in plants throughout their lifecycle.
This ratio of the fertilizer is great for supporting both, the growth and blooming phases
You can easily use the foliar spray when spraying on plants by mixing 1-2 grams in 1 liter of water. If you want to use this formula for soil application, dissolve 3-5 grams in a liter of water, then spray it around the root zone. Repeat this for 10-15 days during the growth phase.
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