CLASSIFICATION OF
FERTILISERS
Fertilizers
Straight Complex Mixed
• Straight fertilizers are • Complex fertilizers • Mixed fertilizers
those which supply contain 2 or 3 are physical
only one primary primary plant mixtures of
plant nutrient (N, P & nutrients of which straight fertilisers.
K). two primary nutrients • They contain two
• E.g. Urea, are in chemical or three primary
Ammonium sulphate, combination. plant nutrients.
Potassium chloride • Usually produced in • made by
and Potassium granular form. thoroughly mixing
sulphate. the ingredients
• Diammonium either
phosphate, mechanically or
Nitrophosphates, manually.
Ammonium
phosphate
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
PHYSICAL FORM:
SOLID LIQUID
FERTILIZERS FERTILIZERS
• Powder (single • Liquid form fertilizers are
superphosphate) applied with irrigation water or
• Crystals (Ammonium sulphate) for direct application.
• Prills (Urea, Diammonium • 2 types-
phosphate, superphosphate) • 1- clear liquid fertilisers (when
• Granules (Holland granules) the fertilisers are completely
dissolved in water)
• Supergranules (Urea
supergranules) • 2- Suspension liquid fertilisers
(when fertilisers are suspended
• Briquettes (Urea briquettes) as fine particles in water)
FERTILIZER GRADE:
• Fertiliser grade refers to the minimum percentage of
nitrogen(N), Phosphorus(P₂O₅) & Potash(K₂O) present
in fertilizer material.
• Fertilizer analysis expresses weight as a percent of
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
Fertilizer Analysis
For Example
A 100 kg bag of fertilizer has an grade of 15-5-18.
• Nitrogen: 100 X 15%=15 Kg
• Phosphorus: 100 X 5%=5 Kg
• Potassium: 100 X 18%=18 Kg
• Easily available to the plants as
AMMONIACAL they are readily soluble in water.
FERTILISERS
• Leaching losses are less as
• Ammonium
ammonium ions are adsorbed on
sulphate
clay complex.
((NH₄)₂SO₄)
• Reduce alkalinity as they are
• Ammonium
acidic in their residual effect on
chloride (NH₄Cl)
the soils.
• Anhydrous
• Well suited to submerged soils.
ammonia (NH₃)
NITRATE &
AMMONIACAL
FERTILISERS • Easily available to the plants as
• Ammonium nitrate they are readily soluble in water.
(NH₄NO₃) • Leaching losses are less.
• CaNH₄NO₃ - • Reduce alkalinity as they are
Calcium acidic in their residual effect on
ammonium nitrate the soils.
(CAN)
AMIDE FERTILISERS OR ORGANIC
FERTILIZERS
• Urea (CO(NH)₂)
• Calcium cyanide (CaCN₂)
Fertilizers Forms of nutrient N% Others Nature
KNO₃ Nitrate 13.85 K₂O-46-47 Basic
Ca(NO₃)₂ Nitrate 15.5 Ca-19.4 Basic
NaNO₃ Nitrate 16 Basic
(NH₄)₂SO₄ Ammoniacal 20.6-21 S-24.5 Acidic
NH₄Cl Ammoniacal 25.5-26 Cl-66 Acidic
(NH₄)₂SO₄ . Ammoniacal 26 S-15 Acidic
NH₄NO₃
CAN Ammoniacal and 25-28 Neutral
Nitrate
NH₄NO₃ 50%- Ammonium 33-35 Acidic
(Highly 50%- Nitrate
hygroscopic)
Anhydrous Ammoniacal 80-82 Highly Acidic
ammonia
Urea Amide 46 Acidic
[CO(NH₂)₂]
CaCN₂ Amide 20.6-21 Basic
Phosphorus content in fertilizers is expressed in
oxidized form (P₂O₅).
In soil and plant phosphorus is expressed in elemental
form.
CLASSIFICATION OF PHOSPHATIC
FERTILIZERS:
B: CITRIC ACID SOLUBLE PHOSPHORIC ACID
• They are basic in reaction P₂O₅
%
so suitable for acid soil.
DCP 34-39
• Mostly suitable for long (Dicalcium
duration crops like Sugar phosphate)
cane, Tapioca, Tea, Basic slag 14-18
Coffee, Low land rice.
CLASSIFICATION OF PHOSPHATIC
FERTILIZERS:
C: CITRIC ACID & WATER INSOLUBLE
PHOSPHORIC ACID
• Mostly suitable for P₂O₅
%
strongly acidic and
Rock phosphate 20-40
organic soil.
• Suitable for plantation Raw bone meal 2-2.5
crops like tea, coffee,
rubber, cocoa and Steamed bone meal 22
coconut.
Potash content in fertilizers is expressed in oxidized
form (K₂O).
In soil and plant phosphorus is expressed in elemental
form.
CLASSIFICATION OF POTASSIC
FERTILIZERS:
A: CHLORIDE FORM
• Fertiliser is suitable for acidic K₂O
(%)
and heavy soils but not suitable
for alkaline soil.
• Presence of chloride in the MOP (Muriate 58-60
fertlisers make it unsuitable for of Potash) or
POTASSIUM
sugar crops, tobacco and potato. CHLORIDE
(KCl)
CLASSIFICATION OF POTASSIC
FERTILIZERS:
B: NON-CHLORIDE FORM
• KNO₃ is an K₂O
(%)
excellent source of
POTASSIUM 48-50 S-17.5
potassium and
SULPHATE
nitrogen.
• It is mainly used POTASSIUM 22 Mg-11
MAGNESIUM S-22
for fruit trees and
SULPHATE
crops such as
tobacco and POTASSIUM 44 N-13
vegetables. NITRATE or
SALT PETRE or
NITRE
Bio fertilizers
Biofertilizers are natural fertilizers that are microbial
inoculants of bacteria, algae and fungi (separately or
in combination).
which may help biological nitrogen fixation for the
benefit of plants.
They help build up the soil micro-flora and there by the
soil health.
Biofertilizer also include organic fertilizers(manure,
etc.)
Use of bio-fertilizer is recommended for improving the
soil fertility in organic farming
Bacteria:
Symbiotic nitrogen fixers.
Rhizobium, Azospirillum spp
Free living nitrogen fixers.
Azotobacter, Klebsiella etc.,
Algal biofertilizers:
BGA in association with Azolla
Anabena, Nostoc, Ocillatoria
Phosphate solubilising bacteria:
Pseudomonas, Bacillus megaterium
Fungal biofertilizer
VAM
Earthworms
Bacterial Bio-Fertilizers
Symbiotic nitrogen fixers.
Most important symbiotic Nitrogen fixing bacteria is
Rhizobium and Azospirillum.
Rhizobium:
Rhizobium lives in the root hairs of the legumes by
forming nodules
Plant root supply essential minerals and newly synthesized
substance to the bacteria
The name Rhizobium was established by
Frank in 1889.
Azotobactor
Azotobactor is a heterotrophic free living nitrogen fixing
bacteria present in alkaline and neutral soils.
Azotobactor is the most commonly occurring species in
arable soils of India.
Apart from its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in soils, it
can also synthesize growth promoting substances such as
auxins and gibberellins and also to some extent the
vitamins.
Algae as a biofertilizer
Another group of free living nitrogen fixers are cyanobacteria.
Commonly called as Blue green algae.
More than 100 species of BGA can fix nitrogen.
Nitrogen fixation takes place in specialized cells called
‘Heterocyst’
BGA very common in rice field.
Unlike Azotobacter BGA are not inhibited by the presence of
chemical fertilizers.
No chemical fertilizers added, inoculation of the algae can
result in 10-14% increase in crop yields.
Azolla as a bio fertilizer
Azolla is a tiny fresh water fern common in ponds, ditches and
rice fields.
It has been used as a biofertilizer for a rice in all major rice
growing countries including India, Thailand, Korea, Philippines,
Brazil and West Africa.
The nitrogen fixing work is
accomplished by the symbiotic
relationship between the fern and BGA,
Anabena azollae.
In addition to nitrogen the decomposed
Azolla also provides K, P, Zn and Fe to the
crop
Advantage of biofertilizers
Renewable source of nutrients
Sustain soil health
Supplement chemical fertilizers.
Replace 25-30% chemical fertilizers
Increase the grain yields by 10-40%.
Decompose plant residues, and stabilize C:N ratio of soil
Improve texture, structure and water holding capacity of soil
No adverse effect on plant growth and soil fertility.
Stimulates plant growth by secreting growth hormones.
Secrete fungistatic and antibiotic like substances
Solubilize and mobilize nutrients
Eco-friendly, non-pollutants and cost effective method
Disadvantages
Biofertilizers require special care for long-term storage
because they are alive.
must be used before their expiry date.
If other microorganisms contaminate the carrier medium or
if growers use the wrong strain, they are not as effective.
Biofertilizers lose their effectiveness if the soil is too hot or
dry.
