Fertilizer is a substance used to improve the growth of plants, and it can come in a variety of forms and compositions. In this article, we will discuss the different types of fertilizer so that you can better understand what you need for your garden or lawn.
#1 Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers are derived from plant or animal sources. They are usually mixed with soil, composted, and left to decompose before use.
Compost
Compost is made by combining organic material such as leaves, grass clippings, hay, or manure. The resulting product can be added directly to the soil for nutrients and improved drainage. It also improves the structure of sandy soils (like those found in deserts), which helps prevent erosion by water or wind.
Manure
Manure contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) in varying amounts depending on what the animal was fed. For example, cow manure contains 10-15% N while horse manure has around 8-9% N.
Compost Tea
Compost tea is created by steep brewing a tea of high-quality compost using aeration equipment like an aquarium pump/air stone combination attached to a five-gallon bucket filled halfway with water and then topped off with fine particle-sized compost (no larger than 2mm). This mixture will sit for 24 hours before being strained through cheesecloth into another container where it will continue to brew for another 5 days at least once per day during that period so aeration can take place again each time this process occurs until all solids have been broken down completely leaving behind only liquid which can then be used as fertilizer.
The Fish Emulsion
The fish emulsion is one of the types of fertilizer that should be used when plants require an immediate boost in nutrients as well as long-term benefits over time because it’s more concentrated than other types of organic fertilizer products available today on store shelves; however, it must not be applied during periods when temperatures exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
#2 Inorganic Fertilizers
You may be familiar with inorganic fertilizers. These are the chemical concoctions you’ve seen advertised on TV and at your local garden center—they’re generally considered less expensive, more potent, and easier to apply than organic fertilizers. They include substances like ammonium sulfate (a nitrogen source), calcium nitrate (various sources), phosphate rock or superphosphate (“P” or “K” are phosphorus sources), potassium sulfate (potassium source), and urea (urea is an ammonia source).
Inorganic fertilizer comes in many different forms but all share one thing: they’re not made from animal or plant matter! This makes them less likely to rot before they can be absorbed by plants roots. All you need to do is to fire up your agricultural mechanization and spread it out meticulously.
#3 Nitrogen Fertilizers
Nitrogen is a nutrient that plants need to grow. It’s also the major component of plant proteins, which are essential for the production of chlorophyll and photosynthesis. Nitrogen is important for the synthesis of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins—and if you’ve ever eaten a steak or chicken breast, you know what an essential component protein is!
So why do we care about all this? Simple: if you want to grow healthy plants, then you’re going to need nitrogen fertilizer.
#4 Phosphate Fertilizers
Phosphate fertilizers are used to increase the availability of phosphorus in the soil. They can be applied to lawns, golf courses, and other turfgrass as well as agriculture and horticulture.
This type of fertilizer is available in several forms; most commonly it’s applied as a liquid or granular product. The liquid form is generally applied through irrigation systems while granular products are spread over large areas by hand or with a spreader.
#5 Potassium Fertilizers
Potassium is a nutrient that is important for plant growth and development. The plant uses it to form protein, flowers, fruit, and more. It helps the plants become healthier overall, which means you have an even better chance of getting the results you want!
Conclusion
So that’s it! We hope this article helped you to understand the different types of fertilizers out there. Now go get your garden growing in no time!
Author bio
Travis Dillard is a business consultant and an organizational psychologist based in Arlington, Texas. Passionate about marketing, social networks, and business in general. In his spare time, he writes a lot about new business strategies and digital marketing for Life&Style Hub.
