Translations:Fertilizer/12/en

Mechanism

Six tomato plants grown with and without nitrate fertilizer on nutrient-poor sand/clay soil. One of the plants in the nutrient-poor soil has died.

Inorganic fertilizer use by region

Fertilizers enhance the growth of plants. This goal is met in two ways, the traditional one being additives that provide nutrients. The second mode by which some fertilizers act is to enhance the effectiveness of the soil by modifying its water retention and aeration. This article, like many on fertilizers, emphasizes the nutritional aspect. Fertilizers typically provide, in varying proportions:

• Three main macronutrients (NPK):
  • Nitrogen (N): leaf growth and stems
  • Phosphorus (P): development of roots, flowers, seeds and fruit;
  • Potassium (K): strong stem growth, movement of water in plants, promotion of flowering and fruiting;
• three secondary macronutrients: calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S);
• Micronutrients: copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn), and boron (B). Of occasional significance are silicon (Si), cobalt (Co), and vanadium (V).