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Fertilizers typically provide, in varying proportions, the three major plant nutrients ( nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), the secondary plant nutrients ( calcium, sulfur, magnesium), and sometimes trace elements (or micronutrients) with a role in plant nutrition: boron, manganese, iron, zinc, copperCopper is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. Notable characteristics Copper is a reddish-coloured metal, with a high electrical and thermal conductivity (among pure metals at room temperature, only silver and molybdenumMolybdenum is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Mo and atomic number 42. Notable characteristics Molybdenum is a transition metal. The pure metal is silvery white in color and very hard, and has one of the highest melting points.
The three primary ingredients of fertilizers are listed on the fertilizer bags as nitrogen, phosphateIn chemistry, a phosphate is a polyatomic ion or radical consisting of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen. In the ionic form, it carries a -3 formal charge, and is denoted PO3-. In a biochemical setting, a free phosphate ion in solution is called inorgan and potashPotash is the common name of potassium hydroxide ( K OH), a substance that has been used since antiquity in the manufacture of glass and soap, and as a fertilizer. The name comes from the English words pot and ash referring to its discovery in the water- as three numbers, indicating the ratios in that order. Thus a 5-10-5 fertilizer would have 10 per cent phosphate in its ingredients.
ManureManure is the term used to refer to the droppings, dung, feces (faeces) or excrement of plant-eating mammals ( herbivores) and poultry. Mammal droppings consist of large amounts of partially digested plant material broken down into small fragments. As the was once the dominant fertilizer, and is still used, but its role is greatly diminished. Fertilizer can be created either from natural organicOrganic has several meanings and related topics. Its original meaning is "Part of or derived from living matter". It can be related to, or derived from living organisms: organic matter. It can mean, relating to, or affecting a bodily organ: an organic dis material such as manureManure is the term used to refer to the droppings, dung, feces (faeces) or excrement of plant-eating mammals ( herbivores) and poultry. Mammal droppings consist of large amounts of partially digested plant material broken down into small fragments. As the or compostCompost is the decomposed remnants of organic materials (those with plant and animal origins). Compost is used in gardening and agriculture, mixed in with the soil. It improves soil structure, increases the amount of organic matter, and provides nutrients (see also organic gardening), or artificially as through the Haber-Bosch process which produces ammonia. This ammonia is used to produce nitric acid. A reaction product of ammonia and nitric acid already gives Ammonium nitrate which is a fertilizer product. The nitric acid and ammonia also can be used in the Odda Process to produce compound fertilizers such as 15-15-15.The Haber-Bosch process uses about one percent of the Earth's total energy supply in order to provide half of the nitrogen needed in agriculture. Organic material has the advantage of adding carbon compounds to the soil. A major source of soil fertility is the decomposing crop residue from prior years, though this is not considered "fertilizer."
Justus von Liebig wrote in 1840 the law of the minimum required by the plant.Over-use of fertilizer can lead to algal blooms in lakes and streams that receive run-off from crop lands, and lead to long-term degradation of the soil; see in this regard eutrophication and nutrients. For these reasons, it is recommended that knowledge of the nutrient requirements of the soil vis-a-vis the crop precede applications of commercial fertilizer. In short, excess nutrient elements can cause local soil and off-site damage, as well as waste money.