To be able to grow, develop, and produce at their best, plants must have specific elements or compounds called plant essential nutrients.

A plant that lacks an essential nutrient cannot complete its life cycle—the seed may not germinate; the plant may not be able to develop roots, stems, leaves, or flowers properly; or it may not be able to produce seeds to create new plants.

However, having too much of a nutrient can harm and even kill plants. For example, having too much nitrogen can cause a plant to grow more leaves but less or no fruit. Too much of Magnesium can hamper the absorption of Potassium and Calcium just to mention but a few...

As farmers, it's not enough to walk into an agro store to buy whichever fertilizer is available and affordable. It's better if we have an idea of the

a) functions of these nutrients
b) stage at which they are required
c) quantity required at each growth stage
d) the effect of adding too much
e) way to reverse the effect of excess nutrient addition which I call Plants' First Aid

There are different types of plant nutrients but they have been categorized by scientists into 3 groups according to the the relative amount of each that plants need, they are:

PRIMARY nutrients, also known as macronutrients, are those usually required in the largest amounts. They are carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and potassium.

SECONDARY nutrients are those usually needed in moderate amounts compared to the primary nutrients. The secondary nutrients are calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.

MICRO - or trace nutrients are required in tiny amounts compared to primary or secondary nutrients. Micronutrients are boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc

Now that we have mentioned the category of plant nutrients, let's talk briefly on each especially the 3 major Primary nutrients:
Nitrogen : Phosphorus : Potassium
N : P : K

I have had so many customers approach me and say 'Ceda I need NPK fertilizer'... My next question will be 'what type of NPK do you need'?

Note: All Fertilizers whether organic or inorganic are made up of NPK, I mean Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium sometimes with other nutrients included. This means you can tell the value of NPK in your poultry dung, rabbit dung, green manure etc

I know someone is saying what of Fertilizers like Calcium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrate etc do they contain this formula as well?

YES, they do
Potassium Nitrate contains NPK 13-0-46, I have seen a brand of Haifa thats 15-8-33 and they still refer to it as Potassium nitrate

13-0-46 - in this case, we have 13% Nitrogen, 0% Phosphorus and 46% Potassium... If micronutrients are included, it will be stated on the package

Magnesium Sulphate contains 0-0-0-16MgO
This translates into 0% Nitrogen, 0% Phosphorus, 0% Potassium and 16% Magnesium


The essence of having a basic idea of the formula of your fertilizer is to know what exactly you are feeding your plants.

Now we will be looking at the major Macro nutrients, what it does to your plants, signs of their deficiencies etc Stay tuned

Hello, if you sell these products, we will be happy to know the prices. Thanks.

FarmTech:
Hello, if you sell these products, we will be happy to know the prices. Thanks.

Yes, I do. You can check out prices of our products on Cedagro.com

Cedagrochemical:


Yes, I do. You can check out prices of our products on Cedagro.com

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Ok