Today most commercial fertilizers will mark its recipe in a NPK mode, which means the ratio of three elements included in the fertilizer, namely, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium.
This NPK ratio can present a clear description about the composition of each main elements included in this type of fertilizer and thus help you choose the right type for your garden.
To better understand the fertilizer NPK ratio, here is an example for illustration.
Let's say a 100kg pack of fertilizer is marked as 10-10-10.
This means the N, P and K all accounts for 10% of the total weight, which will be 10kg respectively.
To learn to use a type of fertilizer with a special NPK ratio, we also need to know the functionalities of each element.
Nitrogen is the main building blocks of the plants' body components such as leaves, stems and branches.
For plants with abundant green leaves such as lettuce, the needs for nitrogen will be high.
Some plants can get nitrogen from the air and secure them in their body as well.
The most famous example will be the plants from the bean family.
When the fertilizer is applied to the soil, the nitrogen is very easily to be taken away be the surrounding water from the rain or irrigation.
So, for those leafy plants, the nitrogen should be replenished frequently during rainy days.
Phosphorus is a vital element for the growth of the seeds and roots.
To feed young seedlings, the percentage of the phosphorus in the fertilizer should be higher compared with adult plants.
This element can help plants to build up their root system.
So, for those "root" plants such as turnips, we need to apply fertilizers with abundant phosphorus to them during their growth.
Compared with nitrogen, phosphorus can stay longer in the soil like a couple of years.
So, this element should be adequate in most soil types, and you just need to put more phosphorus during the growth of the plants.
The last element of the NPK is "K" standing for Potassium.
This element is mainly responsible for the production of the plants such as flowers or products.
It is also vital for the plant's immune system to fight for diseases.
For plants which produce fruits, the potassium should be plenty during their growth.
Like the Phosphorus, the Potassium can remain a relatively long time in the soil for more than two years.
However, you still need to apply them to some vegetable or fruit plants to ensure the good quality of the yield.
This NPK ratio can present a clear description about the composition of each main elements included in this type of fertilizer and thus help you choose the right type for your garden.
To better understand the fertilizer NPK ratio, here is an example for illustration.
Let's say a 100kg pack of fertilizer is marked as 10-10-10.
This means the N, P and K all accounts for 10% of the total weight, which will be 10kg respectively.
To learn to use a type of fertilizer with a special NPK ratio, we also need to know the functionalities of each element.
Nitrogen is the main building blocks of the plants' body components such as leaves, stems and branches.
For plants with abundant green leaves such as lettuce, the needs for nitrogen will be high.
Some plants can get nitrogen from the air and secure them in their body as well.
The most famous example will be the plants from the bean family.
When the fertilizer is applied to the soil, the nitrogen is very easily to be taken away be the surrounding water from the rain or irrigation.
So, for those leafy plants, the nitrogen should be replenished frequently during rainy days.
Phosphorus is a vital element for the growth of the seeds and roots.
To feed young seedlings, the percentage of the phosphorus in the fertilizer should be higher compared with adult plants.
This element can help plants to build up their root system.
So, for those "root" plants such as turnips, we need to apply fertilizers with abundant phosphorus to them during their growth.
Compared with nitrogen, phosphorus can stay longer in the soil like a couple of years.
So, this element should be adequate in most soil types, and you just need to put more phosphorus during the growth of the plants.
The last element of the NPK is "K" standing for Potassium.
This element is mainly responsible for the production of the plants such as flowers or products.
It is also vital for the plant's immune system to fight for diseases.
For plants which produce fruits, the potassium should be plenty during their growth.
Like the Phosphorus, the Potassium can remain a relatively long time in the soil for more than two years.
However, you still need to apply them to some vegetable or fruit plants to ensure the good quality of the yield.
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