Kinds and Uses of Fertilizer
Kinds and Uses of Fertilizer
Fertilizers are substances added to the soil that are able to increase soil fertility.
2 Kinds of Fertilizer:
1. Organic fertilizer or natural fertilizer —
is fertilizer made of decayed plants and animal waste.
2. Inorganic fertilizer or artificial fertilizer —
consists of commercially prepared fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, superphosphate and muriate of potash.
Ways of Applying Fertilizers:
1. Band application
— is done by digging furrows around each plant
2. Broadcast method
— is done by scattering fertilizers uniformly on the soil
3. Side dressing/. localized application
- application of fertilizers close to the seed or around the growing plant
4. Foliar application
— is done by dissolving fertilizer in water and applying through a spray
Organic Fertilizers:
1. Animal Manure - contains much organic materials valuable to the growth of crops. It should be dried before it is applied to the soil as fertilizers.
2. Green Manure - planting leguminous crops over the areas and when they bear flowers, they are plowed and left to the soil until they decompose and become fertilizers for the crops.
3. Composting - the process of changing plant and animal waste into the simplest organic materials used as fertilizer.
Common Methods of Composting:
1. Compost pit method - done by digging a pit big enough to accommodate cut grass and other dried plants in the garden.
2. Compost heap method - organic matter are piled just on top of the ground without digging a pit.
Function of the 3 major fertilizer elements:
1. Nitrogen - gives a dark color to the plants and promotes their growth. It increases the protein contents of the food crops.
2. Phosphorus - aids in root development, flowering and seed formation. It promotes the rapid growth of plants and hastens maturation of crops.
3. Potassium - increases vigor and disease resistance in plants. It strengthens the straw, stalks and stems of the plants.