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Liquid Fertilizer
Name: Gary S.
Status: educator
Age: 60s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1999-2001
Question:
What is the chemical composition of commercial liquid fertilizer. I
am inquiring about liquid nitrogen fertilizer, is it delivered in an
insoluble form or is it a part of a more complex compound. Also, is it
possible to mix my own for pasture and crop application?
Replies:
The following may be helpful re. fertilizers in general.
http://www.uog.edu/cals/site/users/soil/soil/fertft5a.html
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/soilfert.htm
You might want to have your soil tested, and then you can determine what to
add based on its requirements. Recommend checking with your local/state
agricultural extension service.
Anthony R. Brach, Ph.D
Liquid fertilizer is just a solution of water-soluble compounds. Many
compounds can be used for fertilizer. Common nitrogen-containing compounds
used are urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium phosphate. Some farmers
directly apply ammonia to the soil; this is fairly cheap on a per-pound
basis, but ammonia tends to evaporate rapidly.
Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois
The composition of a commercial fertilizer can be found on the label. You
will see three numbers, for example: 25-18-6. The first number is the %
nitrogen, the second number is the % phosphorus, and the third number is the
% potash (potassium). These are the three major substances required by
plants, and in different proportions depending upon the plant, the
season....
The N,P, and K are obviously not present in their elemental form, but that
is how the relative amounts are expressed.
Vince Calder
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Update: June 2012
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