What is Fertilizer?
{{Distinguish|Fertilization}} A '''fertilizer''' is a [[chemical]] that helps [[plant]]s to grow. It is used to replace the [[mineral]] [[salt]]s taken by [[plant]]s or removed/washed away by [[rain]]. Common fertilizers: * [[Ammonia]] * [[Manure]] (Animal [[waste]]) which was the first fertilizer. * [[Compost]] * [[Urea]] The important things in fertilizer are: * [[Nitrogen]] (N) * [[Phosphorus]] (P) * [[Potash]] (K) When fertilizers are offered for sale, the percentage of N, P, and K must be written on the bags or boxes, but for historcal reasons, P is shown as %P2O5 and K is shown as %K2O. E.g.:9-23-30 which means: 9% N, 23%P2O5 and 30%K2O. In [[Australia]] the percent of elemental [[sulfur]] must also be shown. In the UK, the elemental composition (in percentages) may also be shown alongside the mandatory traditional system, provided the numbers are put inside square brackets. [[Leaf]]y [[plant]]s need lots of N. [[Flower]]ing plants need lots of P and K. A [[soil test]] can tell how much N, P, and K is needed. ==Related pages== *[[Farming]] {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Fertilizers| ]] <!-- interwiki -->