Kurdistan RegionIraq Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific

Kurdistan Region-Iraq Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Salahaddin University–Erbil Sources and Forms of Fertilizer By Yahya A. Almunim

FERTILIZERS Fertilizer is any material of natural or synthetic origin added to the soil to supply one or more plant nutrients.

CLASSIFICATION OF FERTILIZERS complete Fertilizers Incomplete Fertilizers

1. Complete fertilizer Is referred to a fertilizer material which contains three major nutrient (N, P and K)

2. Incomplete fertilizer Fertilizers materials which lacks any one of (3) major nutrient elements

3. Straight fertilizers are those which supply one primary plant nutrient, namely nitrogen or phosphorus or potassium. E. g. Urea, ammonium sulphate, potassium chloride and potassium sulphate.

4. Complex fertilizers contain two or three primary plant nutrients of which two primary nutrients are in chemical combination. These fertilizers are usually produced in granular form E. g. Diammonium phosphate, nitrophosphates and ammonium phosphate.

5. Mixed fertilizers A mixture of two or more straight fertilizer material is referred to as mixed fertilizer or fertilizer mixture. • Mixed fertilizers are physical mixtures of fertilizer materials containing tow or three major plant nutrients. • Mixed fertilizers are made by thoroughly mixing the ingredients either mechanically or manually.

Fertilizers can also be classified based on physical form • Solid fertilizers Liquid fertilizers

Solid fertilizers are in several forms • Powder (single superphosphate) • • • Crystals (ammonium sulphate) Prills (urea, diammonium phosphate, superphosphate) Granules (Holland granules) Supergranules (urea supergranules) Briquettes (urea briquettes) Urea prills Ammonium sulphate Granulated urea

Liquid fertilizers • Liquid form fertilizers are applied with irrigation water or for application. • Ease of handling • less labour requirement • liquid fertilizers more acceptable to farmers.

TYPES OF FERTILIZERS

A. Nitrogenous fertilizers More than 80 per cent of the fertilizers used in this country are made up of nitrogenous fertilizers, particularly urea.

For example Urea [CO (NH 2)2] • It is the most concentrated solid nitrogenous fertilizer, containing 46 % nitrogen. • It is a white crystalline substance readily soluble in water.

B. Phosphatic fertilizers are chemical substances that contain the nutrient for plants

For example • Triple super phosphate: • The concentrated super phosphate is called as Triple super phosphate and it contains 46% P 2 O 5. • This fertilizer is suitable for all crops and all soils. • It can be applied before or at sowing.

C. Potassic fertilizers There a limited number of fertilizer materials that can be used to supply K when needed.

For example Potassium chloride (KCI) • Potassium chloride or muriate of potash is a white or red, crystal containing 60. 0 % K 2 O. • It is completely soluble in water and therefore readily available to the crops. • It can be applied at sowing or before or after sowing.

References: • Tandon, HLS (1999) Methods of analysis of soils, waters, and fertilizers, New Delhi (India).

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