Plants prepare their food by the process of photosynthesis. In this process, plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide & water. Therefore, photosynthesis covers 95% of the plant’s food requirement. Plants require oxygen for respiration, just like we do. However, to stay healthy plants need basic nutrients, supplementary nutrients & micronutrients.
1. Basic nutrients need
Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) are 3 major essential nutrients that are provided via soil.
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2. Supplementary nutrients
Calcium, Magnesium & sulfur are also essential nutrients, but are required in a moderate amount in the soil.
3. Micronutrients
Iron, Boron, Copper, Zinc, Molybdenum, & chlorine are mineral nutrients that are required in a very less amount in the soil. These play a key role in plant growth.
• Following Are A Few All-Round Fertilizers to Use
1. Organic Fertilizers
All organic fertilizers release nutrients slowly & steadily over a period. Organic fertilizers are required to be provided in bulk i.e. larger quantities for an insured continuous supply of nutrients. They increase the humus content of the soil, keeping the soil moist & overall improving health & quality of the soil.
2. Cow Dung Manure
It is most commonly available organic fertilizer in India. Well, rotten cow-dung manure should be used instead of fresh cow-dung. Ideal cow-dung manure is black, moist powdered form.
3. Bio-Compost
Compost is obtained from the process of home or farm level composting. It’s either done in composter or compost pit. Compost is made from household green waste & farmyard brown waste.
4. Leaf Mould
It is a form of compost exclusively made by the fungal & bacterial breakdown of dry leaves. Leaf mould is good quality humus. It is used as rooting medium for stem cutting & pot mixture for orchids & ferns.
Also Read:What is Leaf Mould & How to Make It
5. Vermicompost
It is manure obtained from the disintegration of organic waste by earthworms. Vermicompost is moist, dark, consistent manure with a slow & steady supply of nutrients.
6. Chemical Fertilizers
These are available in granular or powdered or liquid form. Chemical fertilizers are strong & concentrated, therefore they are provided to plants in lesser quantity.
• Basic Types of Chemical Fertilizers
1. Nitrates (The leaf makers)
These fertilizers are high in nitrogen. Nitrate helps plants to grow faster by encouraging the formation of more & more leaves.
Common Nitrates: Ammonium sulphate, Ammonium chloride, Calcium-ammonium nitrate, Urea.
2. Phosphates (The root makers)
These fertilizers are high in phosphorus. Phosphates encourage root formation & rapid root growth; hence helping the overall growth of plants.
Common Phosphates: Single Super phosphate, Basic slag, Rock phosphate.Buy phosphate fertilizers Multipeak and Multibloom online in India.
3. Potash (The fruit makers)
These fertilizers are high in potassium. Potash fertilizers encourage flower & fruit formation in plants. The addition of potash leads to increased fruit production, with high quality, better tasting, shiny fruits.
Common Potash: Muriate of Potash(60%), Sulphate of Potash(50%).
4. Mixed fertilizers (N:P:K)
These are combinations of all 3 NPK. Therefore these are given to plants as complete fertilizers for better growth of leaves, roots, flowers & fruits.
Common combinations: Nitrophosphate (20:20:0), Mono Ammonium phosphate (11:18:0), Diammonium phosphate (21:54:0), Nitrophosphate with potash- Suphala (15:15:15), Sampurna (19:19:19).
• Micronutrients
These are given in lesser quantity to plants for enhanced growth. Micronutrients are provided in case if plants are showing deficiency of any particular micronutrient. They are given as basal dose during plantation or during top dressing of garden plants. Many brands of micronutrients are available in market. eg. Mixol Micromix Chelated (EDTA).
