Fertilisers are an essential tool for plant growth, and in this module, you will learn all about them. This module is about fertilisers and their importance for plant growth. It covers the different types of fertilisers, how to read their labels, and how to make your own. Additionally, it provides guidance on fertiliser application methods.
Lesson Objectives
- Understand what fertilisers are and why they are important
- Identify the different types of fertilisers
- Understand how to read fertiliser labels
- Learn how to apply fertilisers and make your own
What are fertilisers?
Concentrated chemical or organic sources of plant nutrients can be found in fertilisers. The majority contain major plant nutrients, which plants require in significant quantities. Additionally, some contain trace elements, which plants only require in small quantities.
Three major nutrients make up most fertilisers, these are:
Nitrogen (N): Which promoted green leafy growth
Phosphorus (P): To create healthy roots and shoot growth
Potassium (K): Used for flowering, fruiting and general hardiness
Why are fertilisers important?
Plant growth can be boosted with fertilisers. Applying fertiliser will be more beneficial to the plant the faster it grows. Using fertilisers may result in a better display of blooms and a greater yield of edible crops, but this is only true if your soil is healthy.
Additionally, fertilisers can be utilised in locations where plants exhibit symptoms of nutrient deficiency, typically as yellowing or discolouration of the leaves.
Remember that applying fertiliser is just as important as maintaining a healthy soil structure and pH to prevent plant nutrient deficiencies.
Types of fertilisers
Organic
Organic fertilisers are produced from plant or animal materials and contain organic plant nutrients. Organic products tend t be slower acting, as soil organisms have broken down large organic molecules before the nutrients within them are released for plant use.
Examples of organic fertilisers include seaweed, fish blood & bone, and bone meal. Another organic fertiliser product includes Miracle-Gro Performance Organics All Purpose Concentrated Liquid Plant Food.
Inorganic
Inorganic fertilisers are synthetic artificial forms of plant nutrients or naturally occurring mined materials. Inorganic fertilisers are usually more concentrated and faster-acting than organic fertilisers.
Examples of inorganic fertilisers include Growmore, Miracle-Gro All Purpose Soluble Plant Food, and Phostrogen All Purpose Plant Food.
Controlled release
Controlled-release fertilisers are almost always granules of inorganic fertilisers coated with a porous material such as sulphur or synthetic resin. Water enters the granule and the composts filter out into the encompassing soil. The rate of leaching increases with soil temperature; this is in line with the fact that plants grow more quickly in warm weather.
Slow release
Slow-release fertilisers degrade slowly, usually under the influence of soil micro-organisms to release their nutrients and again are dependent on soil temperature. Hoof & horn and bone meal are two examples of these, which are typically organic.
Understanding fertiliser labels
The items in fertilisers, as depicted on the lable, can appear overwhelming. But the product’s composition and nutrient content are explained on the label, which can help you figure out what to buy and how to use it best. All fertiliser bottles need to show similar fundamental data. This makes it possible to compare two different garden fertiliser packages and clarify what is being purchased.
Components, for example, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, are the most helpful piece of fertiliser, as opposed to mixtures like phosphorus pentoxide and potassium oxide. As a result, a label typically contains two ratings: one for the element’s actual rating in brackets and another for the compound’s (oxygen) rating.
Application Guidelines: Garden fertiliser manufacturers typically include extensive information to assist gardeners in getting the most out of their products. Generic fertilisers like superphosphate and Growmore have recommendations based on experience and field trials, whereas major manufacturers will conduct tests and trials. Gardeners may need to use “trial and error,” ideally in conjunction with occasional soil analysis, to achieve the best results because guidelines cannot cover all possibilities.
Products Without Labels: Products not covered by fertiliser regulations may be sold as plant foods without stating how many nutrients they contain. Use of fertilisers that do not state their nutrient content should be avoided by gardeners because they may contain very few plant nutrients.
How to make your own fertiliser
If used in large quantities, comfrey, nettles, and liquid from wormeries are effective liquid fertilisers. They are less effective than chemical fertilisers but also safer and better for the environment.
Put about 1 kilogram of nettles in 10 litres of water, let it sit for about two weeks, and then use it at a dilution rate of 10: 1.
Put 1 kilogram of comfrey leaves in 15 litres of water, seal the container, and let it sit for six weeks before using it undiluted.
Wormery liquid should be diluted with water until it resembles weak tea, typically at a ratio of 10:1.
Fertiliser application
There are numerous ways of applying manures, and the technique you pick will mostly rely upon the item you are using.
Top dressing: To encourage growth, quick-acting fertilisers are typically applied to the soil surface around plants in the spring, at the beginning of the growing season. Avoid leaf contact, which can cause burning, and avoid applying too much, which could damage the roots and pollute the groundwater.
Base dressing: This is when fertiliser or potting compost is added to the soil before sowing or planting.
Watering on: During the growing season, soluble powders and granules or liquid fertilisers can be dissolved or diluted and sprayed onto plant roots with water to boost them immediately. They are mostly used for feeding plants in pots, bedding, and greenhouses. Liquid fertilisers make the nutrients available immediately. Leaf contact can cause scorching, so caution must be taken.
Foliar feeding: This is applying a diluted fertiliser solution to the leaves of plants. It can be used as an emergency treatment to fix nutrient deficiencies or to give plants quick extra food. The undersides of leaves and young leaves that are just starting to grow to absorb liquid fertiliser more readily than other leaf areas. Applying fertilisers to the foliage in direct sunlight could cause it to burn.
Coming Next
In conclusion, fertilisers are concentrated sources of plant nutrients that can improve plant growth and be used to address nutrient deficiencies. They can be organic or inorganic and come in controlled-release or slow-release forms. It's important to understand how to read fertiliser labels and apply them properly to avoid over-application and pollution. Making your own fertiliser from natural sources can be a safer and more environmentally-friendly option.
The next stage of our course is Module 22 - Watering & Irrigation.
