In the world of modern agriculture, NPK compound fertilizers have emerged as a vital tool to support the growth and development of crops. These fertilizers, which consist of a combination of three primary nutrients - nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) - play a crucial role in enhancing plant growth and maximizing agricultural productivity. Let us delve deeper into the significance and benefits of NPK compound fertilizers and their contribution to sustainable agriculture.

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When thinking about plant fertilizer it is of course important to understand what a plant needs in order to survive and thrive. Without getting overly complicated (there are many articles out there there that go in depth into the nutritional needs of various plants) there are three main elements a plant needs: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (you'll often see this referred to by gardeners as: N-P-K). And did you know that you likely throw these things away in your home in abundance? Let's follow one of the three “R's” of recycling (reuse) and put those to use to make a 100% organic slow release plant fertilizer that will likely cost you NOTHING.

Fertilizers are pivotal in modern agriculture, providing essential nutrients to crops and boosting agricultural productivity. However, using fertilizers has raised concerns about its potential impact on soil health. Striking a balance between achieving robust crop yields and preserving the soil’s long-term health is essential for sustainable agriculture. This article delves into the multifaceted impact of fertilizers on soil health and explores strategies to promote a harmonious coexistence between intensive cultivation and the preservation of this vital resource.

Potassium is one of the major nutrients required by all crops and is present in large quantities in the plant in the form of the cation K+. It plays a major role in achieving the maximum economic yield, as part of a balanced approach to crop nutrition, as well as influencing crop quality.Potassium is fundamental to many metabolic processes through the activation of a large number of enzymes required for chemical reactions. These include the synthesis of proteins and sugars required for plant growth. Only a relatively small proportion of the plant’s total potassium requirement is needed for this. The majority is required for the essential role of maintaining the water content of plant cells. These roles are discussed below. Many are interlinked.

Our results showed that M9T337 seedlings treated with the optimum K levels had (i) enhanced 13C accumulation and 13C transport from leaves to roots; (ii) increased root NO3– ion flow rate; (iii) relatively high N metabolic enzyme activities; (iv) up-regulated transcript levels of nitrate uptake genes (NRT1.1; NRT2.1); (v) enhanced 15N translocation from roots to leaves; (vi) higher 15NUE. In conclusion, optimum K levels can increase NUE by affecting root morphology and activity, the activity of enzymes involved in C and N metabolism, nitrate uptake genes, and nitrate transport.

In a publication brought to the public’s attention by news release from the University of Illinois several weeks ago, S.A. Khan, Richard Mulvaney and a colleague in the Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois challenged a number of basic tenets of soil fertility, especially practices related to use of potassium (K) fertilizer. Citing hundreds of references and thousands of reported studies, they asserted that: K fertilizer is generally unnecessary in soils like most of those in Illinois; the soil test is not a reliable way to know how much K the soil will supply to a crop; K used as fertilizer can cause crops to have lower nutritional value; using K fertilizer can damage soil structure; and potassium chloride (KCl), which is the most commonly-used (and lowest-cost) K fertilizer material, is harmful to crops.

Fertilizer potassium is sometimes called “potash,” a term that comes from an early production technique where potassium was leached from wood ashes and concentrated by evaporating the leachate in large iron pots (“pot-ash”). This practice is no longer practical and is not environmentally sustainable. In food production, potassium is removed from the soil in harvested crops and must be replaced in order to maintain future crop growth.Over 350 million years ago, the huge Devonian Sea was slowly drying up in the area of Central Canada and northern U.S., leaving behind concentrated salts and minerals. This process continues today in places such as the Great Salt Lake and the Dead Sea. These ancient marine salts are now recovered and used in a variety of useful ways, with the majority being used as potassium fertilizer.

The UN says that in 2021, there will be around 690 million hungry people on the planet which accounts for 9 percent of the world’s population.  Global food security is especially of concern looking forward as the world population is expected to increase by about 35 percent over the next 40 years.Agricultural output will need to significantly increase to feed the growing population. As available land for expanding agriculture is scarce, increased food production will come only from increasing productivity per hectare, which will require optimum and balanced fertilizer use.Boosting crop yields can be achieved by the implementation of balanced fertilization practices, which will also ensure the preservation of soil fertility and the sustainability of the farm systems.

A recent article1 in Progressive Farmer over viewed research showing yield reductions attributed to potash (0-0-60, KCl or MOP) applications in corn (North Dakota) and soybean (Minnesota and Indiana). Although the mechanism(s) of “toxicity” were not known the yield reductions were large enough and frequent enough to be considered real. In the corn studies conducted by Dave Franzen at North Dakota State University the potash was applied in spring and detrimental rates were greater than 200 pounds per acre (120 lb K2O/acre). My (Casteel) soybean research in Indiana examined potash applied at or shortly after planting as a means of intensifying management. Rather, I observed 3 to 5 bu/ac yield reductions at this timing. Detrimental potash rates were 200 pounds per acre in some trials on prairie soils near West Lafayette and loam to coarse-textured soils near Wanatah in 2016 and 2017. I still observed yield reduction at a lower rate of 100 pounds per acre (60 lb K2O/acre) in 2019, but not in 2020 near LaCrosse. Dan Kaiser at the University of Minnesota also saw yield reductions from potash applications ahead of soybean (spring and even some fall timings), and suggested chloride might be the culprit. Even though these observations of yield reductions cannot be fully explained at this time, these reports have caused some farmers to evaluate their timing and rate of potash application.

We write ‘effects of potash deficiency’ rather than ‘symptoms of deficiency’, because so many of the negative effects of a shortage of available potash to crops are not clearly apparent, whereas ‘symptoms’ implies some visible effect. Of course severe deficiency has visible symptoms (Figure 1), but there can be many expensive negative impacts on the crop well before clear symptoms are seen.Because most crops contain considerably more potassium than nitrogen or other nutrients, it might be expected that potassium deficiency would be the most commonly seen. However the majority of the potassium in crop tissues is supplied from the reserves in the soil, with relatively little coming from freshly applied fertiliser – in contrast to nitrogen or sulphur. Problems begin to arise when these soil potassium reserves are insufficient, usually as indicated by soil analysis results of K Index 0 or 1.

Potassium (K) is an essential nutrient required by plants in large quantities. Potassium does not become part of the many complex organic molecules in the plant. It moves and performs many of its functions as a free ion, such as regulating plant water pressure, activating enzymes, balancing electrical charges, transporting sugars and starches, and more.1  Potassium fertilizers are mined from a variety of geologic potassium salt deposits around the world, some of the richest are in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The salts are processed to remove impurities and converted to a variety of fertilizers. Two of the most popular potassium fertilizers derived from these salt deposits are potassium chloride and potassium sulfate. The term “potash” is a general term that is often used to refer to a variety of potassium fertilizer salts or sometimes more specifically to potassium chloride, the most widely used potassium fertilizer. Potassium chloride is referred to as “muriate (meaning chloride) of potash” or MOP, while potassium sulfate is sometimes called “sulfate of potash” or SOP.2,3 

The goal of every grower is to produce high quality plants. One of the characteristics of a high quality plant is compact growth with good branching. Plants with these characteristics are stronger and able to withstand shipping and environmental stress. Growth regulators are often used to produce this desired growth, but fertilizer also has an impact on plant stretching and size.The three main attributes associated with plant stretch from fertilizer are: fertilizer application rate, nitrogen forms and phosphorus.

Look at the label on any fertilizer package, and you'll see three numbers separated by dashes, which correspond to the amounts of primary nutrients in the product. For example, one with three of the same number, 4-4-4, is called a "balanced" fertilizer because it has equal amounts of the Big 3 N-P-K (always shown in that order). A container of tomato food ($12, The Home Depot) might be labeled 2-5-3, which indicates higher amounts of P and less N and K. Why do these levels matter, and what do nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium do for plants anyway? Here's what you need to know.

Ensuring an optimal level of nutrient is vital to maximize crop yield, and by extension, profitability. Too little fertiliser or nutrients available for crops limits the plant growth. Alternatively, too much fertiliser prevents the crops from taking up water through their roots, as they rely on osmosis to do it. Over-fertilisation increases the concentration of dissolved solids to the point that water flows out of the plants instead of into it, resulting in leaf burning or wilting, stunted growth and even death after a prolonged period. Furthermore, the excess fertilisers can leach into the farm’s surrounding, including groundwater sources and rivers, resulting in contamination or harmful algae blooms. When applying fertilizers, the plants and their root systems fare better when the level of nutrients stay consistent with minimal variation. 

Agriculture is a cardinal sector in the economy of any nation. Fertilizer application has over the period been essential in the effective growth of agricultural output. The importance of fertilizer in agriculture cannot be over emphasized; in other to effectively feed the nation and have enough to export, then understanding the importance of fertilizers is paramount. Fertilizers where effectively used from the 19th century in the world to grow crops amongst other things. There are basically two major types of fertilizer viz: Organic fertilizer and inorganic or synthetic fertilizers.

NPK fertilizers are a cornerstone of contemporary agriculture, supplying plants with the three primary nutrients they require for growth: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Nitrogen is essential for the synthesis of chlorophyll and the growth of vegetative parts, phosphorus is critical for the development of roots, flowers, and seeds, and potassium plays a key role in the regulation of metabolic functions and enhancing plant stress resistance. The judicious application of these nutrients, which are often deficient in soils, is crucial for maximizing crop productivity and maintaining plant health.

Drew is a former professional gardener who specialized in growing vegetables and fruit. He worked in kitchen gardens for the National Trust in the UK for several years and then ran a productive walled garden growing vegetables, fruit, herbs, microgreens, and flowers for chefs. He has used a wide range of fertilizers over the years, always making sure he is choosing the right one to target the specific needs of his varied plants and vegetable crops. 

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