Each of these numbers represents the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium found in container. For instance, a label may indicate of "24-6-6." Translated, this means that nitrogen makes up 24 percent of the material in the container; phosphorous makes up 6 percent and potassium is 6 percent. That comes to 36 percent. The remaining 64 percent is inert matter.
These three elements are indicated by their symbols from the Periodic Table of Elements (N for nitrogen, P for phosphorous and K for potassium). Often labels will indicate "NPK" as well.
NItrogen, phosphorous and potassiumare called "primary macronutrients," because they are the most important of all plant nutrients.
Plants require a number of macronutrients. In addition to N,P,and K, plants also need calcium, magnesium and sulfur. Plants also need smaller amounts micronutrients: aluminum,arsenic, boron, cadmium, chlorine, copper, iron, lead, manganese, sodium, zinc and several others as well. Some fertilizers may also include traces of these, but they must be indicated separately on the label.
What Does Fertilizer Do
There’s a simple rhyme that makes it easy to remember the three nutrients: “up, down, all around.”
- Up: Nitrogen promotes growth of the top of the plant (that part of the plant which is above the ground).
- Down: Phosphorous promotes good, healthy roots.
- All around: Potassium benefits the entire plant.
Organic vs. Chemical Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers introduce nutrients into the soil. At the same time, they help build soil structure. Good organic soils contain organisms like microbes and earthworms. It is loose with lots or air flowing through it. Good soil promotes healthy roots.
In fact, that’s what organic gardening is about – building a healthy soil.
Organic fertilizers are products of plants and animals and from powdered rock. Microbes living in the soil break down these materials so plants can absorb them. This process takes time, a true advantage. Because it works so slowly, it stays in the soil and provides a steady supply of nutrients for a long time.
Chemical Fertilizers
Chemical fertilizers work very quickly, a contrast to the slow release element of organic fertilizers. In just a few days, they make a scrubby-looking plant look majestic. However, this kind of growth actually weakens the plant. It creates a great deal of top growth very quickly. Root growth, however, takes place much slower. This lag time creates real problems for healthy growth processes. Additionally, chemical fertilizers, if over-applied, can accumulate into toxic salt concentrations.
The high mineral salt content of chemical fertilizers actually kills beneficial organisms that live in the soil. These organisms are the ones, which help decompose minerals and organic matter and help create good soil. With the organisms gone, the soil becomes lifeless. It packs down, forcing air out, and making it impossible for water to filtrate down into the soil. The outcome is to use more and more chemical fertilizer.
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