What Is on Your Fertilizer Bag?
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Collapse ▲When you look at a bag of fertilizer, you will see three numbers. This is called the fertilizer’s “analysis” and represents the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that is available from the bag of fertilizer. (Technically, it represents the percentage of N, P2O2 and K2O that is available, but for our purposes, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium will do.) Nitrogen is a principal plant nutrient, and is important in production and maintenance of the color and foliage of plants. Phosphorus promotes root growth in plants and potassium promotes flowering and fruiting. Using the fertilizer “5-10-5” as an example, the bag with this analysis will contain 5% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 5% potassium.
Now, you’re probably thinking that 5 plus 10 plus 5 only adds to 20%, what’s in the other 80% of the bag. Depending on the brand of fertilizer, the rest of the bag may contain some minor nutrients and filler material. The filler material allows us to apply the nutrients evenly across the area we want to fertilize. Without the filler material, we would over apply nutrients in some parts of the area and under apply in others. The filler material allows for a uniform application of the nutrients.
Understanding the fertilizer analysis is essential in purchasing and applying the right kind of fertilizer. Your choice of fertilizer should be based on the type of plants you are growing and the results from your soil test report. If you have never taken a soil sample, I strongly recommend that you do so. If you have taken soil samples and have questions about your recommendations, your local Cooperative Extension Office can assist you with your questions. You can pick up information on how to properly take a soil sample, and the materials needed in collecting your samples from your local Cooperative Extension office. The Franklin County Cooperative Extension office is located at 103 South Bickett Boulevard Louisburg, NC 27549 or you can give us a call at (919) 496- 3344.
The next time you apply fertilizer, what numbers will be on your bag?