Common Fertilizer Ingredients

Granular – primary nutrients – common sources

IngredientGrade1 (%)Other nutrients2Salt index3CaCO3 equivalent4 (lb/lb)Bulk density5 (lb/ft3)Bulk density5 (kg/L)
Nitrogen (N)
Urea46-0-0741.8500.80
Ammonium nitrate34-0-01041.8560.90
Calcium ammonium nitrate27-0-04-6% Ca 0-2% Mg930.9681.10
Ammonium sulphate21-0-024% S683.6681.10
Calcium nitrate15-0-019% Ca65-1.3 (b)751.20
Potassium nitrate12-0-4470-1.9 (b)751.20
Amidas™40-0-05.5% S73 490.80
ESN®44-0-0  500.80
PurYield™45-0-0  500.80
Phosphorus (P2O5)
Triple superphosphate0-46-021% Ca10Neutral681.10
Mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP)11-52-0275.4621.00
Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP)18-46-0293.6621.00
Microessentials SZ™11.7-40-010% S
1% Zn
  600.95
Crystal Green®5-28-010% Mg8 621.00
Potassium (K2O)
Muriate of potash (red)0-0-6045% Cl115Neutral701.10
Muriate of potash (white)0-0-6246% Cl116Neutral751.20
Potassium sulphate (SOP)0-0-5018% S43Neutral751.20
Sulphate of potash-magnesia0-0-2220% S 12% Mg43Neutral941.50
Aspire®0-0-580.5% B 16% Cl Neutral651.05

Liquid – common sources

IngredientGrade1 (%)Other nutrients2Salt index3CaCO3 equivalent4 (lb/lb)Bulk density5 (lb/US Gal)Bulk density5 (kg/L)
Anhydrous ammonia82-0-0471.85.00.60
Urea-ammonium nitrate28-0-0631.810.71.28
32-0-0711.811.01.32
Ammonium polyphosphate10-34-0203.611.71.40
Ammonium thiosulphate12-0-026% S903.611.11.33
Potassium thiosulphate0-0-2517% S68Neutral12.21.46
6-24-66-24-612 11.11.33
9-18-99-18-917 11.11.32
1. Grade: guaranteed minimum percentage by weight of total N, available phosphoric acid (P2O5), and soluble potash (K2O) in each fertilizer material.
2. Nutrients other than N, P, or K.
3. Salt index: comparison of relative solubilities of fertilizer compounds with sodium nitrate (100) per weight of material. When applied too close to the seed or on the foliage, materials with a higher salt index are more likely to cause injury.
4. CaCO3 equivalent: pounds of lime required to neutralize the acid formed by 1 lb of the N supplied by the fertilizer material. “b” following the lime index indicates a basic (acid-neutralizing or alkaline) ingredient. Note: acid-forming effects can be up to twice as great as indicated, depending on plant uptake processes.
5. Bulk density: expressed as pounds per cubic foot or kg/L. This is important since fertilizers are metered by volume rather than weight in spreaders or planting equipment.

Secondary & micronutrient – common sources

NutrientSourceNutrient contentOther nutrientsApplication
SoilFoliar
Sulphur (S)Ammonium sulphate24%21% NYesNo
Potassium sulphate18%50% K2OYesNo
Sulphate of potash magnesia20%22% K2O, 11% MgYesNo
Gypsum (calcium sulphate)19%23% CaYesNo
Elemental sulphur90% YesNo
Calcium (Ca)Calcitic limestone22-40% YesNo
Dolomitic limestone16-22%6-13% MgYesNo
Gypsum (calcium sulphate)23%19% SYesNo
Calcium chloride36%64% ClYesYes
Calcium nitrate19%15.5% NYesYes
Pelletized lime16-40%0-13% MgYesNo
Cement kiln dust26-32%2-9% K2OYesNo
Magnesium (Mg)Dolomitic limestone6-13%16-22% CaYesNo
Epsom salts (MgSO4)9%13% SYesYes
Sulphate of potash magnesia11%22% K2O, 20% SYesNo
Boron (B)Aspire®0.5%58% K2OYesNo
Various granular materials12-15% YesNo
Solubor™20% NoYes
Copper (Cu)Copper sulphate25% YesNo
Copper chelates5-13% NoYes
Manganese (Mn)Manganese sulphate28-32% NoYes
Manganese chelates5-12% NoYes
Molybdenum (Mo)Sodium molybdate39% NoYes
Zinc (Zn)Zinc sulphate36% YesYes
Zinc oxy-sulphate8-36% YesNo
Zinc chelates9-14% NoYes

References

  1. California Plant Health Association. 2002. Western Fertilizer Handbook. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
  2. Havlin, J.L., S.L. Tisdale, W.L. Nelson, and J.D. Beaton. 2017. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers: An Introduction to Nutrient Management. 8th ed. Uttar Pradesh, India: Pearson India Education Services Pvt. Ltd.
  3. Laboski, C.A.M. 2008. Understanding Salt Index of Fertilizers. Proc. Of 2008 Wisconsin Fertilizer, Aglime & Pest Management Conference.