FERTILIZER MATERIALS AND
COMPUTATION
Fertilizer Terminologies
Fertilizer – any substance which is added to the soil or
applied to the plant to supply the elements essential for
plant nutrition
Fertilizer grade - the guaranteed percentage of total
nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P 2O5), and water
soluble potassium (K2O), in that order, in a fertilizer
material; 16-20-0 means that the fertilizer material
contains N, P, K equivalent to 16% N, 20% P 2O5, and
0% K2O
Fertilizer Terminologies
Total plant food – the total percentage of nutrients
(usually of N,P,K and S) in a fertilizer material; 17-0-
17-12 has 46% while 14-14-14-12 has 54% total plant
food
Carrier – a material that is necessary to hold the
fertilizer element in a form suitable for use
Fertilizer Terminologies
Filler – a material used to provide the fertilizer with
the desired amount of nutrient per unit of weight, to
make application easier or to reduce the absorption
of water from the air
Fertilizer recommendation – the amount (kg) of
N,P2O5, and K2O recommended per hectare;
90+30+60 means that for 1 ha, you must apply 90
kg N, 30 kg P2O5, and 60 kg K2O
Classification of Fertilizer Materials
According to form
1. Natural organic – any fertilizer of plant and/or animal
origin that has undergone decomposition.
Examples: Commercial organic fertilizer (OF), compost,
chicken manure
Commercial OF may either be pure organic or fortified
organic:
Organic Moisture N+P2O5+K2O
C:N Ratio
Matter (%) Content (%) (%)
Pure Organic ≥ 20 12:1 ≤ 35 ≤7
Fortified
≥ 20 12:1 ≤ 35 >7
Organic
Classification of Fertilizer Materials
According to form
2. Chemical or inorganic – any fertilizer material which is
natural or synthetic product of chemical reaction of
certain raw materials.
Natural chemical – rock phosphate, Chilean nitrate
of soda, most potassium materials
Synthetic chemical – ammonium sulfate, ordinary
superphosphate, ammonium phosphate, complete
fertilizer; Urea is synthetic but in organic form.
Classification of Fertilizer Materials
According to number of fertilizer elements present
1. Single fertilizers – contain only one of the 3 major
fertilizer elements (N,P, and K)
Examples: Urea, Ammonium sulfate, ordinary
superphosphate, muriate of potash, sulfate of potash
2. Incomplete fertilizers – contain 2 of the 3 major
fertilizer elements
Examples: ammonium phosphate, 17-0-17, potassium
nitrate, potassium phosphate, urea superphosphate
(20-10-0)
Classification of Fertilizer Materials
According to number of fertilizer elements present
3. Complete fertilizers – contain all the 3 major fertilizer
elements
Examples: 14-14-14; 17-7-17; 10-15-15; 12-12-12
4. Mixed fertilizers – contain 2 or more of the major
fertilizer elements that are supplied by 2 or more
fertilizer materials
Examples: ammonium phosphate + muriate of potash;
urea superphosphate (20-10-0)
Fertilizer Calculation
Formula
Recommended Rate (kg nutrient/ha) x Area (ha)
Amount of Fertilizer
Material (kg)
=
Percent Nutrient in Fertilizer Material
Calculate the amount of fertilizer materials for 1 ha at
the recommended rate of 90 + 30 + 60 using different
material combinations
Fertilizer Calculation/Computation
1. Combination of single fertilizer materials:
21-0-0 (ammonium sulfate)
0-18-0 (ordinary superphosphate)
0-0-60 (muriate of potash or potassium chloride)
Solution:
Amount of 21-0-0 (kg) = 90 kg N/ha x 1 ha
0.21 N = 428.6/ha
Amount of 0-18-0 (kg) = 30 kg P2O5/ha x 1 ha = 166.7/ha
0.18 P
Amount of 0-0-60 (kg) = 60 kg K2O/ha x 1 ha = 100.0/ha
0.60 K
Therefore, you must apply 428.6 kg 21-0-0, 166.7 kg 0-18-0, and 100.0 kg
0-0-60 to satisfy the recommended rate of 90 + 30 + 60.
Fertilizer Calculation
2. Combination of incomplete & single fertilizer materials
16-20-0 (ammonium phosphate
46-0-0 (urea)
0-0-60 (muriate of potash)
Fertilizer Calculation
Solution:
30 kg P2O5/ha x 1 ha
Amount of 16-20-0 (kg) = = 150.0
0.20
Amount of 46-0-0 (kg) = 90 kg N – kg N from 150 kg 16-20-0/ha x 1 ha
0.46
90 – (150 x 0.16) 90 – 24 66
= 0.46 = 0.46 = 0.46
= 143.5
60 kg K2O/ha x 1 ha
Amount of 0-0-60 (kg) = = 100.0
0.60
Therefore, you must apply 150.0 kg 16-20-0, 143.5 kg 46-0-0, and 100.0
kg 0-0-60 to satisfy the recommended rate of 90 + 30 + 60
Fertilizer Calculation
3. Combination of complete and single fertilizer
materials
14-14-14 (complete)
46-0-0 (urea)
0-0-60 (muriate of potash)
Fertilizer Calculation
Solution:
30 kg P2O5/ha x 1 ha
Amount of 14-14-14 (kg) = = 214.3
0.14
Amount of 46-0-0 (kg) = 90 kg N – kg N from 214.3 kg 14-14-14/ha x 1 ha
0.46
90 – (214.3 x 0.14) 90 – 30 60
= 0.46 = 0.46 = 0.46 = 130.4
Amount of 0-0-60 (kg) = 60 kg K2O – kg K2O from 214.3 kg 14-14-14/ha x 1 ha
0.60
60 – (214.3 x 0.14) 60 – 30 30
= 0.60 = 0.60 = 0.60 = 50.0
Therefore, you must apply 214.3 kg 14-14-14, 130.4 kg 46-0-0, and 50.0
kg 0-0-60 to satisfy the recommended rate of 90 + 30 + 60
Fertilizer Calculation
Determine the least expensive fertilizer combination
that can satisfy the recommended rate (90 + 30 + 60)
Fertilizer Calculation
1. Cost of combination 1
428.6 kg
21-0-0 = 50 kg/bag x P 660/bag = P 5,657.52
166.7 kg
0-18-0 = 50 kg/bag x P 1,190/bag = P 3,967.46
100.0 kg
0-0-60 = 50 kg/bag x P 2,175/bag = P 4,350.00
TOTAL COST = P 13,974.98
Fertilizer Calculation
2. Cost of combination 2
150.0 kg
16-20-0 = 50 kg/bag x P 1,315/bag = P 3,945.00
143.5 kg
46-0-0 = 50 kg/bag x P 1,115/bag = P 3,200.05
100.0 kg
0-0-60 = 50 kg/bag x P 2,175/bag = P 4,350.00
TOTAL COST = P 11,495.05
Fertilizer Calculation
3. Cost of combination 3
214.3 kg
14-14-14 = 50 kg/bag x P 1,420/bag = P 6,086.12
130.4 kg
46-0-0 = 50 kg/bag x P 1,115/bag = P 2,907.92
50.0 kg
0-0-60 = 50 kg/bag x P 2,175/bag = P 2,175.00
TOTAL COST = P 11,169.04
Fertilizer Calculation
Fertilizer Cost (PhP)
Fertilizer Material
Combination 1 Combination 2 Combination 3
21-0-0/ 16-20-0/ 5, 657.52 3, 945.00 6, 086.12
14-14-14
0-18-0/ 46-0-0/ 3, 967.46 3, 200.05 2, 907.92
46-0-0
0-0-60 4, 350.00 4, 350.00 2, 175.00
Total Cost (PhP) 13, 974.98 11, 495.05 11,169.04
END OF PRESENTATION
