what are fertilizers

The idea of using fertilizers to the soil and crops is not actually more recent one; however individuals are utilizing fertilizers through centuries for proper growth, prevention from diseases and obtain probably the most of the plants. Within old age range, gardeners and farmers accustomed to help to make their very own fertilizers through all of the organic resources such as human being as well as other creatures waste products, bone fragments, bloodstream, dried out simply leaves as well as vegetation, and several additional comparable, natural things. There was absolutely no idea of the synthetic fertilizers production sectors a few years prior to. However this is the era of science and technology, therefore fertilizer business has had an essential devote the actual worlds commercial field. Because farming is actually the most crucial issue associated with any kind of country, therefore the fertilizer usage offers elevated as much as which degree, exactly where we should have to find out as well as realize it's significance. The study about the dirt, vegetation as well as fertilizer requirements may be the priority at the rear of the actual industrial manufacturing from the fertilizers, that leads all of us towards the a number of various kinds of the actual fertilizers. The primary and most fundamental kinds of the fertilizers tend to be natural fertilizers as well as synthetic or artificially produced fertilizers. The idea at the rear of the actual natural fertilizers is actually exact same, that is to make use of the actual natural or even organic components for that manufacturing associated with organic fertilizers. The synthetic or chemical fertilizers would be the kinds of the fertilizers that are produced from synthetically produced elements. There might be a few extra components other than all these components, to provide a few extra characteristics towards the fertilizers. Probably the most recognized kind of the actual fertilizer is actually UREA (also referred to as Carbamide). The chemical substance formula of the Urea is actually CO(NH2)2. There's a common misconception, that urea may be the additional title from the fertilizers. Urea isn't the actual fertilizer however the subtype from the fertilizers. It might be in your mind, that what is in fertilizer? In actual, plants need twenty two different components that are required for the actual soil as well as for that vegetation too. The standard of these tend to be ammonia, nitrogen, potassium, calcium supplement, sulfur yet others. Therefore the fundamental cause associated with utilizing any kind of the actual fertilizer may be the exact same, that is to fulfill these types of nutritional deficits from the soil to get the efficient development and growth. You will find then your additional categories from the fertilizers based on the actual portion associated with all these nutrition. It's usually not really suggested to make use of any kind of fertilizer anywhere, however very first as well as it is important to complete is actually to handle the actual soil screening, to ensure that an individual has the actual obvious concept, which exactly what nutrition tend to be must be additional within this kind of the actual soil. Additionally to understand that what are fertilizers and what are the needs of the plants towards those fertilizers is also extremely important because each and every plant cannot be subjected to any kind of fertilizers.

What Type of Fertilizers Work Best on Plants?

By Chris Bond, eHow Contributor

Most fertilizers are complete, meaning that they contain some amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Thousands of different fertilizer types and formulations exist to give plants the nutrients that they need. Various types include synthetic fertilizers, organic or natural fertilizers, fast release fertilizers and slow release fertilizers. It does not matter to a plant's root system what the source of the nutrients are. The decision to use any particular fertilizer should be made based on how quickly the plant needs the nutrients and what the longer term implications of their respective usage will be. Does this Spark an idea?

Synthetic/Fast Release Fertilizers

Synthetic and fast-release fertilizers are the most commonly available fertilizers. They are typically water-soluble, meaning that they start to break down and activate upon contact with moisture. It is important to keep these fertilizers dry until ready to use. Most lawn fertilizers and many plant fertilizers fall into this category. These types of fertilizers are useful for plants that need nutrients right away. Excess elements that are not used by the plants usually leach out of the soil. For this reason, it is important not to use any more that the packaging recommends.

Organic/Slow-Release Fertilizers

Organic fertilizers are those that are derived from natural instead of synthetic sources. Most organic fertilizers are slow release and deliver their nutritional cache slowly over several weeks or months. These fertilizers do not break down if contacted with moisture. They break down and go to work when they come into contact with microbes in the soil. These types of fertilizers are useful for plants that need season-long delivery of nutrients. Organic and slow-release fertilizers do not usually have as high a nutritional content as synthetic fertilizers and rarely is there any amount of nutrients that are not used by the plants.

Maintenance Appliations

In general, healthy and mature plants do not need fertilizer. Adequate sunlight and moisture are all most plants require to sustain themselves. For younger and developing plants though, an annual application of a slow release fertilizer applied around the root zone is beneficial. In general, applications should be made in the spring. Use a fertilizer with a nitrogen to phosphorous to potassium ratio between 3:1:1 and 4:1:2 at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.

Fertilizer as Remedy

The surest way to know what the best type of fertilizer for your individual plants, is to analyze the soil around it. A professional lab, either private or university based can evaluate exactly what the nutritional needs are of individual soils and make specific recommendation s based upon the results. Do-it-yourself kits are available and can indicate some nutrient deficiencies and can guide the user towards the proper fertilizer to use as remediation

Fertilizer Types
Soil amendments are made by adding fertilizer to the soil but there are different types of fertilizers. There is bulky organic fertilizer such as cow manure, bat guano, bone meal, organic compost and green manure crops. And then there is also chemical fertilizer which is also referred to as inorganic fertilizer and is made up with different formulations to suit a variety of specified uses. Though many governments and agricultural departments go to great lengths to increase the supply of organic fertilizers, such as bulky organic manures and composting materials, there is just not enough of these fertilizers available to meet the existing and future fertilizer needs. Compared to organic compost, chemical or inorganic fertilizers also have the added advantage of being less bulky. Being less bulky makes chemical fertilizer easier to transport, both overland and from the soil into the plants itself, because they get to be available to the plant relatively quickly when incorporated as part of the plant-food constituents. Chemical fertilizer usually comes in either granular or powder form in bags and boxes, or in liquid formulations in bottles. The different types of chemical fertilizers are usually classified according to the three principal elements, namely Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K), and may, therefore, be included in more than one group.

Organic and Inorganic Chemical Nitrogenous Fertilizer types

This type of fertilizer is divided into different groups according to the manner in which the Nitrogen combines with other elements. These groups are:

Sodium Nitrates, Ammonium Sulphate and ammonium salts, Chemical compounds that contains Nitrogen in amide form, and Animal and plant by products.

Sodium Nitrates
Sodium Nitrates are also known as Chilates or Chilean nitrate. The Nitrogen contained in Sodium Nitrate is refined and amounts to 16%. This means that the Nitrogen is immediately available to plants and as such is a valuable source of Nitrogen in a type of fertilizer. When one makes a soil amendment using Sodium Nitrates as a type of fertilizer in the

garden, it is usually as a top- and side-dressing. Particularly when nursing young plants and garden vegetables. In soil that is acidic Sodium Nitrate is quite useful as a type of fertilizer. However, the excess use of Sodium Nitrate may cause deflocculation.

Ammonium Sulphate
This fertilizer type comes in a white crystalline salt form, containing 20 to 21% ammonia cal nitrogen. It is easy to handle and it stores well under dry conditions. However, during the rainy season, it sometimes, forms lumps. (TIP: When these lumps do occur you should grind them down to a powered form before use.) Though this fertilizer type is soluble in water, its nitrogen is not readily lost in drainage, because the ammonium ion is retained by the soil particles. A note of caution: Ammonium sulphate may have an acid effect on garden soil. Over time, the long-continued use of this type of fertilizer will increase soil acidity and thus lower the yield. (TIP: It is advisable to use this fertilizer type together with bulky organic manures to safeguard against the ill effects of continued application of ammonium sulphate.) The application of Ammonium sulphate fertilizer can be done before sowing, at sowing time, or even as a top-dressing to the growing crop. Do however take care NOT to apply it along with, or too close to, the seed, because in concentrated form, it affects seed germination very adversely.

Ammonium Nitrate
This fertilizer type also comes in white crystalline salts. Ammonium Nitrate salts contains 33 to 35% nitrogen, of which half is nitrate nitrogen and the other half in the ammonium form. As part of the ammonium form, this type of fertilizer cannot be easily leached from the soil. This fertilizer is quick-acting, but highly hygroscopic thus making it unfit for storage. (TIP: Coagulation and Granulation of this fertilizer can be combated with a light coating of the granules with oil.) On a note of caution: Ammonium Nitrate also has an acid effect on the soil, in addition this type of fertilizer can be explosive under certain conditions, and, should thus be handled with care. 'Nitro Chalk' is the trade name of a product formed by mixing ammonium nitrate with about 40% lime-stone or dolomite. This fertilizer is granulated, non-hazardous and less hygroscopic. The lime content of this fertilizer type makes it useful for application to acidic garden soils.

Ammonium Sulphate Nitrate

This fertilizer type is available as a mixture of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulphate and is recognizable as a white crystal or as dirty-white granules. This fertilizer contains 26% nitrogen, three-fourths of it in the ammoniac form and the remainder (i.e. 6.5%) as nitrate nitrogen. Ammonium Sulphate Nitrate is non-explosive, readily soluble in water and is very quick-acting. Because this type of fertilizer keeps well, it is very useful for all crops. Though it can also render garden soil acidic, the acidifying effects is only one-half of that of ammonium sulphate on garden soil. Application of this fertilizer type can be done before sowing, at sowing time or as a top-dressing, but it should not be applied along the seed.

Ammonium Chloride
This fertilizer type comes in a white crystalline compound, which contains a good physical condition and 26% ammoniac nitrogen. In general, Ammonium Chloride is similar to ammonium sulphate in action. (TIP: Do not use this type of fertilizer on crops such as tomatoes because the chorine may harm your crop.)

Urea
This type of fertilizer usually is available to the public in a white, crystalline, organic form. It is a highly concentrated nitrogenous fertilizer and fairly hygroscopic. This also means that this fertilizer can be quite difficult to apply. Urea is also produced in granular or pellet forms and is coated with a non-hygroscopic inert material. It is highly soluble in

water and therefore, subject to rapid leaching. It is, however, quick-acting and produces quick results. When applied to the soil, its nitrogen is rapidly changed into ammonia. Similar to ammonium nitrate, urea supplies nothing but nitrogen and the application of Urea as fertilizer can be done at sowing time or as a top-dressing, but should not be allowed to come into contact with the seed.

Ammonia
This fertilizer type is a gas that is made up of about 80% of nitrogen and comes in a liquid form as well because under the right conditions regarding temperature and pressure, Ammonia becomes liquid (anhydrous ammonia). Another form, 'aqueous ammonia', results from the absorption of Ammonia gas into water, in which it is soluble. Ammonia is used as a fertilizer in both these forms. The anhydrous liquid form of Ammonia can be applied by introducing it into irrigation water, or directly into the soil from special containers. Not really suitable for the home gardener as this renders the use of ammonia as a fertilizer very expensive.

Organic Nitrogenous Fertilizers

Organic Nitrogenous fertilizer is the type of fertilizer that includes plant and animal by-products. These by-products can be anything from oil cakes, to fish manure and even to dried blood. The Nitrogen available in organic nitrogenous fertilizer types first has to be converted before the plants can use it. This conversion occurs through bacterial action and is thus a slow process. The upside of this situation is that the supply of available nitrogen lasts so much longer AND the amounts of this type of fertilizer may contain small amounts of organic stimulants that contain other minor elements that might also be needed by the plants that are being fertilized. Furthermore, they may also small amounts of organic stimulants that they may contain, or of some of the minor elements needed by plant. Oil-cakes contain not only nitrogen but also some phosphoric and potash, besides a large quantity of organic matter. This type of fertilizer is used in conjunction with quicker-acting chemical fertilizers. Then there is also blood meal which contains 10 to 12% highly available Nitrogen as well as 1 to 2% Phosphoric acid. Blood meal, used in much the same way as oilcakes, makes for a quick remedy and can effectively be used on all types of soil as a type of fertilizer. Fish meal which can be dried fish, fish-meal or even powder is extracted in areas where fish oil is extracted. The resulting residue is used as a fertilizer type. Obviously depending on the type of fish used, the available Nitrogen can be between 5 and 8% and the Phosphoric content can be from 4 to 6%. Fish meal also constitutes a fast-acting fertilizer type which is suitable for most soil types and crops. (TIP: In powder form it is at its best.)

Organic and Inorganic Chemical Phosphate Fertilizer Types

The Phosphate fertilizers are categorized as natural phosphates, either treated or processed, and also by products of phosphates and chemical phosphates.

Rock Phosphate
As a type of fertilizer, rock phosphate occurs as natural deposits in some countries. This fertilizer type has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that with adequate rainfall this fertilizer results in a long growing period which can enhance crops. Powdered phosphate fertilizer is an excellent remedy for soils that are acidic and has a phosphorous deficiency and requires soil amendments. However, the disadvantage is that although phosphate fertilizer such as rock phosphate contains 25 to 35% phosphoric acid, the phosphorous is insoluble in water. It has to be pulverized to be used as a type of fertilizer before rendering satisfactory results in garden soil. Thus it is not surprising that Rock Phosphate is used to manufacture superphosphate which makes the Phosphoric acid water soluble.

Superphosphate
Superphosphate is a fertilizer type that most gardeners are familiar with. As a fertilizer type one can get superphosphate in three different grades, depending on the manufacturing process. The following is a short description of the different superphosphate fertilizer grades:

Single superphosphate containing 16 to 20% phosphoric acid; Dicalcium phosphate containing 35 to 38% phosphoric acid; and Triple superphosphate containing 44 to 49% phosphoric acid.

Triple superphosphate is used mostly in the manufacture of concentrated mixed fertilizer types. The greatest advantage to be had of using Superphosphate as a fertilizer is that the phosphoric acid is fully water soluble, but when Superphosphate is applied to the soil, it is converted into soluble phosphate. This is due to precipitation as calcium, iron or aluminum phosphate, which is dependent on the soil type to which the fertilizer is added, be it alkaline or acidic garden soil. All garden soil types can benefit from the application of Superphosphate as a fertilizer. Used in conjunction with an organic fertilizer, it should be applied at sowing or transplant time.

Slag
Basic slag is a by-product of steel mills and is used as a fertilizer to a lesser extent than Superphosphate. Slag is an excellent fertilizer that can be used to amend soils that are acidic because of its alkaline reaction. For slag application to be an effective fertilizer it has to be pulverized first.

Bonemeal
Bonemeal as a fertilizer type needs no introduction. Bone-meal is used as a phosphate fertilizer type and is available in two types: raw and steamed. The raw bone-meal contains 4% organic Nitrogen that is slow acting, and 20 to 25% phosphoric acid that is not soluble in water. The steamed bone-meal on the other hand has all the fats, greases, nitrogen and glue-making substances removed as a result of high pressure steaming. But it is more brittle and can be ground into a powder form. In powder form this fertilizer is of great advantage to the gardener in that the rate of availability of the phosphoric acid depends on its pulverization. This fertilizer is particularly suitable as a soil amendment for acid soil and should be applied either at sowing time or even a few days prior to sowing. (TIP: As a fertilizer type, bone-meal is slow acting and should be incorporated into the soil and not as a top-dressing.)

Organic and Inorganic Chemical Potassium Fertilizer types

Chemical Potassium fertilizer should only be added when there is absolute certainty that there is a Potassium deficiency in your garden soil. Potassium fertilizers also work well in sandy garden soil that responds to their application. Crops such as chilies, potato and fruit trees all benefit from this type of fertilizer since it improves the quality and appearance of the produce. There are basically two different types of potassium fertilizers:

Muriate of potash (Potassium chloride) and Sulphate of potash (Potassium sulphate).

Both muriate of potash and sulphate of potash are salts that make up part of the waters of the oceans and inland seas as well as inland saline deposits.

Muriate Of Potash
Muriate of potash is a gray crystal type of fertilizer that consists of 50 to 60% potash. All the potash in this fertilizer type is readily available to plants because it is highly soluble in water. Even so, it does not leach away deep into the soil since the potash is absorbed on the colloidal surfaces. (TIP: Apply muriate of potash at sowing time or prior to sowing.)

Sulphate Of Potash
Sulphate of potash is a fertilizer type manufactured when potassium chloride is treated with magnesium sulphate. It dissolves readily in water and can be applied to the garden soil at any time up to sowing. Some gardeners prefer using sulphate of potash over muriate of potash.

Different Types of Fertilizers

The different types of fertilizers with all its specifications and cautions that should be kept in mind should not detract us from the joys of gardening. Thus to make it easier on most gardeners and since this website is dedicated to the home gardener and growing our own gardens the following section is geared towards the home gardener. The different types of chemical and organic fertilizers that are usually commercially available in most countries can be categorized further into:

Complete inorganic fertilizers: these types of inorganic fertilizers contain all three major macronutrients, Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K). On the containers you will find that these macronutrients are depicted as a ratio, e.g. 2:3:2 (22). Complete inorganic fertilizers are usually applied at a rate of 60g/m2 or roughly 4 tablespoons per square meter. Special purpose fertilizer: these types of fertilizer are formulated especially to target certain plants' requirements or certain soil deficiencies. Of the examples that come to mind here are the Blue Hydrangea Food, and straight fertilizer that is made up of one particular plant nutrient for example lawn fertilizer. Liquid fertilizers: these types of fertilizer come in a variety of formulations and even include organic fertilizer, complete fertilizer as well as special purpose fertilizer. Some examples of liquid fertilizer are Nitrosol and African Violet Food. Slow-release fertilizer: these types of fertilizer are formulated to release their nitrogen at a steady pace. On the packs of this fertilizer that are available commercially it will usually be depicted as 3:1:5 (SR) where the SR indicates slow-release. Fertilizer with insecticide: these types of fertilizer that are prepared and combined with an insecticide. One such example is Wonder 4:1:1 (21) + Karbaspray.

The reason why there are so many different types of chemical fertilizers in different formulations is because different plants require different nutrients and different pH levels in the soil. However, organic fertilizers have more diversity, and these types of fertilizers do not burn plant roots, get into ground water, or affect surrounding growth as is the case when using the different types of chemical fertilizer and NPK amendments.

Diammonium phosphate[1]

Diammonium phosphate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search
IUPAC name[hide][hide] diammonium hydrogen phosphate Other names[hide][hide] ammonium monohydrogen phosphate, ammonium phosphate dibasic Identifiers CAS number 7783-28-0 PubChem 24540 ChemSpider ) HPO22946 NH (g) + NH H PO (s) (NH4 2 4(s) 3 4 2 4 UNII 10LGE70FSU Jmol-3D images Image 1 SMILES [show][show] InChI [show][show] Properties Molecular formula (NH4)2HPO4 Molar mass 132.07 g/mol Appearance white powder Density 1.619 g/cm3 Melting point 155 C decomp. 57.5 g/100 mL (10 C) Solubility in water 106.7 g/100 mL (100 C) insoluble in alcohol, acetone and liquid Solubility ammonia Refractive index 1.52 (nD) Thermochemistry Std enthalpy of -1566.91 kJ/mol formation fHo298 Hazards MSDS ICSC 0217 EU Index Not listed

Diammonium phosphate (DAP) (chemical formula (NH4)2HPO4, IUPAC name diammonium hydrogen phosphate) is one of a series of water-soluble ammonium phosphate salts which can be produced when ammonia reacts with phosphoric acid. Solid diammonium phosphate shows a dissociation pressure of ammonia as given by the following expression and equation:[2] log PmmHg = -3063 / T + 175 log T + 3.3 where: P = the resultant dissociation pressure of ammonia T = absolute temperature (K) At 100C, the dissociation pressure of diammonium phosphate is approximately 5 mmHg.[3]

Uses
DAP is used as a fertilizer. When applied as plant food, it temporarily increases the soil pH, but over a long term the treated ground becomes more acidic than before upon nitrification of the ammonium. It is incompatible with alkaline chemicals because its ammonium ion is more likely to convert to ammonia in a high-pH environment. DAP can be used as a fire retardant. It lowers the combustion temperature of the material, decreases maximum weight loss rates, and causes an increase in the production of residue or char.[4] These are important effects in fighting wildfires as lowering the pyrolysis temperature and increasing the amount of char formed reduces that amount of available fuel and can lead to the formation of a firebreak. It is the largest component of some popular commercial firefighting products.
[5]

NFPA 704

0 2 1

Flash point

Non-flammable Related compounds Monoammonium phosphate Other anions Triammonium phosphate Disodium phosphate Other cations Dipotassium phosphate Ammonium nitrate Related compounds Ammonium sulfate

DAP is also used as a yeast nutrient in winemaking and brewing mead; as an additive in some brands of cigarettes purportedly as a nicotine enhancer; to prevent afterglow in matches, in purifying sugar; as a Flux for soldering tin, copper, zinc and brass; and to control precipitation of alkalisoluble and acid-insoluble colloidal dyes on wool. [1]

Urea

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search

Urea

Other names[hide][hide] Carbamide, carbonyl diamide, carbonyldiamine, diaminomethanal, diaminomethanone Identifiers CAS number 57-13-6 PubChem 1176 ChemSpider 1143 UNII 8W8T17847W DrugBank DB03904 KEGG D00023 ChEBI CHEBI:16199 ChEMBL CHEMBL985 RTECS number YR6250000 ATC code B05BC02,D02AE01 Jmol-3D images Image 1 SMILES [show][show] InChI [show][show] Properties Molecular formula CH4N2O Molar mass 60.06 g mol1 Appearance White solid Density 1.32 g/cm3 Melting point 133135 C Solubility in water 107.9 g/100 ml (20 C) 167 g/100ml (40 C) 251 g/100 ml (60 C)

400 g/100 ml (80 C) 50g/L ethanol, 500g/L glycerol [1] pKBH+ = 0.18[2] Structure Dipole moment 4.56 D Hazards MSDS JT Baker EU Index Not listed Flash point Non-flammable LD50 8500 mg/kg (oral, rat) Related compounds Thiourea Related ureas Hydroxycarbamide Carbamide peroxide Related compounds Urea phosphate Solubility Basicity (pKb) (verify) (what is: / ?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 C, 100 kPa) Infobox references

Urea or carbamide is an organic compound with the chemical formula CO(NH2)2. The molecule has two NH2 groups joined by a carbonyl (C=O) functional group. Urea serves an important role in the metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds by animals and is the main nitrogencontaining substance in the urine of mammals. It is solid, colourless, and odorless (although the ammonia that it gives off in the presence of water, including water vapor in the air, has a strong odor). It is highly soluble in water and practically non-toxic (LD50 is 15 g/kg for rat). Dissolved in water, it is neither acidic nor alkaline. The body uses it in many processes, the most notable one being nitrogen excretion. Urea is widely used in fertilizers as a convenient source of nitrogen. Urea is also an important raw material for the chemical industry. The synthesis of this organic compound by Friedrich Whler in 1828 from an inorganic precursor was an important milestone in the development of organic chemistry, as it showed for the first time that a molecule found in living organisms could be synthesized in the lab without biological starting materials (thus contradicting a theory widely prevalent at one time, called vitalism). The terms urea and carbamide are also used for a class of chemical compounds sharing the same functional group RR'NCONRR', namely a carbonyl group attached to two organic amine residues. Examples include carbamide peroxide, allantoin, and hydantoin. Ureas are closely related to biurets and related in structure to amides, carbamates, carbodiimides, and thiocarbamides.

Contents History
Urea was first discovered in urine in 1727 by the Dutch scientist Herman Boerhaave, though this discovery is often attributed to the French chemist Hilaire Rouelle.[3] In 1828, the German chemist Friedrich Whler obtained urea by treating silver isocyanate with ammonium chloride.[4][5] AgNCO + NH4Cl (NH2)2CO + AgCl This was the first time an organic compound was artificially synthesized from inorganic starting materials, without the involvement of living organisms. The results of this experiment implicitly discredited vitalism: the theory that the chemicals of living organisms are fundamentally different from inanimate matter. This insight was important for the development of organic chemistry. His discovery prompted Whler to write triumphantly to Berzelius: "I must tell you

that I can make urea without the use of kidneys, either man or dog. Ammonium cyanate is urea." For this discovery, Whler is considered by many[who?] the father of organic chemistry.

Physiology
Urea is synthesized in the body of many organisms as part of the urea cycle, either from the oxidation of amino acids or from ammonia. In this cycle, amino groups donated by ammonia and L-aspartate are converted to urea, while Lornithine, citrulline, L-argininosuccinate, and L-arginine act as intermediates. Urea production occurs in the liver and is regulated by N-acetylglutamate. Urea is found dissolved in blood (in the reference range of 2.5 to 6.7 mmol/liter) and is excreted by the kidney as a component of urine. In addition, a small amount of urea is excreted (along with sodium chloride and water) in sweat. Amino acids from ingested food that are not used for the synthesis of proteins and other biological substances are oxidized by the body, yielding urea and carbon dioxide, as an alternative source of energy.[6] The oxidation pathway starts with the removal of the amino group by a transaminase, the amino group is then fed into the urea cycle. Ammonia (NH3) is another common byproduct of the metabolism of nitrogenous compounds. Ammonia is smaller, more volatile and more mobile than urea. If allowed to accumulate, ammonia would raise the pH in cells to toxic levels. Therefore many organisms convert ammonia to urea, even though this synthesis has a net energy cost. Being practically neutral and highly soluble in water, urea is a safe vehicle for the body to transport and excrete excess nitrogen. In water, the amine groups undergo slow displacement by water molecules, producing ammonia and carbonate anion. For this reason, old, stale urine has a stronger odor than fresh urine.

In humans
The handling of urea by the kidneys is a vital part of human metabolism. Besides its role as carrier of waste nitrogen, urea also plays a role in the countercurrent exchange system of the nephrons, that allows for re-absorption of water and critical ions from the excreted urine. Urea is reabsorbed in the inner medullary collecting ducts of the nephrons,[7] thus raising the osmolarity in the medullary interstitium surrounding the thin ascending limb of the loop of Henle, which in turn causes water to be reabsorbed. By action of the urea transporter 2, some of this reabsorbed urea will eventually flow back into the thin ascending limb of the tubule, through the collecting ducts, and into the excreted urine. This mechanism, which is controlled by the antidiuretic hormone, allows the body to create hyperosmotic urine, that has a higher concentration of dissolved substances than the blood plasma. This mechanism is important to prevent the loss of water, to maintain blood pressure, and to maintain a suitable concentration of sodium ions in the blood plasmas. The equivalent nitrogen content (in gram) of urea (in mmol) can be estimated by the conversion factor 0.028 g/mmol.[8] Furthermore, 1 gram of nitrogen is roughly equivalent to 6 grams of protein, and 1 gram of protein is roughly equivalent to 4 grams of muscle tissue. In situations such as muscle wasting, 1 mmol of excessive urea in the urine (as measured by urine volume in litres multiplied by urea concentration in mmol/l) roughly corresponds to a muscle loss of 0.67 gram.

In other species
In aquatic organisms the most common form of nitrogen waste is ammonia, whereas land-dwelling organisms convert the toxic ammonia to either urea or uric acid. Urea is found in the urine of mammals and amphibians, as well as some fish. Birds and saurian reptiles have a different form of nitrogen metabolism, that requires less water and leads to nitrogen excretion in the form of uric acid. It is noteworthy that tadpoles excrete ammonia but shift to urea production during metamorphosis. Despite the generalization above, the urea pathway has been documented not only in mammals and amphibians but in many other organisms as well, including birds, invertebrates, insects, plants, yeast, fungi, and even microorganisms.[citation needed]

Uses
Agriculture
More than 90% of world production of urea is destined for use as a nitrogen-release fertilizer. Urea has the highest nitrogen content of all solid nitrogenous fertilizers in common use. Therefore, it has the lowest transportation costs per unit of nitrogen nutrient. The standard crop-nutrient rating of urea is 46-0-0.[9] Many soil bacteria possess the enzyme urease, which catalyzes the conversion of the urea molecule to two ammonia molecules and one carbon dioxide molecule, thus urea fertilizers are very rapidly transformed to the ammonium form in soils. Among soil bacteria known to carry urease, some ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) such as species of Nitrosomonas are also able to assimilate the carbon dioxide released by the reaction to make biomass via the Calvin Cycle, and harvest energy by oxidizing ammonia (the other product of urease) to nitrite, a process termed nitrification. [10] Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, especially Nitrobacter, oxidize nitrite to nitrate, which is extremely mobile in soils and is a major cause of water pollution from agriculture. Ammonia and nitrate are readily absorbed by plants, and are the dominant sources of nitrogen for plant growth. Urea is also used in many multi-component solid fertilizer formulations. Urea is highly soluble in water and is, therefore, also very suitable for use in fertilizer solutions (in combination with ammonium nitrate: UAN), e.g., in 'foliar feed' fertilizers. For fertilizer use, granules are preferred over prills because of their narrower particle size distribution, which is an advantage for mechanical application. The most common impurity of synthetic urea is biuret, which impairs plant growth. Urea is usually spread at rates of between 40 and 300 kg/ha but rates vary. Smaller applications incur lower losses due to leaching. During summer, urea is often spread just before or during rain to minimize losses from volatilization (process wherein nitrogen is lost to the atmosphere as ammonia gas). Urea is not compatible with other fertilizers. Because of the high nitrogen concentration in urea, it is very important to achieve an even spread. The application equipment must be correctly calibrated and properly used. Drilling must not occur on contact with or close to seed, due to the risk of germination damage. Urea dissolves in water for application as a spray or through irrigation systems. In grain and cotton crops, urea is often applied at the time of the last cultivation before planting. In high rainfall areas and on sandy soils (where nitrogen can be lost through leaching) and where good in-season rainfall is expected, urea can be side- or top-dressed during the growing season. Top-dressing is also popular on pasture and forage crops. In cultivating sugarcane, urea is side-dressed after planting, and applied to each ratoon crop. In irrigated crops, urea can be applied dry to the soil, or dissolved and applied through the irrigation water. Urea will dissolve in its own weight in water, but it becomes increasingly difficult to dissolve as the concentration increases. Dissolving urea in water is endothermic, causing the temperature of the solution to fall when urea dissolves. As a practical guide, when preparing urea solutions for fertigation (injection into irrigation lines), dissolve no more than 30 kg urea per 100 L water. In foliar sprays, urea concentrations of 0.5% 2.0% are often used in horticultural crops. Low-biuret grades of urea are often indicated. Urea absorbs moisture from the atmosphere and therefore is typically stored either in closed/sealed bags on pallets or, if stored in bulk, under cover with a tarpaulin. As with most solid fertilizers, storage in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area is recommended.

Chemical industry
Urea is a raw material for the manufacture of many important chemical compounds, such as

Various plastics, especially the urea-formaldehyde resins.

Various adhesives, such as urea-formaldehyde or the urea-melamine-formaldehyde used in marine plywood. Potassium cyanate, another industrial feedstock.

Explosive
Urea can be used to make urea nitrate, a high explosive that is used industrially and as part of some improvised explosive devices.

Automobile systems
Urea is used in SNCR and SCR reactions to reduce the NOx pollutants in exhaust gases from combustion from diesel, dual fuel, and lean-burn natural gas engines. The BlueTec system, for example, injects water-based urea solution into the exhaust system. The ammonia produced by the hydrolysis of the urea reacts with the nitrogen oxide emissions and is converted into nitrogen and water within the catalytic converter.

Other commercial uses

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

A stabilizer in nitrocellulose explosives A component of animal feed, providing a relatively cheap source of nitrogen to promote growth A non-corroding alternative to rock salt for road de-icing, and the resurfacing of snowboarding halfpipes and terrain parks A flavor-enhancing additive for cigarettes A main ingredient in hair removers such as Nair and Veet A browning agent in factory-produced pretzels An ingredient in some skin cream,[11] moisturizers, hair conditioners A reactant in some ready-to-use cold compresses for first-aid use, due to the endothermic reaction it creates when mixed with water A cloud seeding agent, along with other salts A flame-proofing agent, commonly used in dry chemical fire extinguisher charges such as the urea-potassium bicarbonate mixture An ingredient in many tooth whitening products An ingredient in dish soap Along with ammonium phosphate, as a yeast nutrient, for fermentation of sugars into ethanol A nutrient used by plankton in ocean nourishment experiments for geoengineering purposes As an additive to extend the working temperature and open time of hide glue As a solubility-enhancing and moisture-retaining additive to dye baths for textile dyeing or printing

Laboratory uses
Urea in concentrations up to 10 M is a powerful protein denaturant as it disrupts the noncovalent bonds in the proteins. This property can be exploited to increase the solubility of some proteins. A mixture of urea and choline chloride is used as a deep eutectic solvent, a type of ionic liquid. Urea can in principle serve as a hydrogen source for subsequent power generation in fuel cells. Urea present in urine/wastewater can be used directly (though bacteria normally quickly degrade urea.) Producing hydrogen by electrolysis of urea solution occurs at a lower voltage (0.37V) and thus consumes less energy than the electrolysis of water (1.2V).[12] Urea in concentrations up to 8 M can be used to make fixed brain tissue transparent to visible light while still preserving florescent signals from labeled cells. This allows for much deeper imaging of neuronal processes then previously obtainable using conventional one photon or two photon confocal microscopes.[13]

Medical use
Urea-containing creams are used as topical dermatological products to promote rehydration of the skin. Urea 40% is indicated for psoriasis, xerosis, onychomycosis, ichthyosis, eczema, keratosis, keratoderma, corns, and calluses. If covered by an occlusive dressing, 40% urea preparations may also be used for nonsurgical debridement of nails. Urea 40% "dissolves the intercellular matrix"[14] of the nail plate. Only diseased or dystrophic nails are removed, as there is no effect on healthy portions of the nail. This drug is also used as an earwax removal aid. Certain types of instant cold packs (or ice packs) contain water and separated urea crystals. Rupturing the internal water bag starts an endothermic reaction and allows the pack to be used to reduce swelling. Like saline, urea injection is used to perform abortions. Urea is the main component of an alternative medicinal treatment referred to as urine therapy. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test is a measure of the amount of nitrogen in the blood that comes from urea. It is used as a marker of renal function. Urea labeled with carbon-14 or carbon-13 is used in the urea breath test, which is used to detect the presence of the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the stomach and duodenum of humans, associated with peptic ulcers. The test detects the characteristic enzyme urease, produced by H. pylori, by a reaction that produces ammonia from urea. This increases the pH (reduces acidity) of the stomach environment around the bacteria. Similar bacteria species to H. pylori can be identified by the same test in animals such as apes, dogs, and cats (including big cats).

Analysis
Urea is readily quantified by a number of different methods, such as the diacetyl monoxime colorimetric method, and the Berthelot reaction (after initial conversion of urea to ammonia via urease). These methods are amenable to high throughput instrumentation, such as automated flow injection analyzers[15] and 96-well micro-plate spectrophotometers.
[16]

Production
Urea is produced on a scale of some 100,000,000 tons per year worldwide.[17]

Industrial methods
For use in industry, urea is produced from synthetic ammonia and carbon dioxide. Large quantities of carbon dioxide are produced during the manufacture of ammonia from coal or from hydrocarbons such as natural gas and petroleumderived raw materials. Such point sources of CO2 facilitate direct synthesis of urea. The basic process, developed in 1922, is also called the Bosch-Meiser urea process after its discoverers. The various urea processes are characterized by the conditions under which urea formation takes place and the way in which unconverted reactants are further processed. The process consists of two main equilibrium reactions, with incomplete conversion of the reactants. The first is an exothermic reaction of liquid ammonia with dry ice to form ammonium carbamate (H2N-COONH4):[18] 2 NH3 + CO2 H2N-COONH4 () The second is an endothermic decomposition of ammonium carbamate into urea and water: H2N-COONH4 (NH2)2CO + H2O Both reactions combined are exothermic.[17]

Unconverted reactants can be used for the manufacture of other products, for example ammonium nitrate or sulfate, or they can be recycled for complete conversion to urea in a total-recycle process. Urea can be produced as prills, granules, pellets, crystals, and solutions. Solid urea is marketed as prills or granules. The advantage of prills is that, in general, they can be produced more cheaply than granules. Properties such as impact strength, crushing strength, and free-flowing behaviour are, in particular, important in product handling, storage, and bulk transportation. Typical impurities in the production are biuret and isocyanic acid: 2 NH2CONH2 H2NCONHCONH2 + NH3 NH2CONH2 HNCO + NH3 The biuret content is a serious concern because it is often toxic to the very plants that are to be fertilized. Urea is classified on the basis of its biuret content.

Laboratory preparation
Ureas in the more general sense can be accessed in the laboratory by reaction of phosgene with primary or secondary amines, proceeding through an isocyanate intermediate. Non-symmetric ureas can be accessed by reaction of primary or secondary amines with an isocyanate.

Historical process
Urea was first noticed by Hermann Boerhaave in the early 18th century from evaporates of urine. In 1773, Hilaire Rouelle obtained crystals containing urea from dog's urine by evaporating it and treating it with alcohol in successive filtrations. This method was aided by Carl Wilhelm Scheele's discovery that urine treated by concentrated nitric acid precipitated crystals. Antoine Franois, comte de Fourcroy and Louis Nicolas Vauquelin discovered in 1799 that the nitrated crystals were identical to Rouelle's substance and invented the term "urea." Berzelius made further improvements to its purification and finally William Prout, in 1817, succeeded in obtaining and determining the chemical composition of the pure substance. In the evolved procedure, urea was precipitated as urea nitrate by adding strong nitric acid to urine. To purify the resulting crystals, they were dissolved in boiling water with charcoal and filtered. After cooling, pure crystals of urea nitrate form. To reconstitute the urea from the nitrate, the crystals are dissolved in warm water, and barium carbonate added. The water is then evaporated and anhydrous alcohol added to extract the urea. This solution is drained off and allowed to evaporate resulting in pure urea.

Chemical properties
Molecular and crystal structure
The urea molecule is planar in the crystal structure, but the geometry around the nitrogens is pyramidal in the gas-phase minimum-energy structure.[19] In solid urea, the oxygen center is engaged in two N-H-O hydrogen bonds. The resulting dense and energetically favourable hydrogen-bond network is probably established at the cost of efficient molecular packing: The structure is quite open, the ribbons forming tunnels with square cross-section. The carbon in urea is described as sp2 hybridized, the C-N bonds have significant double bond character, and the carbonyl oxygen is basic compared to, say, formaldehyde. Urea's high aqueous solubility reflects its ability to engage in extensive hydrogen bonding with water. By virtue of its tendency to form a porous frameworks, urea has the ability to trap many organic compounds. In these so-called clathrates, the organic "guest" molecules are held in channels formed by interpenetrating helices composed of hydrogen-bonded urea molecules. This behaviour can be used to separate mixtures, e.g. in the production of aviation fuel and lubricating oils, and in the separation of paraffins. As the helices are interconnected, all helices in a crystal must have the same molecular handedness. This is determined when the crystal is nucleated and can thus be forced by seeding. The resulting crystals have been used to separate racemic mixtures.

Reactions
Urea reacts with alcohols to form urethanes. Urea reacts with malonic esters to make barbituric acids.

Safety
Urea can be irritating to skin, eyes, and the respiratory tract. Repeated or prolonged contact with urea in fertilizer form on the skin may cause dermatitis. High concentrations in the blood can be damaging. Ingestion of low concentrations of urea, such as are found in typical human urine, are not dangerous with additional water ingestion within a reasonable time-frame. Many animals (e.g., dogs) have a much more concentrated urine and it contains a higher urea amount than normal human urine; this can prove dangerous as a source of liquids for consumption in a life-threatening situation (such as in a desert). Urea can cause algal blooms to produce toxins, and its presence in the runoff from fertilized land may play a role in the increase of toxic blooms.[20] The substance decomposes on heating above melting point, producing toxic gases, and reacts violently with strong oxidants, nitrites, inorganic chlorides, chlorites and perchlorates, causing fire and explosion.[citation needed]

Potash
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search For other uses, see Potash (disambiguation).

Potash Potash /pt/ is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in watersoluble form.[1] In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era. The name derives from "pot ash," which refers to plant ashes soaked in water in a pot. Today, potash is produced worldwide at amounts exceeding 30 million tonnes per year, mostly for use in fertilizers. Various types of fertilizer-potash thus comprise the single largest global industrial use of the element potassium. Potassium derives its name from potash, and was first derived by electrolysis of caustic potash, in 1808.

Contents

1 Terminology 2 History of production 3 Consumption o 3.1 Fertilizers o 3.2 Other uses 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External links

Terminology
Potash refers to potassium compounds and potassium-bearing materials, the most common being potassium chloride (KCl). The term "potash" comes from the Old Dutch word potaschen. The old method of making potassium carbonate (K2CO3) was by leaching of wood ashes and then evaporating the resulting solution in large iron pots, leaving a white residue called "pot ash". Approximately 10% by weight of common wood ash can be recovered as pot ash.[2][3] Later, "potash" became the term widely applied to naturally occurring potassium salts and the commercial product derived from them.[4] The following table lists a number of potassium compounds which use the word potash in their traditional names: Common name Potash fertilizer Chemical name Formula c.1942 potassium carbonate; c.1950 any one or more of potassium chloride, potassium sulfate (K2SO4), potassium magnesium sulfate (K2SO42MgSO4), langbeinite (K2Mg2(SO4)3) or potassium nitrate.[5][6] Does not contain potassium oxide, which plants do not take up.[7] KOH K2CO3 KClO3 KCl:NaCl (95:5 or higher)[1] KNO3 K2SO4 KMnO4

Caustic potash or potash potassium hydroxide lye Carbonate of potash, salts of tartar, or potassium carbonate pearlash Chlorate of potash potassium chlorate Muriate of potash potassium chloride Nitrate of potash or potassium nitrate saltpeter Sulfate of potash potassium sulfate Permanganate of potash potassium permanganate

History of production
Potash (especially potassium carbonate) has been used from the dawn of history in bleaching textiles, making glass, and, from about A.D. 500, in making soap. Potash was principally obtained by leaching the ashes of land and sea plants. Beginning in the 14th century potash was mined in Ethiopia. One of the world's largest deposits, 140 to 150 million tons, is located in the Tigray's Dallol area.[8] Potash was one of the most important industrial chemicals in Canada. It was refined from the ashes of broadleaved trees and produced primarily in the forested areas of Europe, Russia, and North America. The first U.S. patent was issued in 1790 to Samuel Hopkins for an improvement "in the making Pot ash and Pearl ash by a new Apparatus and Process."[9]. "Pearl ash" was a purer quality made by the ignition of cream of tartar. As early as 1767, potash from wood ashes was exported from Canada, and exports of potash and pearl ash (potash and lime) reached 43,958 barrels in 1865. There were 519 asheries in operation in 1871. The industry declined in the late

19th century when large-scale production of potash from mineral salts was established in Germany. In 1943, potash was discovered in Saskatchewan, Canada, in the process of drilling for oil. Active exploration began in 1951. In 1958, the Potash Company of America became the first potash producer in Canada with the commissioning of an underground potash mine at Patience Lake; however, due to water seepage in its shaft, production stopped late in 1959 and, following extensive grouting and repairs, resumed in 1965. The underground mine was flooded in 1987 and was reactivated for commercial production as a solution mine in 1989.[3] In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, potash production provided settlers in North America a way to obtain badlyneeded cash and credit as they cleared wooded land for crops. To make full use of their land, settlers needed to dispose of excess wood. The easiest way to accomplish this was to burn any wood not needed for fuel or construction. Ashes from hardwood trees could then be used to make lye, which could either be used to make soap or boiled down to produce valuable potash. Hardwood could generate ashes at the rate of 60 to 100 bushels per acre (500 to 900 m3/km2). In 1790, ashes could be sold for $3.25 to $6.25 per acre ($800 to $1500/km2) in rural New York State nearly the same rate as hiring a laborer to clear the same area. Potash making became a major industry in British North America. Great Britain was always the most important market. The American potash industry followed the woodsman's ax across the country. After about 1820, New York replaced New England as the most important source; by 1840 the center was in Ohio. Potash production was always a by-product industry, following from the need to clear land for agriculture.[10] Most of the world reserves of potassium (K) were deposited as sea water in ancient inland oceans evaporated, and the potassium salts crystallized into beds of potash ore. These are the locations where potash is currently being mined today. The deposits are a naturally-occurring mixture of potassium chloride (KCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl), better known as common table salt. Over time, as the surface of the earth changed, these deposits were covered by thousands of feet of earth.[10] Most potash mines today are deep shaft mines as much as 4,400 feet (1,400 m) underground. Others are mined as strip mines, having been laid down in horizontal layers as sedimentary rock. In above-ground processing plants, the KCl is separated from the mixture to produce a high analysis natural potassium fertilizer. Other naturally occurring potassium salts can be separated by various procedures, resulting in potassium sulfate and potassium-magnesium sulfate. Today some of the world's largest known potash deposits are spread all over the world from Saskatchewan, Canada, to Brazil, Belarus, Germany, and more notably the Permian Basin. The Permian basin deposit includes the major mines outside of Carlsbad, New Mexico, to the world's purest potash deposit in Lea County, New Mexico (not far from the Carlsbad deposits), which is believed to be roughly 80% pure. Canada is the largest producer, followed by Russia and Belarus. The most significant reserve of Canada's potash is located in the province of Saskatchewan and controlled by the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan.[1] In the beginning of the 20th century, potash deposits were found in the Dallol Depression in Musely and Crescent localities near the Ethiopean-Eritrean border. The estimated reserves are 173 and 12 million tonnes for the Musely and Crescent, respectively. The latter is particularly suitable for surface mining; it was explored in the 1960s but the works stopped due to the flood in 1967. Attempts to continue mining in the 1990s were halted by the EritreanEthiopian War and have not resumed by 2009.[11]

Consumption
Production and resources of potash (2010, in million tonnes)[12] Country Production Reserves Canada 9.5 4400 Russia 6.8 3300 Belarus 5.0 750 3.0 210 China Germany 3.0 150 2.1 40 Israel Jordan 1.2 40

Production and resources of potash (2010, in million tonnes)[12] Country Production Reserves United States 0.9 130 Chile 0.7 70 0.4 300 Brazil United Kingdom 0.4 22 Spain 0.4 20 Other countries 50 World total 33 9500

Fertilizers

Potash output in 2005 Potassium is the third major plant and crop nutrient after nitrogen and phosphorus. It has been used since antiquity as a soil fertilizer (about 90% of current use).[2] Elemental potassium does not occur in nature because it reacts violently with water.[13] As various compounds, potassium makes up about 2.6% of the weight of the Earth's crust and is the seventh most abundant element, similar in abundance to sodium at approximately 1.8% of the crust.[14] Potash is important for agriculture because it improves water retention, yield, nutrient value, taste, colour, texture and disease resistance of food crops. It has wide application to fruit and vegetables, rice, wheat and other grains, sugar, corn, soybeans, palm oil and cotton, all of which benefit from the nutrients quality enhancing properties.[15] Demand for food and animal feed has been on the rise since 2000. The U.S. Department of Agricultures Economic Research Service (ERS) attributes the trend to average annual population increases of 75 million people around the world. Geographically, economic growth in Asia and Latin America greatly contributed to the increased use of potashbased fertilizer. Rising incomes in developing countries also was a factor in the growing potash and fertilizer use. With more money in the household budget, consumers added more meat and dairy products to their diets. This shift in eating patterns required more acres to be planted, more fertilizer to be applied and more animals to be fed all requiring more potash. After years of trending upward, fertilizer use slowed in 2008. The worldwide economic downturn is the primary reason for the declining fertilizer use, dropping prices and mounting inventories.[16][17] The world's largest consumers of potash are China, the United States, Brazil and India.[18] Brazil imports 90% of the potash it needs.[18][9] Potash imports and exports are often reported in "K2O equivalent", although fertilizer never contains potassium oxide, per se, because potassium oxide is caustic and hygroscopic. Potash prices have soared in recent years. What was once a commodity worth about $200 a tonne is expected to reach $1,500 by 2020; Vancouver prices are US$872.50 per tonne in 2009, which is a record high.[19] As of November 2011 potash prices have dropped to about $470 per metric tonne.[20]

Other uses
In addition to its use as a fertilizer, potassium chloride is important in industrialized economies, where it is used in aluminium recycling, by the chloralkali industry to produce potassium hydroxide, in metal electroplating, oil-well drilling fluid, snow and ice melting, steel heat-treating, and water softening. Potassium hydroxide is used for industrial water treatment and is the precursor of potassium carbonate, several forms of potassium phosphate, many other potassic chemicals, and soap manufacturing. Potassium carbonate is used to produce animal feed supplements, cement, fire extinguishers, food products, photographic chemicals, and textiles. It is also used in brewing beer, pharmaceutical preparations, and as a catalyst for synthetic rubber manufacturing. These nonfertilizer uses have accounted for about 15% of annual potash consumption in the United States.[1] Potash (potassium carbonate) along with hartshorn was also used as a baking aid similar to baking soda in old German baked goods such as lebkuchen (ginger bread).[21 Super phosphate is a fertilizer produced by the action of concentrated sulfuric acid H2SO4 on powdered phosphate rock. Ca3(PO4). Calcium sulphate and calcium phosphate is yielded. 3 Ca3(PO4)2 + 6 H2SO4 6 CaSO4 + 3 Ca(H2PO4)2
Tomato plants and any flowering plant can use 1/3 more super phosphate if you are using NPK 10 10 10. Apply on the surface of the soil and it will be slow acting dissolving into the soil over a six month period with normal watering. The extra phosphate will also help build a stronger root and trunk system. In addition to adding phosphate it adds calcium, and sulfur to your garden soil. Since the phosphate rock it is made from is not pure it adds magnesium, manganese, copper, iron and other minor elements to your soil. The reaction with water is slightly acid. Your garden should be checked once a month for Ph, nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. Cheap test kits can be bought at your garden store.

Explanation of NPK and fertilizers

Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share on print More Sharing Services Understanding NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potash (Potassium)) ratings on lawn and plant fertilizers is an important part of deciding whether or not fertilizers are appropriate or even necessary for your garden and landscaping. This article is a basic guide to understanding what NPK numbers mean with fertilizers, and what levels of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potash are really appropriate for your lawn, and garden plants. NEED A SUMMARY? The page you are reading now takes about 5 minutes to read and digest. Want the quick explanation of NPK? Click here. In most cases, important gardening practices such as aerating and composting are much better for your garden than using chemical fertilizers. Also note that higher NPK levels don't necessarily mean healthier plants.

What You Should Know about NPK and Fertilizers

Chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers show their nutrient content with three bold numbers on the package. These numbers represent three different compounds: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potash (Potassium), which we can also describe with the letters N-P-K. The three numbers listed on fertilizer labels correspond to the percentage of these materials found in the fertilizer. What does each nutrient do? In addition to other properties, Nitrogen helps plant foliage to grow strong. Phosphorous

helps roots and flowers grow and develop. Potassium (Potash) is important for overall plant health. Be aware that high nitrogen fertilizers will make for quick growth but weaker plants that are more susceptible to attacks by diseases and pests. Fast, showy growth is not necessarily the best thing for your plants. German scientist Justus Von Liebig was responsible for the theory that Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium levels are the basis for determining healthy plant growth. However, this theory, which dates to the 1800s, doesn't take into account the dozens of other nutrients and elements that are essential to plant growth such as sulfur, hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, magnesium, etc. Nor does the theory talk about the importance of beneficial soil organisms that help your plants to flourish and to fight off pests and diseases. While Von Liebig's work was unquestionably important to the science of plant growth and agriculture, other ways of looking at how plants utilize nutrients have largely been ignored, especially by those companies who produce the chemical fertilizers commonly on the market today. For example, if you properly aerate the soil, earthworms, beneficial microbes, and other critters found underneath your garden and lawn will have better access to the oxygen they need to thrive. As they live and digest organic matter, they help to create soil that is healthy and fertile. Healthy soil is the basis for healthy plants. Additionally, if we look at nature, compost in the form of organic humus is ever present in natural plant communities, providing lots of the nutrients that plants need to grow and thrive. Compost contains Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, and a great abundance of other trace elements that will benefit your plants. It is clear that Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium are not necessarily the most important elements you need for your plants to grow well. In fact, elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, magnesium, copper, cobalt, sodium, boron, molybdenum, and zinc are just as important to plant development as N-P-K. (Source: http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/excerpts/exgarhow.html) Over the years, Justus Von Liebig's theory developed into the dominant paradigm for how we grow our ornamental and edible plants. The bad news is that this has lead to a vast amount excess nutrients building up in our streams, lakes, and rivers, because chemical fertilizers are often over-applied. Surprisingly, much of this overuse of chemical fertilizers is actually from homeowners, and not from farmers, who typically carefully measure and apply the least amount of fertilizer necessary to get the job done in order to grow their crops in the most cost effective way possible. Many homeowners who aren't growing to make a profit end up inadvertently overusing chemical fertilizers (and pesticides too!). They think that if a little bit is good, then more must be better. It isn't! According to the National Academy of Sciences, even though farmers uses pesticides more widely, homeowners uses 10 times more fertilizer per acre. If you only take away one thing from this article, please let it be that you should only use the proper amount of any fertilizer, and not anything more. This will save you money, and it will also keep your yard and garden healthier at the same time. This is extremely important with chemicals, but it also applies to organics! Organic gardeners can look to the work of Sir Albert Howard for solid research and ideas on how to grow plants more naturally. His ideas consider chemical processes that occur in nature. He then applies them to agriculture and home gardening.

Organic Versus Chemical Fertilizers

When looking at both organic and chemical fertilizer labels, you'll notice that the NPK numbers don't add up to 100 percent. So, what is the rest of your fertilizer made up of? That depends on the fertilizer.

Chemical fertilizers can have any number of additional ingredients including dirt, sand, and even materials that are potentially hazardous to your health and to the environment. (Source: http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php? id=131) These fillers for chemical fertilizers are required so that the nutrients aren't so concentrated that they will damage or "burn" your plants, your skin, and anything else they touch. Organic fertilizers don't necessarily contain fillers, as they are made up of a variety of natural components that in one way or another will benefit your plants. See this article by Howard Garrett for more information on fertilizer fillers. Another thing to be aware of with chemical fertilizers is the kind of nutrients they contain and the way these nutrients are extracted. For example, the kind of nitrogen typically found in chemical fertilizers dissolves very quickly in water. This means that excess nitrogen may find its way into groundwater and freshwater sources and contaminate the water. Additionally, many chemical fertilizers are now using phosphoric acid to create a high phosphorous content quickly and cheaply. According to Garrett, this kind of phosphorous essentially neutralizes other important trace minerals from the soil that your plants need. Also, be aware that the potassium found in many chemical fertilizers is a harsh form of potassium that can be potentially harmful to your plants if applied improperly. Although organic and natural fertilizers usually have a lower NPK number, they are soil amendments that work slowly over time to improve your soil and to help you plants grow strong. They avoid the fast growth and flowering provided by chemical fertilizers that can actually weaken plants. Therefore, big NPK numbers don't necessarily mean a better fertilizer.

Alternatives to Using Fertilizers

You might not need much fertilizer at all in your yard or garden. Here's why. Many professional gardeners say that little to no additional potassium and phosphorus are needed in our soils as these elements are present already. However, we need to liberate these elements with proper soil aeration, soil drainage, beneficial soil organisms, etc. For the average homeowner, this means that organic fertilizers with NPK labels that show low numbers or even zero for potassium and phosphorus are perfectly adequate for your garden as long as you're properly caring for your soil. The thing about fertilizers is that without proper soil aeration, mineral nutrients, and other factors, your plants may not be able to absorb phosphorous and potassium anyway, so loading up your soil with high levels of phosphorous and potassium may not make much difference with the health of your plants. Nitrogen is typically available to the soil without additional fertilizers. The trick is having healthy soil full of beneficial microorganisms that can make use of the nitrogen that is available in the air. Compost can help, and so can soil additives such as Mycor root builder. Also, companion planting with plants like beans that fix nitrogen will make for happy and healthy soil. Organic composts and composted manure are excellent sources of all nutrients plants need to grow, including NPK. Professional gardeners who use chemicals and organic gardeners agree that using compost is one of the best things you can do to feed your plants are feed them the nutrients they need. Other excellent sources of these nutrients are fish meal, bone meal, alfalfa meal, bat guano and earthworm castings.