Question

69) What are fertilizers ? How are they classified ? Explain the classification of fertilizers with an example?

Answer 1

Part I - Definition of fertilizers

They are the compounds that when added to soil enhance the nutritional capacity of soil and thus improve the yield.

Part II - Classification

Depending on the source fertilizers are of two types -

• Natural Fertilizer - It is obtained by mixing the excreta of livestock with human excreta and straw and the mixture is buried deep into the soil for months, which ultimately leads to the formation of manure. Manure is nutrient-enriched and increases the yield.
• Example: Manure

• Artificial fertilizer - They are manufactured in laboratories and are prepared to take over the lack of a particular nutrient.

On the basis of nutrients, three types of artificial fertilizers are obtained -

• Nitrogenous Fertilizer - It replenishes the nitrogen deficiency of soil. For example - Calcium ammonium nitrate
• Phosphatic Fertilizer - It replenishes the deficiency of phosphorous in the soil. For example - tri ammonium phosphate
• Potash Fertilizer - It replenishes the deficiency of Potassium in soil. For example - Potassium nitrate