Fertilisers and Manures

Fertilisers and Manures

1. Fertiliser: An inorganic, man made material that contains one or more minerals.

2. Manure: An organic material, that consists of the waste of plants and animals. example: cows waste.

3. Fertilisers and Essential Elements: N,P,K - Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassiium

4. Straight Fertiliser: Contains only one mineral. Example: Urea and CAN (Calcium Ammonium Nitrate) Ground Rocks Phosphate - Forestry

5. CAN: Fast Acting Fertiliser. Can is Hygroscopic - A substance that can absorb moisture from the atmosphere = it'll cake.

6. Urea: Slow acting Fertiliser. It must be converted to ammonia to nitrite before nitrate can be formed.

7. Urea undergoes 'Volatilisation - A process where the ammonium ions prooduced are converted to ammonia gas, which is then lost to the atmosphere.

8. Compound Fertilisers: A fertiliser that contains two or more minerals. Advantage: Provides all the nutrients required by the crop. 10:10:20 - most common compound fertiliser. 18:6:12 - Grassland.

9. Application of Fertilisers: Broadcast: Spread onto ground and incorporated into soil - Fertiliser Spreader. Placement: Placed in a band near a line of seeds. Top Dressing: Spread on an established crop.

10. Manures: Cheap source of nutrients. Reduces the need to purchase artificial fertilisers. Adds organic matter to the soil, which improves soil fertility.

11. FYM: Consists of animal dung, urine and straw. FYM can be spread with a much spreader. More Nutrients - Slower response. Stored outside in a yard.

12. Slurry: Liquid manure that contains animal dung and urine. Stored in a tank underground or above ground. Spread by a Slurry Tank. Contains less organic matter due to no straw. Faster growth response. Disadvatages: Odour, Pollution, Spreads pests and diseases, Contributes to seed dispersal.

13. Green Manure: Straw.