What Is Compound Fertilizer and How to Use It Correctly

In agricultural planting, using fertilizer to improve the quality and yield of agricultural products is a basic practice. Today there are many kinds of fertilizers, such as farmyard manure, foliar fertilizer, compound fertilizer and so on, and many people cannot figure out the differences between them. So what kind of fertilizer is compound fertilizer? And what is the correct way to use it?

I. What kind of fertilizer is compound fertilizer

Compound fertilizer refers to chemical fertilizer containing two or more nutrient elements. It is generally made by processing chemicals, with relatively simple nutrients but high nutrient content and good physical properties, making it easy to store and transport. It plays a very important role in balanced fertilization, improving fertilizer use efficiency, and promoting high and stable crop yields.

II. Advantages of compound fertilizer

1. High nutrition

Compound fertilizer contains more kinds of nutrient elements, and its total nutrient content is higher than that of single-element fertilizer. Applying compound fertilizer once can supply crops with at least two or more nutrient elements.

2. Uniform structure

For example, compound fertilizers such as ammonium phosphate contain no useless secondary components, and the anions and cations they contain are all major nutrient elements needed by crops. The nutrients in compound fertilizer are distributed relatively evenly, and the finished product is mostly granular. Its structural density is greater than that of single-element fertilizers in powder or crystalline form, so nutrients are released more evenly and comprehensively, while also ensuring stable and lasting fertilizer efficiency.

3. Good physical properties

Compound fertilizer is generally made into granules, with low hygroscopicity and little tendency to cake, making it easy to store and apply, and especially convenient for mechanized fertilization.

4. Convenient storage, transport and packaging

Because compound fertilizer has few secondary components and a higher content of effective ingredients than single-element fertilizer, it takes up less volume, so less space is needed for packaging and transport, which can reduce transport and storage costs.

III. What is the correct way to use compound fertilizer

1. Choosing the concentration

The concentration of compound fertilizer varies greatly, so attention should be paid to choosing a suitable concentration. There are high-, medium- and low-concentration series of compound fertilizers on the market. Generally, the total nutrient content of low concentration is between 25%-30%, medium concentration is between 30%-40%, and high concentration is above 40%. According to differences in region, soil and crop, an economical and efficient compound fertilizer should be selected. For example, because high-concentration compound fertilizer has high nutrition, little residue and high use efficiency, it can maximize the output efficiency of cash crops.

2. Spreading method

Compound fertilizer has a relatively high concentration. When spreading, it must never be applied directly together with seeds in the planting hole, as this will cause fertilizer damage, affect seed development, and may even cause seedling burn and root rot at emergence, leading to poor or deformed growth later. When sowing, seeds should be about 5-10cm away from compound fertilizer applied in holes or bands.

3. Reasonable ratio

The raw materials used in compound fertilizer ratios differ, so attention should be paid to the proportion of fertilizer elements required by different crops. Compound fertilizer containing nitrate must never be used on leafy vegetables or in paddy fields; compound fertilizer containing ammonium ions must never be applied on saline-alkali land; compound fertilizer containing potassium chloride or chloride ions must never be used on chlorine-sensitive crops or saline-alkali land; compound fertilizer containing potassium sulfate is not suitable for application in paddy fields or acidic soil. Otherwise, fertilizer efficiency will be reduced, and crops may even be harmed.

4. Application method

Compound fertilizer contains two or more high-nutrient elements. Among them, ammonia applied on the surface is prone to volatilization loss or loss with rainwater, while phosphorus and potassium are easily left on the surface by the soil and cannot be absorbed by plants. Phosphorus in particular can hardly move in the soil, so surface broadcasting is not easily absorbed and used by crop roots, and in dry conditions the fertilizer cannot dissolve, making fertilizer efficiency even worse. Therefore, the application of compound fertilizer should avoid surface broadcasting as much as possible, and should be applied deeply and covered with soil.

Using compound fertilizer correctly will bring us good returns, but when choosing compound fertilizer, we should carefully identify products made by various manufacturers to guard against being deceived.