Fertilisers and Trace Elements
The addition of fertilisers in agriculture increases crop yields by ensuring the plant has enough nutrients to grow. Nutrients not available in the soil are provided, nutrients removed at harvest are replaced and the correct ratios of different trace element nutrients are maintained. Fertiliser is available in two forms, organic or synthetic, where organic fertiliser refers to manure or compost.
Organic fertiliser is used when a gradual nutrition release is required, as the nutrients are less accessible because they have not yet been broken down or mineralised into usable products. Synthetic fertilisers on the other hand, are absorbed much quicker because they are already in a form that is soluble and can be easily absorbed by the plant roots. Synthetic fertiliser also enable the different elements required for various soil conditions and types of plants to be manipulated, ensuring the best possible crop yields. The elements required in the most abundance (macronutrients) are Nitrogen (N), Potassium (K) and Phosphorus (P). Common important trace elements are Boron (B), Copper (Cu), Cobalt (Co), Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo) and Zinc (Zn).
Different plants require different relative trace elements concentrations and can change depending on the soil conditions, environmental conditions and region. Legumes (peas, beans, peanuts, lentils) have the ability to fix nitrogen from the air, and as such additional nitrogen supplementation is not needed. Please contact us for more information.