Fertilizer Materials and

Calculation
Salvador I. Yabes
Sr. Science Research Specialist
PhilRice-CES

January 20, 2009

Fertilizer Terminologies
 Fertilizer – any substance which is added to the soil or
applied to the plant to supply the elements essential for
plant nutrition

 Fertilizer grade - the guaranteed percentage of total

nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P2O5), and water
soluble potassium (K2O), in that order, in a fertilizer
material; 16-20-0 means that the fertilizer material
contains N, P, K equivalent to 16% N, 20% P2O5, and
0% K2O
Fertilizer Terminologies

 Total plant food – the total percentage of nutrients

(usually of N,P,K and S) in a fertilizer material; 17-0-
17-12 has 46% while 14-14-14-12 has 54% total plant
food

 Carrier – a material that is necessary to hold the

fertilizer element in a form suitable for use
Fertilizer Terminologies
 Filler – a material used to provide the
fertilizer with the desired amount of nutrient
per unit of weight, to make application easier
or to reduce the absorption of water from the
air
 Fertilizer recommendation – the amount (kg)
of N,P2O5, and K2O recommended per
hectare; 90+30+60 means that for 1 ha, you
must apply 90 kg N, 30 kg P2O5, and 60 kg
K2O
Classification of Fertilizer Materials

 According to form
1. Natural organic – any fertilizer of plant and/or
animal origin that has undergone decomposition.

Examples: Commercial organic fertilizer (OF), compost,

chicken manure
Commercial OF may either be pure organic or fortified organic:

Organic Moisture N+P2O5+K2

C:N Ratio
Matter (%) Content (%) O (%)
Pure Organic ≥ 20 12:1 ≤ 35 ≤7
Fortified
≥ 20 12:1 ≤ 35 >7
Organic
Classification of Fertilizer Materials

 According to form
2. Chemical or inorganic – any fertilizer material
which is natural or synthetic product of chemical
reaction of certain raw materials.

 Natural chemical – rock phosphate, Chilean nitrate

of soda, most potassium materials
 Synthetic chemical – ammonium sulfate, ordinary
superphosphate, ammonium phosphate, complete
fertilizer; Urea is synthetic but in organic form.
Classification of Fertilizer Materials

 According to number of fertilizer elements present

1. Single fertilizers – contain only one of the 3 major

fertilizer elements (N,P, and K)

Examples: Urea, Ammonium sulfate, ordinary

superphosphate, muriate of potash, sulfate of potash
2. Incomplete fertilizers – contain 2 of the 3 major
fertilizer elements

Examples: ammonium phosphate, 17-0-17, potassium

nitrate, potassium phosphate, urea superphosphate
(20-10-0)
Classification of Fertilizer Materials

 According to number of fertilizer elements present

3. Complete fertilizers – contain all the 3 major fertilizer

elements

Examples: 14-14-14; 17-7-17; 10-15-15; 12-12-12

4. Mixed fertilizers – contain 2 or more of the major
fertilizer elements that are supplied by 2 or more
fertilizer materials

Examples: ammonium phosphate + muriate of potash;

urea superphosphate (20-10-0)
Fertilizer Calculation
 Formula
Recommended Rate (kg nutrient/ha) x Area (ha)
Amount of Fertilizer
Material (kg)
=
Percent Nutrient in Fertilizer Material

 Calculate the amount of fertilizer materials for 1 ha at

the recommended rate of 90 + 30 + 60 using different
material combinations
Fertilizer Calculation
1. Combination of single fertilizer materials:
 21-0-0 (ammonium sulfate)
 0-18-0 (ordinary superphosphate)
 0-0-60 (muriate of potash or potassium chloride)
Solution:
Amount of 21-0-0 (kg) = 90 kg N/ha x 1 ha 428.6
0.21 =

Amount of 0-18-0 (kg) = 30 kg P2O5/ha x 1 ha = 166.7

0.18

Amount of 0-0-60 (kg) = 60 kg K2O/ha x 1 ha = 100.0

0.60
Therefore, you must apply 428.6 kg 21-0-0, 166.7 kg 0-18-0, and 100.0 kg
0-0-60 to satisfy the recommended rate of 90 + 30 + 60.
Fertilizer Calculation
2. Combination of incomplete & single fertilizer materials
 16-20-0 (ammonium phosphate
 46-0-0 (urea)
 0-0-60 (muriate of potash)
Fertilizer Calculation
Solution:
30 kg P2O5/ha x 1 ha
Amount of 16-20-0 (kg) = = 150.0
0.20

Amount of 46-0-0 (kg) = 90 kg N – kg N from 150 kg 16-20-0/ha x 1 ha

0.46
90 – (150 x 0.16) 90 – 24 66
= 0.46 = 0.46 = 0.46
= 143.5
60 kg K2O/ha x 1 ha
Amount of 0-0-60 (kg) = = 100.0
0.60
Therefore, you must apply 150.0 kg 16-20-0, 143.5 kg 46-0-0, and 100.0
kg 0-0-60 to satisfy the recommended rate of 90 + 30 + 60
Fertilizer Calculation
3. Combination of complete and single fertilizer materials
 14-14-14 (complete)
 46-0-0 (urea)
 0-0-60 (muriate of potash)
Fertilizer Calculation
Solution:
30 kg P2O5/ha x 1 ha
Amount of 14-14-14 (kg) = = 214.3
0.14

Amount of 46-0-0 (kg) = 90 kg N – kg N from 214.3 kg 14-14-14/ha x 1 ha

0.46
90 – (214.3 x 0.14) 90 – 30 60
= 0.46 = 0.46 = 0.46 = 130.4
60 kg K2O – kg K2O from 214.3 kg 14-14-14/ha x 1 ha
Amount of 0-0-60 (kg) =
0.60
60 – (214.3 x 0.14) 60 – 30 30
= 0.60 = 0.60 = 0.60 = 50.0
Therefore, you must apply 214.3 kg 14-14-14, 130.4 kg 46-0-0, and 50.0
kg 0-0-60 to satisfy the recommended rate of 90 + 30 + 60
Fertilizer Calculation

 Determine the least expensive fertilizer combination

that can satisfy the recommended rate (90 + 30 + 60)
Fertilizer Calculation
1. Cost of combination 1

428.6 kg
21-0-0 = 50 kg/bag x P 660/bag = P 5,657.52

166.7 kg
0-18-0 = 50 kg/bag x P 1,190/bag = P 3,967.46

100.0 kg
0-0-60 = 50 kg/bag x P 2,175/bag = P 4,350.00

TOTAL COST = P 13,974.98

Fertilizer Calculation
2. Cost of combination 2
150.0 kg
16-20-0 = 50 kg/bag x P 1,315/bag = P 3,945.00

143.5 kg
46-0-0 = 50 kg/bag x P 1,115/bag = P 3,200.05

100.0 kg
0-0-60 = 50 kg/bag x P 2,175/bag = P 4,350.00

TOTAL COST = P 11,495.05

Fertilizer Calculation
3. Cost of combination 3

214.3 kg
14-14-14 = 50 kg/bag x P 1,420/bag = P 6,086.12

130.4 kg
46-0-0 = 50 kg/bag x P 1,115/bag = P 2,907.92

50.0 kg
0-0-60 = 50 kg/bag x P 2,175/bag = P 2,175.00

TOTAL COST = P 11,169.04

Fertilizer Calculation
Fertilizer Cost (PhP)
Fertilizer Material
Combination 1 Combination 2 Combination 3

21-0-0/ 16-20-0/ 5, 657.52 3, 945.00 6, 086.12

14-14-14

0-18-0/ 46-0-0/ 3, 967.46 3, 200.05 2, 907.92

46-0-0

0-0-60 4, 350.00 4, 350.00 2, 175.00

Total Cost (PhP) 13, 974.98 11, 495.05 11,169.04

End of Presentation