Agriculture is the backbone of our country, and fertile soil is essential for healthy crops, their is different types of fertilizer are used in agriculture. Fertilizer is used to increase soil fertility by enriching essential nutrients, support plant growth, and achieve better yields. In today’s modern farming system Fertilizer is stand as backbone in both organic and inorganic.
In this article we will understand in details the different types of fertilisers used in agriculture and how they boost soil health and crop productivity.
What are Fertilizers?
Fertilizer or substance that supply essential nutrients to plants. They can be natural (Organic) or man-made (chemical) and are applied to the soil or plants to improve fertility and boost crop growth. Every plant requires three major nutrients—1. Nitrogen (N) 2.Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) along with several secondary and micronutrient for balance development.
1. Organic Fertilizers:
Organic fertilisers are those derived from natural sources such as plant residues, animal waste compost, and green manure. They not only supply nutrients but also improve soil texture, water rentention, and microbial activity.
Common types of Organic Fertilizers:
- Compost: Decomposing organic matter by microorganisms. Organic matter like kitchen waste, grass clipping and crop residues.
- Farmyard Manure(FYM): A mix of dung, urine and leftover fodder from cattle sheds, that improves soil structure and nutrient content.
- Vermicompost: A nutrient rich fertilizer made from earth-worm casting, food scraps, and bedding.
- Green manure: A crop grown to be incorporated into the soil while still green, with the purpose of improving soil fertility and health.
- Bone Meal: A bone meal fertilizer is an organic, slow-release powder rich in phosphorus and calcium, which are essential for strong root development, flowing, and fruiting in plant.
- Fish Emulsion: Due to high nitrogen and trace minerals are available, this is perfect for organic farming.
Benefits of Organic Fertilizers:
- Improves soil structure, fertility and aeration
- Boost microbiological activity
- Enhance water-holding capacity
- Safe for Environment that enhance long term productivity
2. Inorganic(Chemical) Fertilizer:
Inorganic fertilizers are synthetic products made from mineral salts and chemicals that provide nutrients directly to plants, including essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). They act quickly and are widely used for large-scale commercial farming.
- Nitrogen (N) Fertilizers: This fertiliser helps in rapid vegetable growth and make leaves greener by promoting Chlorophyll formation.
Common Examples:
- Urea: Most commonly used nitrogen fertilizer in India.
- Ammonium Sulphate Nitrate: Adds both nitrogen and sulphur to the soil
- Calcium Ammonium Nitrate: Reduces soil acidity and provides quick nitrogen availability.
b. Phosphorus (P) Fertilizers: Phosphorus supports root development, flowering, and fruiting in plants. It is especially important for young crops.
Common examples
- Single Super Phosphate (SSP)
- Triple Super Phosphate (TSP)
- Diammonium Phosphate(DAP)
c. Potassium (K) Fertilizer: Potassium strengthens plant resistance to drought, pests and diseases. It also improves grain quality and enhance water regulation in soil.
Common example:
- Muriate of Potash(MOP or KCL)
- Sulphate of Potash(SOP of K2 SO4)
3. Biofertilizers- Sustainable and Smart Option:
Biofertilizers are living microorganisms that increase soil fertility and form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots. They are an environment-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers.
Types of Biofertilizers:
- Rhizobium: It helps in nitrogen fixation in legume crops like beans and peas.
- Azospirillum & Azotobacter: It Fixes atmospheric nitrogen for cereals and non-legume crops.
- Blue-Green Algae (BGA) & Azolla: Have a symbiotic relationship for nitrogen fixation, making them valuable biofertilizers, especially for rice crops.
- Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB): It Converts soil phosphorus into a soluble form.
- Mycorrhiza: Is a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a plants root system, that helps plant absorb water and minerals from soil in change for sugars from plant.
Advantages of Biofertilizers:
- Enhance nutrient availability: Microorganism in biofertiliser convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form and make insoluble phosphorus available to plants.
- Improved soil health:Biofertiliser enhance soil structure, increase organic matter, and boost microbial diversity and creating a more self sustaining soil ecosystem.
- Eco friendly and sustainable: They minimises environmental pollution, reduces reliance on synthetic chemicals, and lower greenhouse gas emission, contributing to sustainable agriculture practises.
- Cost effective: They offer long term cost benefits by reducing the need for synthetic inputs and can be produced locally in rural and urban areas.
- Better plant growth: They stimulate plant growth by Secreting hormones like auxins and gibberellings, leading to stronger root system and more vigorous foliage.
4. Micronutrient Fertilizers:
Plants require major nutrients as well as micronutrients such as zinc, iron, boron, manganese, and copper.Deficiency of these nutrients can lead to poor growth and lower yields.
Common micronutrients fertilizers:
These are often used as foliar sprays or in the soil to correct nutrient deficiencies.
- Zinc Sulphate (ZnSO₄)
- Ferrous Sulphate (FeSO₄)
- Manganese Sulphate (MnSO₄)
- Copper Sulphate (CuSO₄)
- Borax or Boric Acid (Boron)
5. Green Fertilizers-Eco-Friendly Soil Enrichment:
Green fertilizers refer to crops that are specifically grown to make the soil fertile and then mixed into the soil.
Common Green Manure Crops:
- Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata)
- Sunhemp (Crotalaria juncea)
- Cowpea
6. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM):
Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is a sustainable agricultural technique that uses a combination of chemicals for faster growth and organic matter for natural balance—to keep soil healthy and produce high yields without harming the environment.This system uses chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers (such as compost, cow dung, and green manure), as well as biofertilizers. This combination provides plants with the nutrients they need for growth and improves soil quality and fertility over the long term.
Common benefits:
It ensures:
- Balanced nutrition supply to crops.
- Maintain Better soil health and productivity.
- Reduce environmental pollution.
- Sustainable agricultural growth.
Conclusion:
Fertilizers are essential for achieving food security and increasing farmers’ income. However, excessive use of chemical fertilizers can be detrimental to both the soil and the environment. The future of Indian agriculture lies in balanced fertilizer use—where there is the right combination of organic manure, biofertilizers, and scientifically sourced chemical nutrients.
If we promote soil testing, crop-based fertilizer recommendation, and eco-friendly alternatives, we can not only increase productivity but also ensure sustainable rural development.
