CLASSIFICATION OF INORGANIC FERTILIZERS
A. Based on number of nutrients present
1. Straight fertilizers
2. Complex fertilizers
3. Mixed fertilizers or fertilizer Mixtures
B. Based on particular plant nutrient element
1. Nitrogenous fertilizers
2. Phosphatic fertilizers
3. Potassic fertilizers
4. Secondary nutrient fertilizers
5. Micronutrient fertilizers
A. Based on number of nutrients present
1. STRAIGHT FERTILIZERS: These are those fertilizers containing or supplying only one plant nutrient
element at a time. For e.g., Urea, Ammonium Sulphate (NH 4SO4), Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), Single
super phosphate (SSP), Muriate of potash (MOP- KCI).
2. COMPLEX FERTILIZERS
Fertilizers containing at least 2 or more of the primary essential nutrients (NPK). They are chemical
mixtures, granular and free flowing and easy to apply. There are two types of complex fertilizers.
a. Complete or compound fertilizer:
They are the chemical mixtures of three or more primary or major nutrient elements (NPK) in
one compound or mixture.
b. Incomplete complex fertilizers:
A fertilizer material lacking any one of three major nutrients or containing only two of the
primary nutrients like N, P and K
3. MIXED FERTILIZERS
A mechanical/physical mixture of two or more straight fertilizer materials in suitable proportion is
referred to as fertilizer mixture or mixed fertilizers.
The mixed fertilizers are usually in powder form or sometimes granular form. Fertilizer mixture (FM) is
free flowing and easy to apply. The mixed fertilizers can be made according to the need of the crop and
there is wide scope for adjusting the fertilizer ratio.
B. Based on particular plant nutrient element
NITROGENOUS FERTILIZERS
a. Ammonium fertilizers
Ammonium sulphate (NH4)2 SO4 – 20% N
b. Nitrate fertilizers
Calcium nitrate: CaNO3 – 15.5% N
c. Both Ammonium and nitrate fertilizers
Ammonium nitrate: NH4NO3- 33-34%N
d. Amide fertilizers
Urea - 46% N
e. Nitrogen solutions
Anhydrous ammonia
f. Slowly available nitrogenous fertilizers
Neem Cake coated Urea NCU
PHOSPHATIC FERTILIZERS
a. Water soluble phosphatic fertilizers
Single Super phosphate (SSP)- 16-18 % P2O5
b. Citric acid soluble phosphatic fertilizers
Dicalcium phosphate (DCP) - 34-39% P2O5
c. Insoluble phosphatic fertilizers
Containing tricalcium phosphate [(Ca3 (PO4)2]
POTASSIC FERTILIZERS
A. Fertilizers having K in the Chloride form
1. Muriate of Potash (MOP) – KCl- 60-62 % K20.
B. Fertilizers having K in Non-chloride form
1. Sulphate of potash (SOP) -K2SO4: 48-52% K2O
2. Potassium nitrateKNO3 - 44% K2O
SECONDARY FERTILIZERS
Secondary elements are as important as primary elements because they help in uptake of primary
elements by plants. They are required in very little quantity as compared to primary elements. The most
important secondary nutrients are Ca, Mg and S.
The fertilizers carrying secondary nutrients are;
1. Calcium cyanamide (39.57% Ca)
2. Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (8.0% Ca & 4.5% Mg)
3. Ammonium sulphate (24% S)
MICRONUTRIENTS FERTILIZERS
Micronutrients are those which required in very minute quantities by plants but they have equal role as
that of primary nutrients.
1.Fe carrying fertilizers: Ferrous sulphate (19.0% Fe)
2.Boron carrying fertilizers: Boric acid (17.0% B)
3.Manganese carrying fertilizers: Manganese sulphate (<28.0%)
4.Zinc carrying fertilizers: Zinc sulphate (55.0% Zn)
5.Molybdenum carrying fertilizers: Sodium molybdate (39.0%)
6. Copper carrying fertilizers: Copper sulphate.
SOIL HEALTH
Phosphatic fertilizers
Phosphorus present in the phosphatic fertilizer is usually expressed as phosphorus pentoxide
(P205)
Phosphorus moves very slowly from the point of placement
Water soluble
Citric acid soluble
Citric acid (or)
water insoluble
Mono-
Di-calcium
calcium phosphate
phosphate
Tri-calcium phosphate
