Do you know your NPK?
Scientific shorthand for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, the three major nutrients used in greatest quantity by plants. The three-number formula (5-10-5, 20-20-20) on fertilizer labels identifies a product’s NPK content.
We have all looked at the soil mix packages in the store and wondered, “What do the numbers mean?” Most soil mix packages contain a time-released fertilizer which adds nutrients to the soil: 14-14-14.
- Nitrogen promotes green growth. Leafy crops need more nitrogen than phosphorus or potassium.
- Phosphorus promotes root growth and fruit development in fruit crops like tomato, peppers, egg plant, corn, cucumber, muskmelon, watermelon and requires more phosphorus.
- Potassium promotes disease resistance and root development in root crops.
According to Yara, correct plant nutrition involves supplying a properly balanced diet of nutrients to optimize plant health and growth while minimizing waste and pollution. Plants need more of some minerals than others.