Basic Nutrition in Plants
Plants need a balance of soil nutrients for healthy growth.
Fertilizers, or complete plant foods, contain all of the basic macronutrients
in soil: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Each chemical plays a vital role
in plant development. For example, nitrogen
promotes leaf and stem growth. Phosphorus
encourages root growth, disease resistance, and flower color. Potassium assists in fruit and seed
production. These nutrients are listed on packaged plant foods in percentages
of N-P-K. If your soil is low in
nutrients, don't fret. The following organic fertilizers, when added to soil,
supply specific nutrients needed by plants.
Soil Nutrients: Nitrogen (N) Sources
- Alfalfa
meal
- Blood meal (blood and bone)
- Composted
manure
- Cottonseed
meal
- Feather
meal
- Fish meal
or emulsion (Seasol)
- Mushroom
compost
- Rice hulls
Soil Nutrients: Phosphorus (P) Sources
- Bat guano
- Bonemeal (blood and bone)
- Rock
phosphate
Soil Nutrients: Potassium (K) Sources
- Dolomite
lime
- Greensand
- Kelp meal
- Oyster-shell
lime
- Rock dust
- Seaweed
- Wood ashes
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