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Fertilizers
Fertilizers are organic or inorganic synthetic chemical
compounds or refined or unrefined natural deposits that,
when applied to soil or to foliage, supply certain essential
elements, particularly the primary nutrient elements, for the
nutrition and growth of plants.

Importance of Fertilizers
• Boosting growth:
• Increases crop yield:
• Maintaining soil fertility:
• Acceleration of maturation:
• Enhanced resistance:

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• Plant absorb more than 90 elements from soil, air and water.
• 17 element are essentials to the plants.
• C, H, O form air and water
• Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium
• Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphur
• Boron, Chlorine, Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Molybdenum and
Nickel are from soil.

Elements Forms Elements Forms of

Carbon CO2 Cobalt Co2+
Hydrogen H₂O, H+
Nickel Ni2+
Nitrogen NH4+, NO3- and slightly NO2- Silicon Si (OH) 4
Phosphorus -,
H2PO4 HPO4 2- Sodium Na+

Potassium K+ Vanadium VO3-

Calcium Ca2+
Magnesium Mg 2+
Sulphur SO4-
Iron Fe2+, Fe3+
Zinc Zn2+
Copper Cu2+
Chlorine Cl-
Boron H3BO3
Molybdenum MoO42-

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Types of Fertilizers
• Natural and synthetic
• Organic and inorganic
• Straight, complex
• Low Analysis and High Analysis
• Acidic, Basic and Neutral
• Nitrogenous, Phosphatic, Potassic and micronutrient fertilizers
• Others- Complete, Multinutrients, Customized, Nano, Biofertilizers

Fertilizer

Acidic Straight fertilizer Complex fertilizer

Complete Complex
Neutral

N fertilizer K fertilizer P fertilizer

Alkaline

NH4 Fertilizer NO3 Fertilizer NH4 + NO3 Fertilizer Amide Fertilizer

Water Soluble Citrate Soluble Insoluble

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Nitrogenous Fertilizers

Ammoniacal Nitrate Ammoniacal andAmide fertilizer

Nitrate
1. Ammonium 1. Sodium 1. Ammonium 1. Urea
Sulphate Nitrate Nitrate 2. Calcium
2. Ammonium 2. Calcium 2. Calcium Cynamide
chloride Nitrate Ammonium
3. Anhydrous 3. Potassium Nitrate
ammonia Nitrate 3. Ammonium
Sulphate
Nitrate

Sources of Nitrogen
• Air
Repeated Compression & Expansion Fractional distillation
• Air Liquid Air Nitrogen

• Air Gas or producer gas

Temperature 5500 C
• CO + N2 CO2 + H2 + N2
Catalyst : Fe2 O3
Promoter Cr2O3

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Sources of Hydrogen
1. Hydrocarbons
• Natural gas
• Naptha
• LPG
2. Water
3. Water gas
4. Coke Oven gas
5. Refinery gas

Ammonia Manufacturing
1. Destructive Distillation Of Coke

Heated to 10000 C Volatile substances (NH3 + tar + Coal gas)

• Coal
Non volatile substances ( Coke + Gas Carbon)

Passed through 100 C and 6

atm pressure
Liquid NH3 is separated

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Schematic diagram showing the manufacture of NH3

by DDC

2. Ammonia Synthesis by Haber Bosch method

Temperature- 400- 5000 C

Pressure - 200- 1000 atm
N2 + 3H2 2NH3
Catalyst- Fe3O4 + FeO
Promoter – Mo/ Al/ K/ Cao

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Ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2 SO4]

• Manufacturing process:
I. By product Process
II. Gypsum process
III. Neutralization process

I. By product Process
2NH3 (g) +H2SO4 → (NH4)2 SO4

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II. Gypsum process

Reactions:
• NH3 + H2O ⇋ NH4OH

• 2 NH4OH +CO2 → (NH4) CO3 + H2O

• (NH4)CO3 + CaSO4 2H2O ⇋ (NH4)2SO4 + CaCO3

+ 2H2O + 3.9K Cal / g.mole

III. Neutralization process

Reaction: 2NH3 + H2SO4 → (NH4)2SO4 + 67.710 k.cal /gram mole

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Properties of Nitrogenous
Fertilizers

1. Ammoniacal fertilizers
• Ammoniacal fertilizers contain the nutrient nitrogen in the form of
ammonium or ammonia.
• Ammoniacal fertilizers are readily soluble in water and therefore readily
available to crops.
• Except rice, all crops absorb nitrogen in nitrate form.
• These fertilizers are resistant to leaching loss, as the ammonium ions get
readily absorbed on the colloidal complex of the soil.

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a) Ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2 SO4]

• It is a white salt completely soluble in water containing 20.6 per cent of
nitrogen and 24.0 per cent of sulphur.

• It is used advantageously in rice and jute cultivation.

• It is easy to handle and it stores well under dry conditions. But during rainy
season, it sometimes forms lumps.

• It can be applied before sowing, at the time of sowing or as a top-dressing to

the growing crop.

Physical properties:
1. It is white crystalline salt, but commercial product has light yellow to grey
colour with free flowing character.

2. No problem in handling and storage, if it contains some powdered material,

it cakes (stored in polythene bags)
Chemical properties:
1. Ammonium sulphate fertilizer contains 20.6 per cent N and 24 per cent
sulphur (It is a acid producing fertilizer)

2. Soluble in water at ordinary temperatures .Solubility at 0 0C is 70.60g/100

grams of water and at 100 0C is 103.80 grams /100 grams of water.

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Manufacturing process:
I. By product Process
II. Gypsum process
III. Neutralization process

b) Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl)

• It is a white salt that contains 26.0 per cent of nitrogen.
• It is usually not recommended for tomato, tobacco and other crops as
may be injured by chlorine.

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c) Anhydrous ammonia (NH3)

• It is a colourless and pungent gas containing 82.0 per cent nitrogen.

• It is the cheapest and can be applied directly to the soil by injection

using blade type applicator having tubes.

• It becomes liquid (anhydrous ammonia) under suitable conditions of

temperature and pressure.

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2. Nitrate Fertilizers
• Nitrate fertilizers contain the nitrogen in the form of NO3-.

• These ions are easily lost by leaching because of the greater mobility of
nitrate ions in the soil.

• Continuous use of these fertilizers may reduce the soil acidity as these
nitrogenous fertilizers are basic in their residual effect on soils.

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a) Sodium nitrate (NaNO3)

• Sodium nitrate is a white salt containing about 15.6 per cent of nitrogen.

• It is completely soluble in water and readily available for the use of plants as
such, without any chemical change in the soil.

• It is easily lost by leaching and denitrification.

• When large quantities of sodium nitrate are added year after year, the nitrate
ions are absorbed by crops and sodium ions accumulate and affect the
structure of the soil. Sodium nitrate is also known as chile salt
peter or chilean nitrate.

• Sodium nitrate is particularly useful for acidic soils

b) Calcium nitrate [Ca (NO3)2]

• It is a white crystalline hygroscopic solid soluble in water containing
15.5 per cent nitrogen and 19.5 per cent calcium.
• The calcium is useful for maintaining a desirable soil pH.

c) Potassium nitrate (KNO3)

• The purified salt contains 13.0 per cent nitrogen and 36.4 per cent
potassium.
• The nitrogen of the potassium nitrate has the same properties and value
as that of the sodium nitrate.

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Ammoniacal and nitrate fertilizers

• These fertilizers contain nitrogen in both ammonium and nitrate forms. The
nitrates are useful for rapid utilization by crops and the ammonical is gradually
available.
a) Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3)
• It is white, water soluble and hygroscopic crystalline salt containing 35 per
cent nitrogen half as nitrate nitrogen and half in the ammonium form.

• In the ammonium form, it cannot be easily leached from the soil.

• This fertilizer is quick acting, but highly hygroscopic and not fit for storage.

• It has an acidulating effect on the soil.

• It is dangerous in pure form because of explosion hazard

• All ammonium nitrate plants produce an aqueous ammonium nitrate solution

through the reaction of ammonia and nitric acid in a neutralizer as follows:

• NH3 + HNO3 = NH4NO3

b) Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)
• Calcium ammonium nitrate is a fine free-flowing, light brown or grey granular
fertilizer, containing 26 % of nitrogen.

• It is a neutral fertilizers.

• Half of its total nitrogen is in the ammoniacal form and half is in nitrate form.

• It is made from ammonium nitrate by adding lime.

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c) Ammonium sulphate nitrate [(NH4)2SO4 NH4NO3]

• It contains 26 per cent nitrogen, three fourths of it in the ammoniacal

form and the rest (6.5 per cent) as nitrate nitrogen.
• In addition to nitrogen it contains 12.1 percent sulphur.
• It is a mixture of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulphate.
• It is available in a white crystalline form or as dirty-white granules.
• It is readily soluble in water and is very quick-acting.
• Its keeping quality is good and it is useful for all crops.
• Its acid effect on the soils is only one-half of that of ammonium sulphate.
• It can be applied before sowing, at sowing time or as a top-dressing.

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4. Amide fertilizers
• Amide fertilizers are readily soluble in water and easily decomposable in the soil.
• The amide form of nitrogen is easily changed to ammoniacal and then to nitrate
form in the soil.
a) Urea [CO (NH2)2]
• It is the concentrated solid nitrogenous fertilizer, containing 46 per cent nitrogen.
• It is a white crystalline substance readily soluble in water.
• It absorbs moisture from the atmosphere and has to be kept in moisture proof
containers. It is readily converted to ammoniacal and nitrate forms in the soil.
• The nitrogen in urea is readily fixed in the soil in an ammoniacal form and is not
lost in drainage.
• Urea sprays are readily absorbed by plants.
• It may be applied at sowing or as, a top-dressing.
• It is suitable for most crops and can be applied to all soils.

• Urea or carbamide as it is sometimes called "non-ionic" nitrogen compound

used as a fertilizer for crops and also as protein supplement in the feed of
ruminants (farm animals).
• It is the most important N-Fertilizer constituting nearly 91 per cent of the
total production of nitrogen in India.
• The major reason for its rapid growth is its very high nutrient content (46%
N).

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• Raw materials : 1) Ammonia and 2. Carbon dioxide

• F.WHOLER (German chemist), first prepared urea in the year 1828

[Commercial production started in 1922] by isomerization of ammonia
cyanate .Since then numerous processes have been developed for the
synthesis of urea. All commercial processes are based on the dehydration of
ammonia carbamate . The chemical reaction is follows
2NH3 +CO2 NH4CO2 NH2 NH2 CO NH2 + H2O
2500-3500 Psi (Ammonium carbamate) (Urea )
[Psi: Pressure in pounds per square inch]

Biuret:
• When concentrated urea solution is exposed to elevated temperatures i.e.,
greater than 170-180 0C during evaporation in prilling process biuret is
formed by mixing of two urea molecules ,which is toxic to plants.
• 1.5 % biuret is admissible for soil application.
• 0.25 % is admissible for foliar application.

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Reactions of urea in soil

After application of urea in soil, it undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis mediated by Urease
enzyme to produce an unstable compound designated as ammonium carbamate.
Urease Enzyme
NH2 - CO- NH2 + H2O NH2COONH4

NH2COONH4 NH3 + CO2

This NH3 is converted to NH4 ions by accepting one proton (H+) from proton donor and
+

subsequently forms of NH4OH or any other NH compound depending upon the nature of the
donor. Then after ammonical-N (NH4+) form undergoes nitrification so as to produce nitrite
and nitrates subsequently which is available for the plant growth.

Now a days urea is used as fertilizer more compared

to other nitrogenous fertilizers due to the following
reasons:
• I) Higher N content (44 to 46 per cent).
• II) Good physical conditions.
• III) Less acidic in residual effect compared to A/S.
• IV) Less cost per unit of N in production, storage and
• transport.
• V) Lack of corrosiveness.
• VI) Suitable for foliar application, and
• VII) It is having of equal agronomical value compared
• to other nitrogenous fertilizers.

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b) Calcium cyanamide (CaCN2)

• Calcium cyanamide or nitro lime contains 20.6 per cent of nitrogen.
• It is a greyish white powdery material that decomposed in moist soil
giving rise to ammonia.

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Phosphatic, Potassic fertilizers, Secondary &

micronutrient fertilizers, Complex fertilizers, Nano-
fertilizers, Soil amendments, Fertilizer Storage,
Fertilizer Control Order.

PHOSPHATIC FERTILIZERS

Phosphate fertilizers are chemical substances that contain the nutrient element
phosphorus in the form of absorbable phosphate ions (anions) or that yield such
phosphate anions after conversion
The phosphorus (P) nutrient of all phosphatic fertilizers is expressed as P2O5. In
soil, P is present as (i) Organic P (ii) Inorganic P. The forms of inorganic P are
H3PO4; H2PO-4; HPO-24; and PO-34; Out of which, H2PO-4 and HPO-24 ions are
available to plant. In soil, water in is changed to HPO-24 and PO-34 ions with
increase in pH.

-H+ -H+ -H+

H3PO4 H2PO-4 HPO-24 PO-34

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• Origin and reserves: The raw material of P-fertilizers are essentially rock
phosphates from phosphate deposits , phosphate ores and other P compounds .
• Magma : Weathering and decomposition of primary minerals
• Organogenic : Bones ,Teeth of animals ,Guano deposits results in the formation
of apatites .
• Large deposits of rock phosphates occurs in
i) North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) in the form of organic crystalline
phosphate, especially in a soft earth, finely crystalline form known as gafsa
phosphates.
ii) USA (eg. Florida apatite) in the form of pebbles.
iii) USSR in the form of hard earth, coarsely crystalline kola apatite.
In India phosphate rock deposits have been found in Udaipur in Rajasthan and
Mussoorie in Uttaranchal . Some deposits occur in Singbhum district(Bihar),
Jhabhua district (M.P) ,Visakhapatnam district (AP) ,Tiruchanapalli (TN) .

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Classification of phosphatic fertilizers:

The phosphatic fertilizers are classified into three classes depending on the form in
which H3PO4 combined with Ca.
I. Classification of phosphatic fertilizers based on relative solubility of phosphate :
I II III

Water soluble P containing Citric acid soluble P containing Citrate and water insoluble-P
containing

Super phosphate (SSP)(16 % P2O5) Basic slags Rock phosphate (20 to 40% P2O5)
(14 to 18% P2O5)

Double Super phosphate(DSP) Dicalcium phosphate(34 to 39% P2O5) Raw bone meal
(32 to 36% P2O5) (20 to 25% P2O5 and 3 to
4% N)

Triple Super phosphate(TSP) Steamed bone meal

(48% P2O5) (22% P2O5)

Mono ammonium phosphate

(20% N and 20% P2O5)

Diammonium phosphate
(18% N and 46% P2O5)

II. Classification of phosphatic fertilizers based on the form in

which orthophosphoric acid or phosphoric acid is combined
with calcium.
1.Ortho phosphates Eg. MAP, DAP,SSP, Nitro phosphates
2.Polyphosphates Eg.Ammonium poly phosphate, Potassium poly phosphate
3.Metaphosphates Eg.Ammonium meta phosphate, Potassium meta phosphate

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Characteristics and conditions for the use of

water soluble P containing fertilizer:
• They contain water soluble-P as H2PO4 ion which can be absorbed quickly and available
to plants when root system is not fully developed.

• These fertilizers should be used on slightly acidic, neutral to alkaline soils but not on
acidic soils as the water soluble-P is changed to unavailable Fe and A1-PO4.

• These fertilizers are applied when a crop requires quick start and for short duration crops.

Characteristics and conditions for the use of

Citric acid (1%) soluble P containing fertilizers:
• They contain citrate soluble-P and hence this P is less available than water soluble-P.

• They are suitable for moderately acid soils because it gets converted into water
soluble form. They are basic in reaction and Ca content.

• There are less chances of getting fixed by Fe and Al.

• They are suitable for long term crops and where immediate and quick start to crops is
not important.

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Characteristics and conditions for the use of

citrate and water insoluble P fertilizers :
• They are suitable for strongly acidic soils.

• They contain insoluble P and hence not available to crops.

• The P is available when ploughed with green manuring crop or organic residues.

• They are used for long duration crops and in large quantity 500 to 1000 kg/ha

• They are used where immediate effects are not important.

Single super phosphate Raw materials:

1) Phosphate rock 2) Sulphuric acid
2

Physical properties of SSP:

1) SSP is in granular form has bulk density 961.10 kg m-3 and is easy to handle.
2) SSP is also available in powder form, it is not free flowing and being slightly hygroscopic
has a tendency to cake. Hydration of monocalcium phosphate may be the cause for
hardening SSP .It has grey colour and an acidic odour.
3) Free acid in the SSP, will usually rot the jute fiber bags and hence the fertilizer has to be
stored in polythene lined gunny bags or polyethylene bags.

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Chemical properties of SSP:

1) SSP has 2/5 Mono calcium phosphate and 3/5 Gypsum by weight

2) SSP manufactured in India consists of two grades viz., Garde I: 16% P2O5 % or
(7% P) by weight of water soluble P2O5 and Grade II: 14% P2O5 or (6%P) by
weight of water soluble P2O5 .

3) SSP also contains 21.0% calcium, 12% sulphur and traces of micronutrients

4) SSP has a pH of about 3.0