Best method of application of inorganic fertilizers

[Syed Adnan]

I second Izhar as iam using the 2nd approach of reducing the PH by peatmoss, i am using the last year soil in pots , just i add 30% by volume peatmoss in pots with only surface NPK treatment evety 2 months and liq. Fertilizers, the end results are enormously good.

[Hamad]

As I have mentioned in my post that one shouldn’t take it sarcastic even though my points were not but still some are in reply and I said it in anticipation because I have observed few practicing it in past!

It was all about being cautious because the whole world is going back to old school and start using organic stuff and there is nothing wrong in it because prevention is better than cure and I think that was exactly according to the main topic INORGANIC FERTILIZER

well but I better agree with Izhar as I don’t want to drift from the topic and don’t want to be a part of a debate but there should be a code of ethics applied because as I observed earlier that few dose practise this!

again I didn’t mean what I have said because I’m not rude and that’s me Hamad

Thanks and regards
Hamad
Aslam-U-Alaikum

[Izhar]

I would reiterate that NPK(available in PK) is solution in suspension(atleast some part of it) rather than totally soluble solution as in case of urea.

The NPK fertilizer (powder) i use is readily soluble in water and forms a clear solution. However, NPK granules contain some sand or insoluble particles because they are used in the manufacturing of spherical granules..

[M Farooq]

I would reiterate that NPK(available in PK) is solution in suspension(atleast some part of it) rather than totally soluble solution as in case of urea.

The NPK fertilizer (powder) i use is readily soluble in water and forms a clear solution. However, NPK granules contain some sand or insoluble particles because they are used in the manufacturing of spherical granules..

I believe both of you are right. However Farhan could you tell us the ingredients of your NPK mix? Some of the ammoniated (super)-phosphates have quite limited water solubility- due to calcium phosphate. So the turbidity in water you may see is due to insoluble "impurities" what Izhar explains + insoluble phosphate component. Potassium and ammonium salts are extremely water soluble otherwise. Once you list the components, it will clarify the matter at once.

[Farhan Ahmed]

Farooq bhai it was such a issue acquiring NPK here yet alone who would be knowing exact composition here, they were not even sure of ratio. I think as you stated it must be calcium or phosphate as the residual was whitish/greyish. But as Izhar mentioned if these are impurities or even calcium its not big deal. One can sift the solution and use the dissolved solution on plants.

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

Farhan sb NPK both in granular & liquid forms is available in the local market.i generally use granular 17,17,17 for roses.the results are extra ordinary.i also use micro nutrients in liquid as foliage spray.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

I am glad we are all getting wiser.
Thank you Farooq.
There is an other point of view COST EFFECTIVE Feeding.
There are many a ways to skin a cat, all equally good.
I use water soluble Grow more 20-20-20 For seedlings only, starting with 50 Parts Per Million of Nitrogen, dilution and gradually increasing to 200 PPM N.
I use granular form on initial preperation of beds, 40 Gm of N /100sqft . Subsiquently I use the mixture (suspension) of the same, feeding 200 PPm N for pots and 300-800 PPM N for various beds fortnightly, this also looks after robbing by the network of roots of trees,vines and bushes.
Lawns are fed granular fertiliser

[M Farooq]

Farooq bhai it was such a issue acquiring NPK here yet alone who would be knowing exact composition here, they were not even sure of ratio. I think as you stated it must be calcium or phosphate as the residual was whitish/greyish. But as Izhar mentioned if these are impurities or even calcium its not big deal. One can sift the solution and use the dissolved solution on plants.

Farhan, if it is indeed greyish then I believe that this is phosphate (calcium and phophate exist as a combination). It is not completely soluble but disolves partially. However if you filter the solution, if you are substracting the phosphate component so it might be N-K rather than NPK!

Thats why I was suggesting simple work: Sprinkle the solid mix on the top soil and shower the soil with water rather than flooding by leaving the water hose there.

Thanks to everyone for a nice discussion without any conflict- peaceful protests are also possible in Pk :-). As Arif sahab said we are indeed getting wiser!

[Munir]

I agree.How can there be a conflict, when most of us do not understand technical/chemical details.But never mind,we ll start to learn with time.

Talking seriously,it was indeed a very interesting & productive discussion on an a VERY important subject of use to all members &I feel it must be carried forward till a greater consensus is reached or more comprehensive details crytalise. To benefit from it fully, I suggest someone out of the participants compile a final summary ie, "Users Notes" for reference,particularly by the less learned/less experienced. I won't hesitate to admit,that I ve rarely used a fertiliser, that too the commonly known Urea, as recommended by ordinary malis,though I ve kept a flower garden for years . Now I feel , it is essential to properly use the more suitable fertilizers for good results in flower gardening. But I didn't know what, when & how , which I must learn,of course through this discussion. Looking forward.

[M Farooq]

Munir sb I will strongly recommend you to grow your vegies with only and only organic mediums like cow dung and others don’t use in-organic fertilizers for your vegies because or two reasons

1 the veg available in the market are grown by in-organic fertilizers to enhance the yield and size they use hybrid seeds and some of them are treated to get desired results because they sell them in market to get profit and if you observe they are less in taste and satisfaction

2 for flowering plants if you use these in-organic fertilizers, hybrid seeds and sprays or anything that you can to get the best results regarding its size, foliage and flowering yield it doesn’t matter because it look good and the main reason is that we don’t eat flowers

I don’t know whether I made my point clear or not but I tried to show my concern regarding the harmful effects on our health because of un natural means of getting more than usual and even without using these supporting elements if we can get enough veg or fruit to feed ourselves then I think we don’t need to put too much effort in it instead we can still buy in-organic veg from market

Hamad, for your interest and concern about inorganic fertilizers let me state an interesting fact: Every third nitrogen atom in our food/ and eventually part of your flesh comes from synthetic fertilizers or what you call as inorganic fertilizers! I know fertilizers like urea, ammonium phosphate sound like chemicals to you - there is no harmful effect known so far for more than a century on humans. These compoounds are quite natural e.g. the word urea orginates from urine because it is present in urine. If synthetic fertilizers did not exist, the world would be under famine.

What we should worry more is about indiscriminate use of pesticides. Nobody checks how much pesticides we eat in Pakistan on fruits and vegetables but in all developed countries strict chemical analysis is done for testing these pesticides on fruits and vegetables. But that's off-topic. So don't worry about fertilizers :-)