Looking for brief information about the production, agricultural use, management practices, and chemical properties of common fertilizer materials? Nutrient Source Specifics are one-page fact sheets highlighting various fertilizers and nutrient sources. Written by IPNI scientific staff, these items are primarily for educational use by a non-technical audience. Consult with a local expert regarding specific recommendations on nutrient use.

Urea

Urea is the most widely used solid N fertilizer in the world.
NSS #1 Urea.pdf

Polyphosphate is an excellent liquid fertilizer that is widely used in agriculture.

NSS #2 Polyphosphate.pdf

Potassium chloride (KCl), the most commonly used source, is also frequently referred to as muriate of potash or MOP (muriate is the old name for any chloride-containing salt).

NSS #3 Potassium Chloride.pdf

Combination (compound or complex) fertilizers can offer advantages of convenience in the field, economic savings, and ease in meeting crop nutritional needs.

NSS #4 Compound Fertilizer.pdf

Potassium sulfate is an excellent source of nutrients for plants. Although the K portion of the K₂SO₄ is no different than other common K fertilizers, it also supplies a valuable source of S, which is sometimes deficient for plant growth.

NSS 5 Potassium Sulfate.pdf

Langbeinite is a popular fertilizer because it contains K, Mg, and S all within a single particle, which helps provide a uniform distribution of nutrients when it is spread in the field.

NSS 6 Potassium Magnesium Sulfate Langbeinite.pdf

A solution of urea [CO(NH₂)₂] and ammonium nitrate [NH₄NO₃] containing between 28 and 32% N is the most popular N fluid fertilizer.

NSS 7 Urea Ammonium Nitrate.pdf

This soluble liquid fertilizer provides a soluble source of S and other nutrients including ammonium, K, Ca, or Mg.

NSS #08 Thiosulfate.pdf

A widely used source of P and N, it is made of two constituents common in the fertilizer industry. MAP has the highest P content of any common solid fertilizer.

NSS #9 Monoammonium Phosphate.pdf

This product is the starting point for most of the N fertilizer industry. It can be used directly or converted into a variety of common fertilizers. Special safety and management practices are required.

NSS #10 Ammonia.pdf

Potassium nitrate (KNO₃) is a soluble source of two major essential plant nutrients. It is commonly used as a fertilizer for high-value crops that benefit from nitrate (NO₃^-) nutrition and a source of potassium (K⁺) free of chloride (Cl^-).
NSS #11 Potassium Nitrate.pdf

Ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂ SO₄] was one of the first and most widely used nitrogen (N) fertilizers for crop production. It is now less commonly used, but especially valuable where both N and sulfur (S) are required. Its high solubility provides versatility for a number of agricultural applications.

NSS #12 Ammonium Sulfate.pdf