Nutrient Source Specifics
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. This series is also available in Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish.
Single Superphosphate
NSS-21 Single Superphosphate - Single superphosphate (SSP) was the first commercial mineral fertilizer and it led to the development of the modern plant nutrient industry. This material was once the most commonly used fertilizer, but other phosphorus (P) fertilizers have largely replaced SSP because of its relatively low P content.
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Sodium Nitrate
NSS-24 Sodium Nitrate - Sodium nitrate was one of the first commercially available inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizers. It was very important in plant nutrition before of the discovery of ammonia synthesis by the Haber-Bosch process in the early 1900’s. Sodium nitrate is a naturally occurring mined product, and as such is used to provide a portion of N nutrition in some organic cropping systems.
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Sulfur
NSS-13 Sulfur - Sulfur (S) is widely distributed throughout the world in many forms. In some soils, there is insufficient S to meet crop needs. There are many excellent S-containing fertilizer products that can be used to address deficiencies where they occur.
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