What Is Fertilizer Used For? Benefits & Advantages Of Fertilizer

What is fertilizer used for: Fertilizers usually accelerate plant growth. Urea, TSP, DAP, MoP, gypsum, zinc sulfate and boric acid or boron fertilizer are mainly used for growing plants in agriculture.

What is fertilizer used for?

The uses, benefits, and advantages of various fertilizers, the symptoms of deficiency, the harmful effect of overdose of fertilizer in plants are mentioned below-

Benefits & Advantages of Urea Fertilizer

Urea is a nitrogenous chemical fertilizer that is widely used in croplands. Urea fertilizer contains 46% nitrogen.

• Urea fertilizer provides nitrogen which helps in root growth.
• It helps in the production of leaves, stalks, and stems of plants.
• Urea fertilizer gives a dark green color to the plants by producing chlorophyll.
• Helps to increase fruit size including young fruit production.
• Helps in the production of sugars and proteins in plants.
• It also increases the rate of absorption of all the other essential elements of the plant.

Symptoms of Nitrogen Deficiency

• Chlorophyll synthesis rate is greatly reduced when there is a deficiency of nitrogen in the soil.
• As a result, the plant loses its normal green color.
• In addition, the size of the leaves becomes smaller and the growth of the branches decreases and the plant becomes shorter.
• Discoloration begins at the apex of the leaf and stalks and branches become narrower.
• The abnormal stalks become pink or light red color.
• The apex of the middle vein of the old leaf is yellowish-brown in color and the leaf falls off prematurely.
• The size of flowers and fruits becomes slightly smaller and the yield decreases.

Effect of the overdose of urea in plants

• The excessive application of urea fertilizer weakens the plant.
• The production of flowers and fruits on the plants is somewhat delayed.
• Insect and disease attacks also increase.
• Many times the leaves become heavy and the tree bends.
• Excess nitrogen application causes many fruits to rot.

Benefits & Advantages of phosphate fertilizers

TSP (Triple Super Phosphate) and DAP (Di Ammonium Phosphate) are both phosphate chemical fertilizers. These two fertilizers contain 20% phosphorus. TSP contains 13% calcium and 1.3% sulfur. In addition to phosphate, DAP contains 18% nitrogen, that is why DAP fertilizers require less than the urea fertilizer.

• Phosphorus fertilizer participates in cell division.
• Helps in the production and assimilation of sugars.
• Helps in the formation and growth of plant roots.
• Tightening the structure of the plant.
• Protects the plant from falling.
• Accelerates the ripening of the fruit.
• Helps to increase the quality of flowers, fruits, and seeds.

Symptoms of Phosphorus Deficiency in plants

• When phosphorus deficiency occurs in the soil, stem and root growth is reduced.
• The branches of the plant become coiled or twisted.
• The old leaves of the plant fall off untimely.
• Flower production, lateral stems, and bud’s growth are greatly reduced.
• The base of the leaf is purple or bronze in color.
• The surface of the leaves is bluish-green in color and the edges of the leaves turn brown and dry out.
• It also reduces the immunity of the plant.

Effect of the overdose of phosphorus in plants

If the amount of phosphorus application is high

• The yields decreases.
• Plant growth is reduced.
• Premature maturation is observed.

Benefits & Advantages of Potash Fertilizer

• MOP or Murate of Potash Fertilizer contains 50% potassium.
• MOP protects the permeability of plant cells.
• Helps in the transport of sugars in plants.
• Increases the effectiveness of iron and manganese.
• Helps in the production of protein in plants.
• Participates in plant water absorption, assimilation, and movement i.e. overall control.
• Strengthens the structure of the plant and enhances immunity.
• Maintains balance in nitrogen and phosphorus absorption.

Symptoms of Potash fertilizer deficiency

• When potash fertilizer deficiency is observed in the plant, discoloration starts from the edges of old leaves.
• Later brown tissue is seen in the inner veins of the leaves.
• Also, the surface of the leaves tends to be wrinkled or folded.
• The plant becomes a distorted shape.
• The growth of the plant is reduced with small intersections.
• Later the main stem is tilted towards the ground.
• Insects and diseases attack the plants.

Effect of the overdose of potash in plants

If the amount of potash applied in the land or plant is high,

• The absorption rate of calcium and boron decreases.
• As a result, boron deficiency symptoms are seen.
• The rate of water emission decreases.
• The growth of the plant decreases abnormally.

Benefits & Advantages of Gypsum Fertilizer

• Gypsum fertilizer contains 16% sulfur and 23% calcium.
• Gypsum or sulfur helps in the production of protein in the plants.
• Increases oil production capacity.
• Sulfur plays a role in the formation of chlorophyll and helps to keep the color of the plant green.
• Helps to increase seed production and hormonal effectiveness.

Symptoms of gypsum deficiency

• Lack of sulfur in the soil, the green color of the plant is lost
• the stems become thin.
• The leaves are pale green or yellow.

Effect of the overdose of gypsum in plants

If the amount of gypsum applied in the soil is high,

• The growth of the roots decreases.
• The physiological activities of the plant are reduced.

Benefits & Advantages of Zinc Sulphate Fertilizer

Sulfate (monohydrate) contains 36.0 percent zinc and 16.6 percent sulfur. Zinc sulfate (heptahydrate) also contains 21.0% and 10.5% of zinc and sulfur respectively. Chelated zinc also contains 10% zinc. Zinc sulfate (monohydrate) is used more than zinc sulfate (heptahydrate) fertilizers in the soil. It can also be applied by spraying on some crops.

• Zinc is involved in the production of various types of hormones in plants.
• Helps in the production of chlorophyll.
• Increases crop disease resistance.
• In the case of legume vegetables, the yield is greatly increased.

Symptoms of Zinc deficiency in plants

• When zinc deficiency is observed in the soil, the leaves of the plant become discolored in the form of copper or spots.
• The leaves become smaller and fade from the beginning of the new leaf.
• The intravenous discoloration is more common.

Effect of the overdose of zinc in plants

• If the amount of zinc in the soil is high, poisoning is created in the plant.
• The application of excess zinc also hinders the production of protein.

Benefits & Advantages of Boron Fertilizer

Boric acid contains 18% boron and Salubor boron contains 20% boron.

• It helps in the growth of plant cells and makes the color of leaves and flowers attractive.
• Helps to keep the pollen strong and healthy.
• Helps in seed production and prevents the formation of dried fruit.
• Boron helps the plant to hold flowers and fruits and prevents fruit distortion.

Symptoms of Boron Deficiency

• Lack of boron fertilizer slows down the growth of the plant and reduces the number of flowers on the plant.
• Also, the tops of the trees die, the stems turn black.
• Decreases root growth.
• The flower drop of vegetable or fruit plants increases.
• The fruit is small in size and bursts.
• The fruits of papaya, jackfruit, guava, etc. are deformed and fall off when they are immature.

Effect of the overdose of boron in plants

• If the level of boron is high, the young leaves and tips are damaged and the yield is reduced.

Deficiency Chart of Micronutrients