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Labeling of fertilizer

{{Short description|NPK and other labeling conventions for fertilizer}}

{{Redirect|NPK}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

Many countries have standardized the labeling of fertilizers to indicate their contents of major nutrients.{{cite web|url=http://cfpf-fcpf.ca/files/PDF/Monachus_presentation.ppt|title=Voluntary Standards for the Fertilizer and Supplements Industry |last=Chambers |first=Albert|author2=Sally Rutherford |date=27 November 2007|access-date=3 February 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:CgW191hwEBIJ:www.fifa.asn.au/files/pdf/regulation/Draft%2520Code%2520of%2520Practice%2520for%2520Fertilizer%2520Description%2520%26%2520Labelling.pdf+labeling+of+fertilizer&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AHIEtbSJjp1liw8XbwDLtw2aqua-xK0n1g|title=Draft Code of Practice for Fertilier Description and Labeling|date=15 September 2008|publisher=Fertilizer Industry Federation Association (FIFA)|access-date=3 February 2010}} The most common labeling convention, the NPK or N-P-K label, shows the amounts of the chemical elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Common labeling conventions

=The NPK analysis label=

Fertilizers are usually labeled with three numbers, as in 18-20-10, indicating the relative content of the primary macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), respectively.

More precisely, the first number ("N value") is the percentage of elemental nitrogen by weight in the fertilizer; that is, the mass fraction of nitrogen times 100. The second number ("P value") is the percentage by weight of phosphorus pentoxide {{chem|P|2|O|5}}. The third number ("K value") is the equivalent content of potassium oxide {{chem|K|2|O}}.[http://www.flairform.com/hints/nutrient_analysis.htm nutrient_analysis]www.flairform.com 22 October 2014 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028083246/http://www.flairform.com/hints/nutrient_analysis.htm |date=28 October 2014 }}

For example, a 15-13-20 fertilizer would contain 15% by weight of nitrogen, 13% by weight of {{chem|P|2|O|5}}, 20% by weight of {{chem|K|2|O}}, and 52% of some inert ingredient.

=Other labeling conventions=

In the U.K., fertilizer labeling regulations allow for reporting the elemental mass fractions of phosphorus and potassium. The regulations stipulate that this should be done in parentheses after the standard N-P-K values, as in "15-30-15

(15-13-13)".[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1990/Uksi_19900887_en_4.htm UK Fertilizers Regulations 1990, Schedule 2] Part 1, Para. 7.

In Australia, macronutrient fertilizers are labeled with an "N-P-K-S" system, which uses elemental mass fractions rather than the standard N-P-K values and includes the amount of sulfur (S) contained in the fertilizer.

{{cite web|title=National Code of Practice for Fertilizer Description & Labelling |url=http://www.fertilizer.org.au/files/pdf/regulation/National%20Code%20of%20Practice%20for%20Fertilizer%20Description%20&%20Labelling%20March%2011%202011.pdf |publisher=Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |access-date=27 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228200433/http://www.fertilizer.org.au/files/pdf/regulation/National%20Code%20of%20Practice%20for%20Fertilizer%20Description%20%26%20Labelling%20March%2011%202011.pdf |archivedate=28 February 2015 }}

Fertilizers with additional macronutrients (S, Ca, Mg) may add more numbers to the N-P-K ratio to indicate the amount. The additional numbers are similarly reported in the oxide mass fraction form. For example, a Polish fertilizer labeled "NPK (Ca,S) 4-12-12 (14-29)" has an equivalent of 14% soluble calcium oxide and 29% total sulfur trioxide. {{cite web|url=https://skladrolny.pl/en_GB/p/NPK-Ca%2CS-4-12-12-14-29-Lubofoska/313|title=NPK (Ca,S) 4-12-12 (14-29) Lubofoska |quote=Lubofoska is a fertilizer applied before sowing... |work=skladrolny.pl |access-date=15 December 2022}}

Converting nutrient analysis to composition

The values in an NPK fertilizer label are related to the concentrations (by weight) of phosphorus and potassium elements as follows:

  • {{chem|P|2|O|5}} consists of 56.4% elemental oxygen and 43.6% elemental phosphorus by weight. Therefore, the elemental phosphorus percentage of a fertilizer is 0.436 times its P value.
  • {{chem|K|2|O}} consists of 17% oxygen and 83% elemental potassium by weight. Therefore, the elemental potassium percentage is 0.83 times the K value.

The N value in NPK labels represents actual percentage of nitrogen element by weight, so it does not need to be converted.

So, for example, an 18−51−20 fertilizer contains by weight

  • 18% elemental nitrogen,
  • 0.436 × 51 = 22% elemental phosphorus, and
  • 0.83 × 20 = 17% elemental potassium.

As another example, the fertilizer sylvite is a naturally occurring mineral consisting mostly of potassium chloride, KCl. Pure potassium chloride contains one potassium atom (whose atomic mass is 39.09 g/mol) for every chlorine atom (whose atomic mass is 35.45 g/mol). Therefore, pure KCl is 39.09/(39.09 + 35.45) = 52% potassium and 48% chlorine by weight. Its K value is therefore 52/0.83 = 63; that is, a fertilizer that gets all its potassium from {{chem|K|2|O}} and has the same potassium contents as pure KCl would have to be 63% {{chem|K|2|O}}. Pure KCl fertilizer would thus be labeled 0-0-63. Since sylvite contains other compounds that contribute no N, P, or K, it is usually labeled 0-0-60.

NPK values for commercial fertilizers

=NPK values for various synthetic fertilizers=

Source:[http://chemicalland21.com/industrialchem/inorganic/NPK.htm NPK (Fertilizer)] chemicalland21.com accessed 15 December 2022

|url=http://www.grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_food_turf_slowrelease/

|title=Food for turf: Slow-release nitrogen

|author=J. B. Sartain, University of Florida

|journal=Grounds Maintenance

|access-date=28 October 2014

|archive-date=29 October 2019

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029053115/http://www.grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_food_turf_slowrelease/

|url-status=dead

}}

=NPK values for mined fertilizer minerals=

  • 11-8-2 to 16-12-3 bird guanoBat and seal guano are lower in fertilizer value than bird guano. see Guano
  • 0-3-0 to 0-8-0 Raw Phosphate Rock (would be 0-34-0 if it were soluble){{cite web |url=http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/cropsystems/dc6288.html |title=Understanding Phosphorus Fertilizers |author1=George Rehm |author2=Michael Schmitt |author3=John Lamb |author4=Gyes Randall |author5=Lowell Busman |publisher=University of Minnesota Extension Service |date=2002 |access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-date=5 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905072624/http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/cropsystems/DC6288.html |url-status=dead }}
  • 0-0-60 Potassium chloride
  • 0-0-19 Kainite
  • 0-0-17 Carnallite

=NPK values for [[biosolids]] fertilizers and others=

  • 9-0-0 dairy manure
  • 1-0-1 horse manure
  • 3-2-2 poultry manurefrom "Average total N, ammonium N, phosphate and potash content of manure at the time of land application" in Animal Manure As a Plant Nutrient Resource, Bulletin ID-101 (Reviewed 02/05/01), Cooperative Extension Service, Purdue University. West Lafayette, IN 47907 {{cite web|url=http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/ID/ID-101.html |title=ID-101 |access-date=2014-10-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312022548/http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/ID/ID-101.html |archivedate=12 March 2012 }}
  • 4-12-0 Bone meal
  • 5-5-6 Fish blood and bone[http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/organic-fish-blood-and-bone-fertiliser-pid8414.html Organic Fish, Blood and Bone Feed – Harrod Horticultural (UK)] www.harrodhorticultural.com accessed 15 December 2022
  • 6-2-0 Milorganite

See also

References

{{reflist}}

Category:Agricultural chemicals

Category:Fertilizers

Category:Packaging