What are fertilisers?

Fertilisers contain elements which are essential for the healthy growth of crops.
Fertilisers can be made in the laboratory and on a larger scale by the chemical
industry.
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1. The Haber process
2. What are fertilisers?
3. Making ammonium sulfate
4. The Haber process - Higher
What are fertilisers?
Fertilisers provide mineral ions needed for healthy growth in
plants. As plants grow, they absorb mineral ions from the
water in the soil through their root hair cells. Over time,
the concentration of these ions decreases, so farmers and
gardeners add fertilisers to the soil.

Image caption,

Fertilisers are usually sold as solid powders or granules

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
Fertilisers are formulations which may contain nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium compounds to promote plant
growth. Fertilisers that supply all three elements are often
called NPK fertilisers, after the chemical symbols for these
three elements.
Fertiliser compounds must be soluble in water so they can be
absorbed by the root hair cells:

 ammonium ions, NH4+, and nitrate ions, NO3-, are sources of

soluble nitrogen
 phosphate ions, PO43-, are a source of soluble phosphorus
 all common potassium compounds dissolve in water to
produce potassium ions, K+

The table shows some examples of fertilisers,

their formula and the essential elements they provide:

Fertiliser Ammonium nitrate

Formula NH4NO3

Essential
element(s) Nitrogen

Fertiliser Ammonium sulfate

Formula (NH4)2SO4

Essential
element(s) Nitrogen

Ammonium
Fertiliser phosphate

Formula (NH4)3PO4

Essential Nitrogen,
element(s) phosphorus

Fertiliser Potassium nitrate

Formula KNO3

Essential
element(s) Potassium, nitrogen