SOIL SCIENCE

SOILS AND SOIL MANGEMENT

Laboratory Exercise No. 1
Fertilizers and Fertilizer Usage

INTRODUCTION

Fertilizers are organic or inorganic materials of natural or synthetic origin which when applied to the soil
or directly to the plant provide essential elements for plant utilization. In the broad sense of the term, it
includes commercial fertilizers, manure, composts, and other materials as long as they supply nutrients
to plants. However, the more common connotations of the term is restricted to commercial fertilizers or
those materials which are available in the market.

OBJECTIVES

1. To identify and characterize some of the commonly used fertilizer materials.

MATERIALS

• samples of fertilizer materials

• weighing balance
• graduated cylinder
• test tubes

PROCEDURE

Part I. Identification and characterization of fertilizer materials.

1. Identify the different fertilizer materials provided by the instructor.

2. Characterize each of the fertilizer materials based on some of their physical and chemical
properties. Record observations on the datasheet.

Part II. Solubility Test

1. Place 2-g each of the fertilizer materials in separate test tubes.

2. Add 10 mL of water to each test tube.
3. Shake them well with equal vigor and motion.
4. Let stand for 2 minutes and record the solubility of the material using the following categories.

• Highly Soluble = very little or no solid remains of the fertilizers.

• Moderately soluble = appreciable reduction in the amount of the fertilizer, less
• than half of the materials remain undissolved.
• Slowly soluble = very little to no decrease in the amount of fertilizer.
 EXAMPLE EXERCISE
Soil Science
Laboratory Exercise No. 1
Fertilizers and Fertilizer Usage

Name: Date Conducted:

Laboratory Time: Date Submitted:
Laboratory Instructor: Rating:__

DATA SHEETS

Part 1. Identification of Fertilizers

Sample Name Color Form Nutrient Composition %
Fertilizer
No.

N P2O5 K2O
Example 1. Urea white inorganic 46% 0% 0%
Example 2. Ammosol Light Brown inorganic 21% 0% 24%
3.
4.
5.

Part II. Solubility Test

Sample Number Fertilizer Name Solubility Rating
1 example Urea Highly Soluble
2 example Ammosol Moderately Soluble
3
4

DOCUMENTATIONS
QUESTIONS

1. What fertilizer material is the most soluble?

2. What fertilizer material is least soluble?
3. What is the importance of solubility of a given fertilizer material?