You know that the three most common chemicals used in synthetic fertilisers are nitrogen (essential for green leaves and stems), potassium (for building protein, boosting photosynthesis, improving fruit quality, and disease resistance), and phosphorous (involved in the formation of all oils, sugars, starches, etc.).
Percentages of these three active ingredients are always listed on the packaging of fertilisers. Added together, they usually don’t account for a very large quantity of the product.
Fillers are added to aid in disbursement of the chemicals and to make it look like the buyer is getting a lot more product for his money. These fillers can consist of anything, including sawdust or even industrial waste. Because fillers are considered “inert”, they do not have to be specified in the ingredient list on the packaging.
Now, some fillers are crucial to the effectiveness of the fertiliser. Without them, the nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus cannot be applied and dispersed into the root system without burning the plants in their highly concentrated forms. Fillers contain no soil amendments, no microorganisms and nothing that contributes to the environment. They can, however, supply an outlet for disposing of industrial waste and other substances that either harm the soil or add nothing of value.
As our fore-farmers knew, processed plant sources are the best way to provide everything needed to encourage hardy crops. When fertiliser comes from complex natural sources, the nutrients are arriving as part of a complete complimentary package of fibre, microorganisms and minerals.
Artificial blends have never come close to replicating the natural composition of traditional fertilisers. Make sure you get your money’s worth by including liquid fertilisers in your fertiliser regime.
