Glossary:Fertiliser

From Statistics Explained

A fertiliser is a substance used in agriculture to provide crops with vital nutrients to grow (such as Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K)).

Fertilisers can be divided into inorganic fertilisers (also called mineral, synthetic or manufactured) and organic fertilisers.

• Inorganic fertilisers, chemical mixtures produced by the fertiliser industry, include:

• simple mineral fertilisers, e.g. urea, ammonium nitrate and sulphate, etc.;
• complex mineral fertilisers, e.g. NP, NK and NPK mixtures;
• mineral-organic fertilisers, e.g. calcium cyanamid.

• Organic fertilisers include:

• manure;
• other organic fertilisers such as compost, sewage sludge, industrial waste.

Related concepts

• Composting
• Industrial waste
• Sewage sludge

Statistical data

• Fertiliser consumption and nutrient balance statistics