5 Must-Have Features in a NPK 12 12 17

Author: Adelaide

May. 05, 2025

59

0

0

Tags: Agriculture

What Is NPK Fertilizer?

NPK Compound Fertilizer

Please visit our website for more information on this topic.

The letters "NPK" on a fertilizer label stand for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, the three primary nutrients plants need to grow. The numbers on the label indicate the ratio (by percentage) of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the fertilizer container.

Even if you do not see the letters N-P-K, but you see a set of three numbers, for example, 5-10-5, you can correctly assume it stands for 5% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 5% potassium, always in that order. This fertilizer contains 20% nutrients; the remaining 80% is minor nutrients or fillers. Plants need about 16 nutrients; some they get from the air and water, and others are nutrients like iron, calcium, and chlorine from soil.

How Ratios Work vs. Fertilizer Quantities

A smaller quantity of fertilizer with higher ratios can be the same as a larger quantity with lower numbers. For example, a five-pound bag of 10-20-10 fertilizer has the same nutritional value as 10 pounds of 5-10-5 fertilizer.

What Do the Ingredients in NPK Do?

Here's a brief look at what each nutrient contributes to plant growth.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen, the first number referenced in an NPK sequence, plays a key role in a plant's coloring and chlorophyll production, making it an important factor in leaf development. Fertilizers high in nitrogen are often used for grass or other plants where green foliage growth is more important than flowering. At the opposite end of the spectrum, gardeners sometimes encounter the problem of nitrogen depletion—the yellowing of typically green plants often indicates a nitrogen deficiency.

Phosphorus

The middle number in an NPK series refers to the percentage of phosphorous in the fertilizer product. Phosphorus plays a key role in the growth of roots, blooming, and fruiting, which is why it is an essential nutrient for your plants in spring. Phosphorus contributes to many fundamental plant processes, such as rooting and seed formation.

Potassium

The final number in the major ingredients listing gives the percentage of potassium in the product. Potassium contributes to the overall health and vigor of plants. It is known to help strengthen plants' ability to resist disease, assist in the movement of water and nutrients in the plant, and can be especially important in areas that experience cold or dry weather.

Other Ingredients

In addition to the major nutrients that are usually noted on the front label, most fertilizers also include additional ingredients that are listed on a side or back label. This may include other nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, micronutrients, and even the percentage of organic matter and fillers. Although the minerals and micronutrients are less critical than the major nutrients, a good fertilizer product will include small amounts of other ingredients as well. 

Types of NPK Fertilizers

Balanced Fertilizers

A fertilizer listed as "10-10-10" is considered a balanced or "complete" fertilizer because its nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium proportions are equal. Meanwhile, a fertilizer labeled "10-0-10" is an "incomplete fertilizer."

Incomplete Fertilizers

An incomplete fertilizer is not necessarily inferior to a complete fertilizer. Identifying the right fertilizer for your needs depends on a variety of circumstances. If your soil already has an excess of one of the three nutrients in NPK, you could be harming some of your plants by adding more of it to the soil—in this case, an incomplete or unbalanced fertilizer may be the right choice.

For this reason, it is important to test your soil before applying fertilizer. Otherwise, whenever you add anything to your soil, the effect (whether positive or negative) is left to chance.

Organic Fertilizers

Organic fertilizer ingredients are soil nutrients from plant, animal, or mineral sources. Products labeled as "organic fertilizers" must specify which nutrients are organic and must be identified as synthetic or natural by percentage. For example, the label might read, "20 percent of nitrogen (6 percent synthetic, 14 percent organic)."

Organic fertilizer sources might include manure, alfalfa meal, kelp, blood and bone meal, fish emulsion, cottonseed, sewage sludge, soft rock phosphate, and green sand.

What Does "Organic" Mean in Fertilizer

Technically speaking, "organic" material is anything that contains carbon atoms. The modern definition of "organic" means it doesn't contain anything synthetic; however, "organic fertilizers" may have natural or synthetic materials, but the percentages of each must be marked. So, if what you want is "non-synthetic fertilizer," read the label carefully for all ingredients before purchasing since the term "organic" does not cover it.

Worthy of note: Organic fertilizers made wholly from natural ingredients often have lower concentrations of the three major nutrients, so you will often need to use larger amounts. The upside is they usually contain many additional nutrients that feed the plant and the soil. It is strongly recommended that if you are only using commercial synthetic fertilizer, supplement it with some type of organic matter, such as compost or manure, for more holistic soil health.

How to Choose the Right Fertilizer

To properly give your plants the nutrients they need, you need to evaluate what they currently have (or will have if doing a new planting). Not all types of plants have the same nutrient requirements, and you can cause ill-wanted effects when applying amendments haphazardly.

Amendments are supplements like fertilizer that you add to the soil to improve its condition; they can fix a number of factors, including nutrition, water permeability, or pH level. Agricultural lime is a type of amendment you use to reduce acidity in the soil, just like sand or grit is an amendment used to increase the porosity of the soil, aiding in drainage.

If you do not choose the right fertilizer, and if your soil pH is already too high or too low, your plants cannot access some nutrients, even if you give them fertilizer. Knowing what's already in your soil is crucial because you can do more harm than good when applying a fertilizer high in nitrogen to an already nitrogen-rich soil. For example, nitrogen feeds foliage at the expense of flowers, which can affect flower production.

Here are the steps for choosing the right fertilizer:

Get your soil tested. Having a soil test done before you start adding amendments will tell you what you actually need. You can do a home test, send a soil sample for testing, or contact your local cooperative extension office for guidance.

Determine what you are planting. Some plants might need more or less of a certain type of nutrient. For example, leafy greens need more nitrogen, while more phosphorus is required for fruiting and flowering. Before you start any gardening or planting project; have a firm understanding of the plant you're growing and its fertilizer needs

Check for fertilizers specially formulated for the plant you're growing. You can find preformulated fertilizers for lawns, trees, bulbs, cactus, houseplants, flowers, fruits and vegetables, acid-loving plants, and much more. Most will match or come close to the nutrient requirements you need, considering your soil is neutral, so adjust accordingly based on your soil analysis.

Read the fertilizer analysis label before buying fertilizer. If you cannot find a fertilizer with the exact N-P-K ratio you need based on your soil test, come as close as possible. Of the three nutrients, it's more important to get the nitrogen correct and not overdo the phosphorus since it can affect water intake.

Determine the form of fertilizer you need. If you are establishing a new lawn, you might consider using a quick-release fertilizer that is sprayed in liquid form. Or, you might try a granulated fertilizer for a slow-release form of food for the plant and its roots over time. Most plant growth and care guides will list nutrient ratios, liquid vs. dry forms, and quick vs. slow-release recommendations.

If not sure, use compost. If you have not had your soil tested and do not understand how well it meets a plant's nutritional needs but still feel the need to feed it, use compost instead of commercial fertilizer or consider using a slow-release fertilizer. Slow release is less likely to harm plants to any great degree.

How to Use Fertilizer

Since every plant has different fertilizer needs, we know that one plant may require more fertilizer while another might require less or none at all. In most cases, a regular fertilizer schedule will keep your plants vigorous. However, too much fertilizer can kill your plant, often burning the foliage and roots if given too much too quickly or applied directly on the foliage.

How do you know how much to use and how often? Follow the guidelines on the fertilizer label combined with the plant's specific care instructions. Also, check your local extension office for recommendations for fertilizer needs in your region; some regions have more acidic soils than others.

For a simple example, we know in the spring a lawn requires nitrogen-rich fertilizer. One pound of nitrogen might be recommended per 1,000 square feet of lawn. If your lawn is 1,000 square feet and your fertilizer contains 20% nitrogen, you should evenly apply 10 pounds of the fertilizer over the entirety of your lawn. In most cases, lawns benefit from fertilizer once a month from April to November, with a pause during the hottest months of July and August; however, this is variable based on how rich the soil already is. That's why soil analysis is important. You never want to over-fertilize, if you can avoid it.

Variables that affect how much and how often you should fertilize:

The type of plant

Slow-release vs. quick-release fertilizer

Mowing practices (lawns)

Watering

Weather and temperatures

Soil texture

Soil pH

Warning

Avoid over-fertilizing your plants, especially lawns. Nutrients that aren't taken up by plants may run off into sewer systems and rivers, leading to serious pollution problems.

How to Apply Fertilizer

It is generally recommended that the best time to apply fertilizer is when the sun is not beating down on the plants. However, applying it before or after rainfall or plant watering depends on the form of fertilizer you use. Different forms of fertilizer are granules, liquid, powder, or spikes.

Granular fertilizer: This dry fertilizer comes in the shape of pellets, typically used for lawns. Most granular fertilizers are slow-release fertilizers, giving off nutrients to grass over a prolonged period. This type of fertilizer uses special fertilizer spreaders as tools—broadcast, drop, or hand-held spreaders. It's best to apply this fertilizer before the rain comes. This slow-release fertilizer uses rainwater as its method of dispersal. On wet grass, the granules might stick to foliage, increasing the risk of burning it.

Liquid, powder, or crystal fertilizer: This form is often sold as a liquid concentrate, dry powder, or crystals that require further dilution with water. Most liquid fertilizers are quick-release solutions, which means nutrients pass to the plant more immediately. Sprayers and hose attachments make spreading this fertilizer an easy task. It's best to spray this fertilizer on already-wet grass to limit "burn" from the chemicals.

Spikes: For a set-and-forget-it approach to fertilizing, spikes are your go-to. Spikes are usually the most expensive type of fertilizer but are easy to use. Spikes are slow-release, leeching nutrients from the spike to the soil over time. Spikes are formulated for trees, shrubs, outdoor plants, and houseplants. Generally, plant the spike in soft, damp soil at the drip line (the point where water falls from the tree or plant down toward the roots).

How to use the roll compactor to maker NPK fertilizer granular/pellet

What is NPK fertilizer

The NPK compound fertilizer refers to a fertilizer variety that contains more than two elements in the three nutrient elements of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) required by crops, or contains a variety of nutrient elements including medium or trace elements, and is mechanically mixed and manufactured. Products made from granulation, drying, screening, etc. According to its physical state, it can be divided into solid compound fertilizer and liquid compound fertilizer. Solid compound fertilizer is divided into powder, granulation (from dry granulation) and bulk blended compound fertilizer.
 

Advantages of granular NPK fertilizer

These granulated pellets are quite good in quality, and have features as follow:

Sufficient strength,

No agglomeration;

Large enough particle size, with few or no dust;

Good liquidity;

Uniform particle size.

When using on the agricultural industry, we get these benefits:

Complete nutrients

High nutrient utilization

Low environmental pollution

Explore more:
Maximize Precision: Servo Drive for Fiber Laser Cutting
10 Essential Benefits of Using Fiberglass Direct Roving in Manufacturing
What are the key benefits of Static Var Compensators?

Lvwang Ecological Fertilizer contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

Easy for mechanized fertilization and aerial fertilization

According to the chemical properties of the soil and the growth requirements of crops, different nutrient distribution ratios, different particle sizes or when using coating agents can improve the dissolution rate of nutrients in the soil, scientific fertilization, and fertilizer efficiency, thereby improving chemical fertilizers utilization rate, to obtain better agricultural production increase effect.

NPK compound fertilizer can improve the utilization rate of chemical fertilizers and crop yield, which is an inevitable trend of modern chemical fertilizer development.

How to make granular (pellet) fertilizer – 4 ways

Granular compound fertilizer is developed on the basis of powdered compound fertilizer. Granular compound fertilizer is a granular fertilizer that uses chemical or physical methods to process non-granular or powdered materials into the required size, and has a certain mechanical strength and stability. The production process has 4 types: agglomeration granulation, slurry coating granulation, melt coagulation granulation and compacting granulation.

The agglomeration granulation process is to moisturize and increase the temperature of the solid raw material to reach the liquid phase necessary for granulation, and then send it to the granulator (drum, disc) for agglomeration and granulation.

The slurry coating granulation process is to spray the base fertilizer into the granulator in the form of slurry, apply it on the surface of the returned material particles, coat or powder into a ball, and then send it to dry, and then enter the granulator as the returned material The pelletizer is coated with the slurry again, and this is repeated so that the particles are repeatedly coated until they meet the size requirements.

The melt granulation process is to heat the material and use the heat of the chemical reaction of the material to spray the material through the nozzle in the form of an anhydrous liquid. The liquid can be directly condensed into granules in the refrigerant, or it can be coated on the granulator condensed into granules on the particles.

The products of the above 3 kinds of granulation processes have high granule precision and good appearance quality, but chemical reactions and physical changes will occur during production, and the production process is complicated and corrosive.

In addition, the agglomeration granulation and slurry granulation processes can only produce mixed fertilizers. It will take 3 to 10 hours to change product specifications. The raw material requirements are limited. The amount of urea added is <7%, and the effective nutrient recovery rate is 96%. The production process medium material loss> 2%, high energy consumption, high processing cost, large amount of sewage, large environmental pollution, and high construction investment.

The compacting granulation process

The compacting granulation process is a dry granulation process that mixes powdered materials and relies on external pressure to agglomerate the materials. When the material is under high pressure, the particles get close to each other to cause molecular force, electrostatic force, and valence force, so that the molecules are tightly combined and reunited.

Advantage of the compacting granulation process

The technology is mature and reliable, and the granulation equipment is advanced and complete, which can realize automatic control;

The adaptability of the raw materials is strong, the urea addition amount is less than 25%, and the drying and cooling procedures are generally not required. It is especially suitable for heat-sensitive materials. Ammonium bicarbonate can be used as a base fertilizer;

It is easy to change the product scale and add trace elements, and the time to change the product specification only needs 20 to 40 minutes;

Adapt to various production scales, flexible production and operation;

Low energy consumption, high compacting ratio, material loss less than 1%, and low production cost;

There is no high temperature operation in the production process, low corrosiveness, low equipment cost, no sewage discharge, only a small amount of dust, and low environmental pollution;

The concentration of compound fertilizer is high, organic fertilizer can be added as needed;

The project investment is low. According to the research of the International Fertilizer Development Center, the investment of the compacting granulation method for the device with an annual output of 120,000 tons of granular compound fertilizer is 20% lower than that of the agglomeration granulation method. 50% of slurry coating granulation. Its construction period is short but economic benefits are good.

The only disadvantage of the compacting granulation process is that its product appearance is not quite good and roundness, but it does not affect its fertilizer efficiency.

The process of compacting granulation

The compacting and granulation process is divided into four sections:

Raw material preparation,

Feeding and compacting,

Granulation,

Grain surface refining (if needed)

The various raw materials are crushed first, then automatic ingredients are weighed according to the requirements of the formula, after that send the mixture to the mixer for uniform mixing.

After being mixed and crushed by the crusher, the material is mixed and smashed into the humidifier for humidification, and then sent to the compactor to force the raw materials to be briquetted into flakes.

The flakes are crushed into granular materials by the granulator, and then sent to the screen machine. The small particles under the screen are returned and compacted again. The pellets on the screen are qualified. Qualified pellets are sent to the wet drum for grinding and spheronization (if needed), and then they are dried and hardened. The dried particles are sent to the vibrating screen, the powder under the sieve is returned to re-granulation, and the qualified particles on the sieve are sent to the cooler, and then sent to the coating film after cooling. Roll coating film wrap, you can get rounded granular compound fertilizer.

What will affect the quality of the granular (pellet)

Mainly there are 3 factors shall affect the quality of the granular

Raw materials: including raw material characteristics, moisture, particle size distribution, plasticity, temperature and hardness.

The operating conditions of the compacting: including the operating pressure, the diameter of the rolls and its circumferential linear speed (specific pressing force), the surface structure of the roller, the operating gap between the rollers, etc.;

 The different materials in the formula may undergo chemical reactions after extrusion granulation, and some may cause the particles to break. Therefore, after the raw materials and products are determined, it is better to take the compacting granulation evaluation test.

A typical application

A typical application of this type of system is a fertilizer system in Guatemala by compacting granulation. The factory chooses this place because the climate there is dry, which reduces moisture problems and provides high-quality calcium carbonate nearby.

The factory is designed as a combination of bulk mixing and compacting granulation. The production starts from the transportation of raw materials from the storage and sends these materials into the bulk mixing system. After bulk mixing, the raw materials are crushed into uniformly sized particles, mixed together with the backflow material and compacting on the compactors. The compactor compact a sheet with a thickness of about 10 mm. After crushing and screening, they get the final finished granular. All products are packaged and sold in polypropylene bags.

This factory has two production lines and runs continuously 24 hours a day. Their raw materials are granular urea, monoammonium phosphate, standard MOP (potash fertilizer), potassium magnesium (K-Mg) powder, boron powder and local calcium carbonate. The grades are 15-15-15, 16 20-0, 20- 20-0 and 18-6-12, particle size is 1,2~4 mm, used in coffee plantations.

It is worth mentioning that the water absorption of the powder after crushing has become a major problem. Urea is used as a raw material because it is the most economical nitrogen fertilizer resource, and it is an ideal binder. It enables the compactor to operate at low pressure, thus extending the service life of the equipment. However, due to its strong water absorption, part of the urea was later replaced by ammonium sulfate, reducing the urea content to 10-15%. The use of ammonium sulfate increased the production speed, modified the physical properties, and weakened the frictional resistance. In addition, it also added an important crop element-sulfur.

Monoammonium phosphate was used because it is a very economical P2O5 resource. MOP is used for potash fertilizer for the same reason. Potassium-magnesium powder and boronate 48 are also used in this factory to produce granular fertilizer. The filler calcium carbonate is produced near this factory and supplied in bulk form.

Regular chemical analysis is carried out to ensure the accuracy of each nutrient content in the formula. Although raw materials with different sizes of particles (large particles, general particles, powders) are used in the ingredients, for each ingredient, in order to obtain a uniform and accurate nutrient content, the continuous blade mixer makes the mixing very effective.

What else we can expect

The compacting granulation process is particularly suitable for processing heat-sensitive materials and does not have a strong requirement on the investment. Especially for material like ammonium bicarbonate, it has strong heat sensitivity and humidity sensitivity, avoids water and heat, is easy to absorb moisture and decompose, and its fertilizer efficiency is only 30%, so it is not suitable for other fertilizer granulation processes.

The main varieties that can be produced by the compacting granulation process include three types: ammonium sulphophosphate, ammonium nitrate phosphate and urea ammonium phosphate. The product variety and production scale can be adjusted at any time according to market supply and demand conditions.

With the further development of granular compound NPK fertilizers, the development direction of granulation technology is to increase the service life and production capacity of granulation equipment, extend the shelf life of granular compound fertilizer products, and reduce the loss of effective nutrients (mainly nitrogen) and energy consumption during the production process.

NPK 15 15 15 Fertilizer, Compound Fertilizer NPK

Compound fertilizer NPK 15-15-15

Compound fertilizer 15-15-15 means that the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of the compound fertilizer is 15 each, and the total content is 45. Nitrogen fertilizer can promote the growth of trees and supplement the nutrition for plant growth; Phosphate fertilizer can promote flower bud formation, flowering and fruit ripening early, potassium fertilizer can make the stem strong.

With high tower granulation, water soluble and fertilizer effect lasting, nutrients in fertilizer npk 15 15 15 play a vital role in plant growth and development and are required in sufficient quantities for healthy and vigorous plant growth. 

Features of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer:

• Balanced Nutrient Supply: Triple 15 fertilizer provides a balanced supply of the three key nutrients, which is essential for overall plant growth and development.

• Enhanced Root Development: The phosphorus in NPK 15-15-15 promotes root development, leading to stronger and more extensive root systems that can absorb more water and nutrients.

• Improved Flower and Fruit Production: The potassium in NPK 15 15 15 fertilizer helps to improve flower and fruit production, resulting in larger and more abundant yields.

• Increased Chlorophyll Production: The nitrogen in NPK compound fertilizer helps to increase chlorophyll production, leading to greener and healthier plants.

NPK 15 15 15 fertilizer applications:

• Vegetable and Fruit Crops: NPK 15-15-15 is ideal for vegetable and fruit crops that require a balanced supply of nutrients for optimum growth and development.

• Lawn and Turf: NPK complex fertilizer can be used to fertilize lawns and turfs, promoting a healthy and green appearance.

• Ornamental Plants: NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer can be used to fertilize ornamental plants, promoting beautiful and healthy foliage, flowers, and fruit.

• Houseplants: NPK 15-15-15 compound fertilizer is also suitable for houseplants, providing a balanced supply of essential nutrients for optimal growth and health.

Instructions

1. Application method: withdrawal application, hole application, machine application, flushing application, etc.

2. Recommended application amount: 40-60kg/mu of base fertilizer and 15-40kg/mu of topdressing.

3. Applicable plats: for Fruit trees, vegetables, tobacco, tea, seedlings, medicinal materials, beans, sugarcane and other cash crops

Matters needing attention

1. Please increase or decrease the dosage according to the actual situation guided application.

2. It can be used as base fertilizer and topdressing. Pay attention to avoid direct contact with seeds and roots, and isolate fertilizer seeds and seedlings by 5-10cm.

3. This product contains biuret. Improper use will cause damage to crops, biuret ≤ 0.8%.

GrowFast Granular NPK 12-12-17 Slow Release Fertilizer - GreenAsh

Grow Fast Granular Slow Release Fertilizer 12-12-17 For Indoor & Outdoor Plants

GrowFast Granular Slow Release Fertilizer NPK 12-12-17 is specially designed to provide a steady release of nutrients, ensuring that your plants receive consistent nourishment over time. Its balanced formula of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) is ideal for promoting healthy foliage, stronger roots, and improved flowering. Whether for indoor plants or outdoor gardens, this fertilizer is perfect for keeping your plants vibrant and thriving with minimal maintenance.

For more NPK 12 12 17information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Best Used For:

  • All indoor and outdoor plants, including flowering plants, vegetables, and foliage.

Features:

  • Slow-release formula: Provides consistent nutrients over time.
  • Balanced NPK ratio: Ensures healthy plant growth.
  • Versatile use: Suitable for a variety of plant types.
  • Improves root health: Promotes stronger root systems.
  • Encourages lush growth: Helps plants maintain rich, green foliage.
  • Extended feeding: No need to fertilize frequently.

Problems Solved:

    • Yellowing leaves due to nutrient deficiency.
    • Slow or stunted plant growth.
    • Reduced flowering or poor root development.

Composition:

  • Nitrogen (N): 12% – Supports leaf and stem growth.
  • Phosphorus (P): 12% – Promotes root development and flowering.
  • Potassium (K): 17% – Improves overall plant health and stress resistance.

How to Use:

  • Indoor plants: Apply 1-2 teaspoons around the base of the plant once every 2-3 months.
  • Outdoor plants: Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons around the base of each plant, mixing it gently into the soil. Reapply every 3 months.
  • Water thoroughly after application to activate the slow release of nutrients.
Grow Fast is a multi-purpose, all in one, organic liquid fertilizer suitable for all kinds of fruit trees, leafy vegetables and lawns. Natural & Earth friendly ingredient Prevents and reduces plant stress Increased crop production and yield by upto 40%. Grow fast organic fertilizer continues to improve the soil long after the plants have taken nutrients they need. Longer the soil is fed with organic fertilizer the better its composition and texture, moreover organic fertilizer is never cheaper the way Grow Fast is, in comparison to inorganic fertilizer. ​ A revolutionary, 100% organic fertilizer, comprising highly complex natural microbes and is an environmentally friendly soil conditioner and plant growth stimulant, with increased soil microbial properties: contains no growth hormones and no genetically modified organisms. Microbes have a profound effect on transformation of Nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil. However, Nitrogen is not the only element microbes can effectively fix into the soil. Microbes can solubilize Phosphorous and Iron among other elements. Grow Fast™ unlocks uncharted potential in a new system of biologically focused farming, sustainably.

Comments

Please Join Us to post.

0

0/2000

Guest Posts

If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us.

Your Name: (required)

Your Email: (required)

Subject:

Your Message: (required)

0/2000