Plants take in – or ‘fix’ – carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. Some of the carbon is used for plant growth, and some of it is used in respiration, where the plant breaks down sugars to get energy. Related Images:
Archives
Hydrogen (H)
When they photosynthesise, plants use sunlight to break apart water into hydrogen and oxygen, and then combine the resulting hydrogen with carbon dioxide from the air to create carbohydrates. Related Images:
Synthetic fertilizer
Chemically formulated fertilizers, mainly from inorganic sources. Related Images:
Soluble salt
A mineral (salt) often remaining in soil from irrigation water, fertilizer, compost, or manure applications. Related Images:
Slow-release fertilizer
A fertilizer material that must be converted into a plant-available form by soil microorganisms. Related Images:
Side-dress
To apply fertilizer to the soil around a growing plant. Related Images:
Quick-release fertilizer
A fertilizer that contains nutrients in plant-available forms such as ammonium and nitrate. Fertilizer is readily soluble in water. Related Images:
Processed fertilizer
A fertilizer that is manufactured or refined from natural ingredients to be more concentrated and more available to plants. Related Images:
Primary nutrient
A nutrient required by plants in a relatively large amount (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). Related Images:
Potash
The form of potassium listed in most fertilizer analyses. Related Images: