Fertilizers｜Do You Really Understand Water-Soluble Fertilizers?

What is water-soluble fertilizer?

Water-soluble fertilizer refers to a multi-element compound fertilizer that dissolves completely in water. Compared to traditional fertilizers like superphosphate and granular compound fertilizers, water-soluble fertilizers offer distinct advantages.

Water-soluble fertilizer is a fast-acting fertilizer that dissolves rapidly in water without leaving residue. It can be directly absorbed and utilized by crop roots and foliage.

They are suitable for facility agriculture systems like spray and drip irrigation, enabling integrated water and fertilizer management. Their effective absorption rate exceeds that of conventional fertilizers by more than double, and their rapid nutrient release addresses the nutrient demands of high-yield crops during rapid growth phases.

When used with spray or drip irrigation systems, water requirements are only 30% of those for conventional fertilizers. Fertilization operations require minimal manual labor, significantly reducing costs.

Water-soluble fertilizers typically contain minimal impurities and low electrical conductivity, allowing for easy concentration adjustment and safe application to seedlings.

Water-Soluble Fertilizers vs. Flush Fertilizers

Water-soluble fertilizers should not be confused with flush fertilizers. Flush fertilizers, also known as water-soluble fertilizers, are a method of top-dressing where water-soluble fertilizers are dissolved and applied through irrigation as supplemental feeding.

Not all fertilizers are suitable for drip irrigation. Fertilizers suitable for drip irrigation should be highly water-soluble, with nutrients that are not easily immobilized by soil, readily absorbed by plants, fast-acting, and leaving no toxic residues. For example, compound fertilizers and human manure, which are not originally drip fertilizers, become drip fertilizers when diluted with water and applied in liquid form.

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