Question

Give an example of a compound fertilizer and give its advantage over the single fertilizer.

Short answer

Answer: An example of a compound fertilizer is 15-15-15 NPK fertilizer, containing 15% nitrogen (N), 15% phosphorus (P), and 15% potassium (K). The advantage of using a compound fertilizer over a single fertilizer is its convenience and cost-effectiveness, as it provides a balanced supply of nutrients in a single application, promoting optimal plant growth and yield, ultimately resulting in healthier plants and increased crop production.

Step-by-step solution

Define compound and single fertilizers

A compound fertilizer is a type of fertilizer that contains two or more nutrients in a single product. These nutrients can include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), which are essential elements for plant growth. On the other hand, a single fertilizer contains only one nutrient in a high concentration.

Provide an example of a compound fertilizer

An example of a compound fertilizer is 15-15-15 NPK fertilizer. The numbers indicate the percentage of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contained in the fertilizer. In this example, the compound fertilizer has 15% nitrogen (N), 15% phosphorus (P), and 15% potassium (K).

Explain the advantage of using a compound fertilizer over a single fertilizer

Using a compound fertilizer like 15-15-15 NPK fertilizer has several advantages over using single fertilizers. One main advantage is convenience and cost-effectiveness. By applying a compound fertilizer, which contains the necessary nutrients in a single application, it saves both time and money compared to using multiple single fertilizers for each nutrient. Additionally, compound fertilizers are formulated to provide a balanced supply of nutrients for plants, promoting optimal growth and yield. This balanced nutrient supply can lead to healthier plants and increased crop production.