Greenhouses are used to provide crops with a favorable environment that will promote their healthy growth. Although the provision of optimum temperature, humidity level and water supply are the main concerns in a greenhouse, the supply of nutrients is also an important aspect to provide in a greenhouse.
What are fertilizers?
Plants are able to make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. Through this process, plants combine carbon dioxide from the air, water, and soil nutrients, such as nitrates, phosphates, and sulfates, to make nutrients. Sunlight is used as an energy source to power this process. While the simplest food products come in the form of carbohydrates, which consist only of carbon dioxide and water, higher organic compounds such as proteins and minerals which are essential building blocks for growth require soil nutrients. Fertilizers act as a source of these nutrients. Fertilizer also adds porosity to the soil, which is important in that it increases the soil's ability to hold water and air without drowning the plant. In the wild, plants receive a constant supply of nutrients in the form of decaying organic matter and animal waste in the form of compost. However, since the greenhouse is isolated from the open environment, the supply of nutrients is essential. Fertilizers are basically materials that act as sources of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, iron, phosphorus, sulfur and other elements.
Nitrogen is the most important of these as it is used to make proteins. Protein is one of the main food groups, along with fats and carbohydrates. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which contain only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, proteins contain nitrogen in addition to these three elements. Proteins are the building blocks of life. In order to provide this essential element, fertilizers are rich in nitrogen.
Types of fertilizers
Fertilizers can be in solid or liquid form. The type of fertilizer needed for your crops depends on the type of plants you have grown. This is due to the fact that each plant has its own requirements for different substances necessary for its growth. The specific nutrients found in fertilizers also determine their class.
Nutrient content
Since various elements are necessary for the healthy growth of plants, fertilizers are rich in them. These elements include:
1. Nitrogen
Nitrogen is the most important of these as it is used to make proteins. Protein is one of the main food groups, along with fats and carbohydrates. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which contain only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, proteins contain nitrogen in addition to these three elements. Proteins are the building blocks of life. In order to provide this essential element, fertilizers are rich in nitrogen, generally around 50%. This mainly takes the form of nitro compounds.
2. Potassium
The most common source of this essential element in fertilizers is potassium nitrate. The plant needs potassium for proper water utilization.
3. Phosphorus
This element is essential for plant growth. Although usually supplied in large quantities, an overdose can impede the solubility of other nutrients that plants need. Phosphorus is usually added as superphosphate or phosphoric acid.
In addition to the above, other nutrients such as iron, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, copper, calcium, potassium, chloride, etc. are also needed. It can be provided either by growth medium or by supplemental application.
The amount of nutrients provided should be carefully monitored. Only proper application achieves optimum plant growth, which will eventually lead to a good harvest and high profits.
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