Feeding the world’s growing population
New Zealand’s reputation as a quality food producer is growing.
The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand promotes and encourages responsible and scientifically-based nutrient management.
What is fertiliser
Fertiliser provides the nutrients to grow and nourish pastures and crops.
Plants require 17 essential nutrients to thrive. Fertiliser supports plant growth and replenishes nutrients after each harvest. The International Fertilizer Association has produced an infographic explaining how 14 essential plant nutrients benefit plant health: 14 Essential Nutrients for Improving and Protecting Plant Health
Nitrogen, phosphate, potassium and sulphur are the four most important nutrients for crop yields and sustainable food production:
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Nitrogen (N) makes up about 78 percent of the air we breathe. It is inert and insoluble in this form. To manufacture nitrogen fertiliser, it must be removed from the air and combined with hydrogen to make ammonia, which is then converted to urea. This is applied directly to crops as a nitrogen fertiliser or used as a building block to make other nitrogen fertiliser products. |
Phosphorus (P) is present in all living cells and is essential to all forms of life. Found throughout our bodies, it is concentrated in our teeth and bones. The source of phosphorus in fertiliser is phosphate rock, which is typically mined from the earth's crust then reacted with acid to produce different phosphate products. |
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Potassium (K) is also found throughout nature and is found in our bodies in muscles, skin and the digestive tract. Good health requires sufficient intake of potassium. Plants use potassium for functions like photosynthesis and protein formation. Potassium, or potash, is mined from naturally occurring ore bodies that were formed as seawater evaporated. The deposits are a mixture of crystals of potassium chloride and sodium chloride. Sodium chloride is also known as table salt. After it is mined, the potassium chloride is purified into a granular fertiliser. |
Sulphur (S) is essential to produce amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins found in all living things. Sulphur also helps give crops like onion, mustard and radish their characteristic flavour. While it can be found naturally in the soil, it is not always in a form plants can use. |
