Advantages and disadvantages of different types of fertilisers

The following tables provide an overview of the key advantages and disadvantages of
different types of fertilisers on the market today [9] [13].

Nitrogen fertiliser

Type %N Advantages Disadvantages

Urea 46 Cheap, easy to store Loss through leaching and
volatisation, acidifying
Ammonium nitrate (AN) 34 Little volatisation, non- Expensive, difficult to
acidifying store
Sulphate of ammonium (SA) 20.6 Easy to store Expensive, very
acidifying, induces Mg
deficiency

Phosphate fertiliser

Type % P2O5 Advantages Disadvantages

Triple Super Phosphate
(TSP)
Diammonium Phosphate
(DAP)
Rock Phosphate (RP)
45–47 Very soluble, effective, Expensive
also contains 20% CaO
46 Very soluble, also contains
18% N and 11% S
30–34 Inexpensive, effective, also Bulky, slower response,
contains 45% CaO high transport costs

Potassium fertiliser

Type % K2O Advantages Disadvantages

Muriate of Potash (MOP, KCl)
Bunch ash
60 Relatively cheap, effective,
also contains 35% Cl
20–40 Cheap, increased soil pH, Cannot be stored for long,
effective difficult to obtain for
smallholders
 KCl, also known as potassium chloride or Muriate of Potash (MOP)

Compound fertiliser (NPK)

Type % N, P2O5, K2O, MgO Advantages Disadvantages

12-12-17-2 12-12-17-2 + Easy to apply and easy to Expensive, less suitable
+ micronutrients micronutrients obtain, containing all for mature plantations
required nutrients

Note: Compound (NPK) fertilisers are usually most suitable for application in nurseries
and immature plantations (less than 3 years after planting). In mature plantations, the
balance of N, P and K in the compound fertilisers is often not correct, and in most
cases, it is cheaper to apply single nutrient fertilisers unless the labour costs for
application are high.
 NPK fertiliser with magnesium and trace elements (12-12-17-2 + TE)

Magnesium fertiliser

Type % MgO Advantages Disadvantages

Kieserite 26 More soluble, also Expensive
contains 23% S
Langbeinite 18 More soluble, also
contains 22% K2O and
22% S
Dolomite 10–18 Reduces soil acidity, also Insoluble, only useful on
contains ~ 30% CaO very acid soils1,2

Boron fertiliser

Type %B Advantages Disadvantages

Borax 11 Effective Expensive
Sodium tetraborate (48) 14 Effective Expensive

Copper and zinc fertiliser [14]

Type % Cu/Zn Advantages Disadvantages

Copper sulfate
Zinc sulfate (ZnSO4.H2O)
Zinc sulfate (ZnSO4.7H2O)
25 Also contains 13% S Expensive, difficult to get
36 Also contains S Relatively expensive,
difficult to get
22 Also contains S Relatively expensive,
difficult to get