Why do we need fertilisers ?

All plants need carbon dioxide and water for photosynthesis, but the cells also need
other nutrients to make new cells for different parts of the plants.

The major nutrients/chemical elements absorbed from soil are: (use the internet and
complete the table).

Nutrient/chemical What it does Symptoms of Where it comes

element deficiency from naturally
Nitrogen (N)

Phosphorus (P)

Potassium (K)

Magnesium (Mg)

Calcium (Ca)

Sulfur (S)

Trace elements
Management practices to improve soil properties

Chemical

Fertilisers

Fertilisers are used to add nutrients to the soil to enhance plant growth and replace
nutrients that are lost to leaching - washed away, plant and animal produce sold off the
property, phosphate fixation, erosion and denitrifying bacteria. Solid fertilisers are
generally used on farms, commercial orchards and vegetable growing enterprises
where soil is the growing medium. These can be organic but the majority of fertilisers
applied will be inorganic.

Solid fertilisers are used as a base fertiliser during seedbed preparation as this allows
them to be worked into the soil where the plant roots will be growing; otherwise they can
be top dressed onto existing pasture and crops. Side dressing between rows of
vegetables are a variation of this and help to boost plant growth.

Liquid fertilisers maybe incorporated into irrigation systems and hydroponics whilst foliar
sprays are sprayed directly onto leaves.

Slow release fertilisers are used for high value crops and release nutrients over a
number of months

Use the internet and find out what fertilisers are used for Kiwi Fruit production in New
Zealand :