Fertilizer Computations

• After evaluating the fertility of the soil, recommendation with regards to the amount of nutrients such as N, P, and K will be given.
After that the actual amount of fertilizer will be computed.

• In fertilizer computation, there are two most important things to remember. First is what are the given, and second is what is being
asked.

• If the given is the amount of fertilizer and the thing you need to find out is the amount of nutrient you need to follow this formula:

Amount of Nutrient = Amount of Fertilizer x Fertilizer Grade (%)

For example:

Problem 1: A farmer applied 2 bags of Urea (46–0–0). How many kg of N did he apply?

Given: 2 bags of Urea or 100 kg (1 bag = 50 kgs)

Fertilizer Grade (46–0–0) (remember fertilizer grade is in percent so 46% is equal to 0.46)

Amount of Urea (46–0–0) = Amount of Fertilizer  % Fertilizer Grade (%) = 100 kg  0.46 = 46 kg of N

Problem 2: A farmer applied 1 bag of Triple 14 and 1 bag of Urea in his farm. How many kg of each N, P2O5, and K2O did he applied?

Given: 1 bag of triple 14 (50 kgs)

1 bag of Urea (50 kgs)

Fertilizer Grade of T14 (14–14–14)

Fertilizer Grade of Urea (46–0–0)

Amount of Complete Fertilizer (14–14–14) = 50  0.14 = 7 kg of N, P2O5, K2O

Amount of Urea (46–0–0) = 50  0.46 = 23 kg of N

Total N = 7 + 23 = 30
Total P2O5 =7
Total K2O =7

Therefore, the total NPK or nutrient applied was 30 kg N, 7 kg P2O5, and 7 kg K2O or 30–7–7

Problem 3. A fertilizer recommendation calls for the application of the following fertilizer materials:
4 bags of Urea (46–0–0) = 200 kg/ha N
3 bags of Ordinary super phosphate (0–20–0) = 150 kg/ha P2O5
1 bag of Muriate of potash (0–0–60) = 50 kg/ha K2O

Amount of Urea (46–0–0) = 200  0.46 = 92 kg/ha of N

Amount of Ordinary super phosphate (0–20–0) = 150  0.20 = 30 kg/ha of P2O5

Amount of Ordinary super phosphate (0–0–60) = 50  0.60 = 30 kg/ha of K2O

Therefore, the total NPK or nutrient applied was 92 kg N, 30 kg P2O5, and 30 kg K2O or 92–30–30
Problem 4. Calculate the amount of Ammonium sulfate (21–0–0), Ordinary super phosphate (OSP) (0–20–0) and Muriate of potash (0–
0–60) needed if the fertilizer recommendation calls for the application of 120–40–30 kg N–P2O5–K2O/ha.

Given: Ammonium sulfate (21–0–0),

Ordinary super phosphate (OSP) (0–20–0) and
Muriate of potash (0–0–60)
Recommended rate (RR)
% Nutrient of Fertilizer  area (1 ha)
Amount of fertilizer =

120 kg N
0.21 1 ha = 571.43 kg/ha  50 kg/bag = 11.42 bags or 12 bags of 21–0–0
Amount of Ammonium sulfate (21–0–0) =
40 kg P2O5
Amount of OSP (0–20–0) = 1 ha = 200 kg/ha  50 kg/bag = 4 bags of 0–20–0
0.20
30 kg K2O
Amount of Muriate of Potash (0–0–60) = 0.60 1 ha = 50 kg/ha  50 kg/bag = 1 bag of 0–0–60

Problem 5. Given that the fertilizer recommendation calls for 120–40–30 kg N–P2O5–K2O/ha. Calculate the individual of amount of
fertilizer materials using the following: Complete (14–14–14) Ammonium phosphate (16–20–0), and Urea (46–0–0).

Given: Complete Fertilizer (14–14–14),

Ammonium phosphate (16–20–0) and 120–40–30 kg N–P2O5–K2O
Urea (46–0–0)
120 – 040 – 030
1st Step 030 – 030 – 030
30 kg K2O 090 – 010 – 000
0.14 1 ha = 214.28 kg of K2O/ha
Amount of Complete Fertilizer (14–14–14) =
008 – 010 – 000
x 0.14 N = 30 kg N
x 0.14 P2O5 = 30 kg P2O5 082 – 000 – 000
2nd Step 082 – 000 – 000

10 kg P2O5 X–X–X
Amount of Ammonium phosphate (16–20–0) = 0.20 1 ha = 50 kg of P2O5/ha
x 0.16 N = 8 kg N

3rd Step

82 kg N
Amount of Urea (46–0–0) = 0.46 1 ha = 178.26 kg of N

Amount of Complete Fertilizer (14–14–14) = 214.28 kg of K2O/ha  50 kg/bag = 4.28 bags or 5 bags of 14–14–14

Amount of Ammonium phosphate (16–20–0) = 50 kg of P2O5/ha  50 kg/bag = 1 bag of 16–21–0

Amount of Urea (46–0–0) = 178.26 kg of N  50 kg/bag = 3.56 bags or 4 bags of 46–0–0

Problem 6. A fertilizer recommendation for irrigated lowland rice (PSB Rc 82) in Maligaya clay loam soil during the dry season calls for
the application of 150–40–60 kg N–P2O5–K2O/ha, respectively. If the fertilizer materials will be split-applied such that 50% of the total
N, all P2O5 and 1/2 K2O requirements will be basally applied (broadcast and incorporate during the final harrowing) and the remaining
1/2 N and 1/2 K2O will be applied 5-7 days before the panicle initiation. How much complete fertilizer (14–14–14), Ammonium phosphate
(16–20–0), Urea (46–0–0) and N–K fertilizer (17–0–17) will be used following the recommendation?

Given: Complete fertilizer (14–14–14),

Ammonium phosphate (16–20–0), 1st Application (Basal)
Urea (46–0–0) and
N–K fertilizer (17–0–17) 075 – 040 – 030
030 – 030 – 030
Split-applied such that 50% of the total N, all P2O5 and 1/2 K2O requirements will be Basally Applied
(broadcast and incorporate during the final harrowing) 045 – 010 – 000
008 – 010 – 000
1/2 of N - 75 kg N/ha
All P2O5 - 40 kg P2O5/ha 037 – 000 – 000
1/2 K2O - 30 kg K2O/ha 037 – 000 – 000

Therefore, 1st Application (Basal Application) = 75–40–30 kg N–P2O5–K2O/ha X–X–X

30 kg K2O
0.14 1 ha = 214.28 kg/ha K2O
Amount of Complete Fertilizer (14–14–14) =
x 0.14 N = 30 kg N
x 0.14 P2O5 = 30 kg P2O5

45–10–0 kg/ha N–P2O5–K2O/ha

10 kg P2O5
0.20  1 ha = 50 kg/ha P2O5
Amount of Ammonium Phosphate (16–20–0) =
 0.16 N = 8 kg N

37–0–0 kg/ha N–P2O5–K2O/ha

37 kg of N
Amount of Urea (46–0–0) = 0.46  1 ha = 80.43 kg/ha N

X–X–X kg N–P2O5–K2O/ha
2nd Application (Topdress)
the remaining 1/2 N and 1/2 K2O will be applied 5-7 days before the panicle initiation
075 – 040 – 030
1/2 N - 75 kg N/ha 030 – 030 – 030
1/2 K2O - 30 kg K2O/ha
045 – 010 – 000
Therefore, 2nd Application: (Topdressing) = 75–0–30 kg N–P2O5–K2O/ha 045 – 010 – 000

75–0–30 kg N–P2O5–K2O/ha X–X–X

30 kg of K2O
Amount of N-K Fertilizer (17-0-17) =  1 ha = 176.47 kg/ha K2O
0.17
 0.17 N = 30 kg N

45–0–0 kg N–P2O5–K2O/ha
45 kg of N
0.46  1 ha = 97.83 kg/ha N
Amount of Urea (46–0–0) =
X–X–X kg N–P2O5–K2O/ha
Amount of Complete Fertilizer (14–14–14) = 214.28 kg/ha K2O  50 kg/bag = 3.56 bags or 4 bags of 14–14–14

Amount of Ammonium Phosphate (16–20–0) = 50 kg/ha P2O5  50 kg/bag = 1 bag of 16–20–0

Amount of Urea (46–0–0) = 80.43 kg/ha + 97.83 kg/ha N = 178.26 kg/ha N  50 kg/bag = 3.56 bags or 4 bags of 46–0–0

Amount of N-K Fertilizer (17-0-17) = 176.47 kg/ha K2O  50 kg/bag = 3.52 bags or 4 bags of 17–0–17

Problem 7. Suppose the above fertilizers in Problem No. 4 are going to be used to fertilize a 500 square–meter plot for experimental
purposes. How much of each of the fertilizer materials will be needed?

1 ha = 10,000 sq. meters

1 ha 500 ha
500 sq. meters  10000 sq. meters = 10000 = 0.05 ha

120 kg N
0.21 0.05 ha = 571.43 kg 0.05 ha = 28.57 kg of 21–0–0 per 500 sq. meter
Amount of Ammonium sulfate (21–0–0) =
40 kg P2O5
Amount of OSP (0–20–0) =  0.05 ha = 200 kg 0.05 ha = 10 kg of 0–20–0 per 500 sq. meter
0.20
30 kg K2O
Amount of Muriate of Potash (0–0–60) = 0.60 0.05 ha = 50 kg/ha0.05 = 2.5 kg of 0–0–60 per 500 sq. meter

Problem 8. Suppose the above fertilizers in Problem No. 4 are going to be applied for a plot experiment. The recommended planting
distance of your plant were spaced 50  50 cm. How much of ammonium sulfate (21–0 –0), ordinary super phosphate (0–20–0), and
muriate of potash (0–0–60) will be applied per plant?

1 meter = 100 cm 1 kg = 1,000 grams

50 cm = 0.50 meters 1 ha = 10,000 sq. meters
Planting Distance = 0.50 meters  0.50 meters = 0.25 sq. meters per plant
10 000 sq. meters
In 1 ha = 0.25 sq. meters per plant = 40,000 plants to be applied with fertilizers in 1 ha

120 kg N
0.21 1 ha = 571.43 kg/ha
Amount of Ammonium sulfate (21–0–0) =
571 430 grams/ha N
= 571.43 kg → 571,430 grams of 21–0–0 = 40 000 plants to be applied in 1 ha = 14.28 g of 21–0–0 per plant

40 kg P2O5
Amount of OSP (0–20–0) = 0.20 1 ha = 200 kg/ha

200 000 grams/ha P2O5

= 200 kg → 200,000 grams of 0–20–0 = = 5 g of 0–20–0 per plant
40 000 plants to be applied in 1 ha

30 kg K2O
0.60 1 ha = 50 kg/ha
Amount of Muriate of Potash (0–0–60) =
50 000 grams/ha K2O
= 50 kg → 50,000 grams of 0–0–60 = 40 000 plants to be applied in 1 ha = 1.25 g of 0–0–60 per plant