Review Version - Fertilizer Label

Understanding the Fertilizer Label

Fertilizer is one of the ingredients to overall plant health. Often as an Associate, you may have a go- to fertilizer product to recommend but each label is different. Our goal is to help you read and understand a fertilizer label. Let's get started! WELCOME

Introduction

State Laws and Agencies

Elements in Fertilizers

ELEMENTS IN FERTILIZERS

N-P-K

Role of N-P-K

PRODUCTS

E.B. Stone Natural and Organic Sure Start label SummerWinds’ Products

CONCLUSION

Going Forward

Lesson 1 of 8 Introduction

When we live our We Guarantee Success motto to our Customers, we make sure they have everything they need to have success with their projects.

Fertilizers contribute to overall plant health. Your understanding of the use, types, and nutrients provided in various fertilizers, will help you meet o Customers needs for success.

Learn More

With this course, you’re one step garden advisor.

Lesson 2 of 8 State Laws and Agencies

State laws and agencies that control fertilizers require that the manufacturer guarantee s the claims of nutrient content on the label.

This is called the guaranteed analysis .

Click the tabs to learn more about the laws in California and Arizona.

CAL I F O RNI A

ARI Z O NA

In CA, products can be found in the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizing Materials Program Database.

The screenshot below shows a database example of the guaranteed analysis of E.B. Stone Hibiscus and Palm Food.

To access the database information, visit: CDFA Fertilizer Product Database (ca.gov)

CAL I F O RNI A

ARI Z O NA

In AZ , products can be found by searching the Fertilizer License Database managed by the AZ Department of Agriculture Environmental Services Division.

The screenshot shows a database example of the guaranteed analysis of E.B. Stone based on a brand name search.

To access the database information, visit: Dealer Search by Brand - Search Agriculture (az.gov)

Now that we know where the state agencies keep their guaranteed analysis information for fertilizer products, let’s dig into what is on these labels, what they mean, and how they benefit plants in the next lesson.

Lesson 3 of 8 Elements in Fertilizers

Sixteen fertilizer elements are required

Three of these sixteen elements —Carbon (C), Hydrogen, (H), and Oxygen (O)—are provided through air and water .

In the soil, plant roots absorb the remaining thirteen elements required for growth that includes:

MACRONUTRIENTS:

Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) Calcium (Ca) Sulfur (S) Magnesium (Mg) Manganese (Mn) Zinc (Zn) Boron (B) Copper (Cu) Iron (Fe) Molybdenum (Mo) Chlorine (Cl)

MICRONUTRIENTS:

The first six are termed macronutrients because plants use them in large quantities . The last seven are called micronutrients because they are used in much smaller quantities .

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Plant Life Cycle

In the absence of any one of these elements, the plant will fail to complete its life cycle.

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Element Replacement

Each element is specific and cannot be replaced or substituted for by another element.

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Effect On Plant

Each element has a direct effect on the plant.

N-P-K

Since hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen are provided by air and water, we’ll now focus on three of the most common macronutrients that the plant roots absorb —N-P-K.

Fertilizers are labeled with three numbers that indicate the guaranteed analysis or the fertilizer grade. These numbers represent nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)—or N-P-K —and are often calculated based on the amount that’s immediately water-soluble meaning available to plants right away.

The three numbers give the percentage by weight of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) in the form of phosphate (P2O5), and potassium (K) in the form of potash (K2O).

CO M PL E TE F E RTI L I Z E R

BAL ANCE D F E RTI L I Z E R

A fertilizer is termed complete when it contains unequal amounts of the major plant nutrients— N-P- K. An example includes a fertilizer with a guaranteed analysis of 8-4-10 or 16-4-8.

CO M PL E TE F E RTI L I Z E R

BAL ANCE D F E RTI L I Z E R

A fertilizer is termed balanced when it contains equal amounts of N-P-K such as 10-10-10 or 16-16-16.

Let ’ s Understand by reviewing this Mock Label:

1

This indicates the guaranteed analysis numbers of the fertilizer. For example, if the net weight of a bag of 18-4-10 fertilizer was 100 lbs., then there are 18 pounds of nitrogen (N), 4 pounds of phosphate (P2O5), and 10 pounds of potash (K2O). The remaining weight (the total must add up to 100% or 100 lbs.) is made of inert material or a nutrient carrier that aids in the application of the nutrients.

2

This indicates the guaranteed analysis of the product.

3

Indicates the total amount of N-P-K in the product, expressed in percent.

4

This indicates the sources of nitrogen and their percentages. This can help you determine the amounts of fast- and slow-release nitrogen available. To maintain an extended supply of nutrients that can be absorbed by plants, consider a fertilizer that contains 50% or more of a slow-release Nitrogen source. Slow-release nitrogen is known as water insoluble nitrogen (WIN). Sometimes it is listed as slowly available nitrogen. In this example, the label states that 10% of the nitrogen is water-insoluble compared to the total amount of nitrogen—18%. Over 50% won’t dissolve in water, and therefore it is a slow-release fertilizer.

5

This shows the percentages of secondary macronutrients by weight of the total amount of fertilizer in the package. It is hard to determine if a plant really needs this without a soil test.

6

This shows the percentage of the micronutrients by weight of the total amount of fertilizer contained in the package. Again, this is hard to know if it is needed without a soil test. Applying micronutrients in excessive amounts can damage or kill plants. Naturally supplying the plant with these elements is a better way to apply them. It can be done by mixing organic matter into the soil.

7

This indicates the elements in the fertilizer are derived from these various sources.

Lesson 5 of 8 Role of N-P-K

While secondary macronutrients and micronutrients are often hard to determine if needed without the results of a soil test, we can sometimes visually determine if N- P-K is needed.

Click the tabs to learn more.

NI TRO G E N ( N)

PHO SPHO RO U S ( P)

PO TASSI U M ( K)

Nitrogen (N) aids in the green growth of plants.

A nitrogen deficient plant may show signs of yellowing.

NI TRO G E N ( N)

PHO SPHO RO U S ( P)

PO TASSI U M ( K)

Phosphorus (P) aids in the fl owering, fruiting, and rooting of the plant. Deficiency symptoms to look for are dark green leaves with a blue or purple tint to them, small leaf size .

NI TRO G E N ( N)

PHO SPHO RO U S ( P)

PO TASSI U M ( K)

Potassium (K), potash, aids in overall health and vigor . Deficiency symptoms can be wilted or drooping leaves showing their veins along with a bronze metallic shine to them.

If your plants were visually showing deficiencies in these nutrients, you may conclude what could help the plant by these visual descriptors.

Lesson 6 of 8 E.B. Stone Natural and Organic Sure Start label

Let's examine the E B Stone Natural and Organic Sure Start label and put to use what we learned in the previous lesson.

Before diving further, here are a few quick questions based on the above fertilizer label for you to answer.

Is this a complete or balanced fertilizer?

Select the correct option and click Submit .

Complete

Balanced

SUBMIT

Complete the content above before moving on.

What is the N-P-K of the E.B. Stone Natural and Organic Sure Start fertilizer?

Select the correct option and click Submit .

6-2-4

4-2-6

4-6-2

2-6-4

SUBMIT

Complete the content above before moving on.

Would the E.B Stone Natural and Organic Sure Start fertilizer be classified as a slow-release fertilizer based on its label information?

Select the correct option and click Submit .

Yes

No

SUBMIT

Complete the content above before moving on.

Lesson 7 of 8 SummerWinds’ Products

SummerWinds’ commitment to natural and organic products may lead you to encounter products on a fertilizer label that may be less familiar to our Associates.

In the example seen in the previous lesson, you’ll see that our N-P-K sources for the product were derived from many items .

Blood Meal

Is the byproduct of animal slaughtering and blood. It is dried into a powder that is high in nitrogen.

Feather Meal

Is the byproduct of poultry slaughtering. It's produced by grinding the clean and dried feathers. Feather Meal is very high in nitrogen.

Bone Meal

Is a mixture of fi ne and coarse ground animal bone and slaughterhouse waste products. It provides a long-lasting source of phosphorous in the garden.

Dried Chicken Manure

Is harvested from the droppings of chickens and dried. It is heavy in organic matter and nitrogen.

Bat Guano

Is harvested from the droppings of migrating bats. It also has a high nitrogen level that is readily available to the plant.

Alfalfa Meal

Is a dried, ground, and fermented form of alfalfa that provides nitrogen and potash to the plants. It provides beneficial bacteria to the soil.

Kelp Meal

Is a dried seaweed that is high in potassium and contains concentrated amounts of vitamins and minerals.

There are also other items listed on the E.B. Stone label such as Humic Acids, Bacteria , and the Endo and Ecto Mycorrhizae .

Click the block to learn more about these additional items.

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Humic Acids

Humic acids are the ancient compost deposits that: Improve the soil structure Stimulate soil biological activity Improve nutrient uptake Act as a storehouse for nutrients Help to bind toxins to the soil

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Soil Bacteria

Soil bacteria :

Enhance the nutrient availability Suppress common root diseases Produce natural antibiotics Aid in breaking down soil organic matter

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Mycorrhizae

Mycorrhizae are beneficial fungus roots that: Expand the root system up to 1000 times to increase nutrients and water uptake

Help to improve the drought hardiness of plants

Lesson 8 of 8 Going Forward

We understand this topic covers a lot, as you continually familiarize yourself with the details of the label , you will be able to help Customers decipher which product is best for their garden.

Experience and knowledge are a powerful combination in learning about how fertilizers can be used to improve overall plant health.

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Reading A Fertilizer Label

EB Stone & Son Inc.’s Products

AZ Fertilizing Home Gardens

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