14 Different Types of Liquid Fertilizer 

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Liquid fertilizers are essential in boosting the growth and harvest of your plants if you are particular about their nutritional values.

Chemical fertilizers, if overused, can affect the nutritional value of the soil as it becomes exhausted. This might lead to the soil being unable to support agricultural production, but with liquid fertilizer, the bar is lowered.

In this article, we shall look deeper into the different types of liquid fertilizers, their benefits, and their cons. This will enable you discover the best fertilizer to choose for your crops. 

What is a Liquid Fertilizer?

Liquid fertilizers are liquids that are concentrated and extracted from soluble chemicals. They contain synthetic materials rich in nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and iron, essential nutrients.

They may also have insecticides, wetting agents, and trace elements.

That said, let’s look at the types of liquid fertilizers.

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Types of Liquid Fertilizers

First and foremost, before we proceed, you should know that there are two types of fertilizers upon which all other kinds of fertilizers depend. They are inorganic and organic fertilizers. 

1. Inorganic Liquid Fertilizer 

Inorganic liquid fertilizer is also known as synthetic fertilizer. They are made of minerals or synthetic chemicals.

They are fast doses of fertilizer manufactured to meet the exact requirements of your plants.

Under inorganic liquid fertilizer, we have the following;

  • Nitrogenous Fertilizer
  • Phosphate fertilizer 
  • Potassium Fertilizer
  • Complete fertilizer

We will explain them one after the other for effective understanding and for you to make the right choice for your crops or plants. 

2. Nitrogenous Fertilizer

This is one of the best types of liquid fertilizer for your crops. This type of fertilizer contains nitrogen in the right proportion, which is necessary for adequate crop growth and development. 

Nitrogen is one of the essential nutrients that is found in chlorophyll. This nutrient helps to maintain balance during the photosynthetic process of plants. It is a part of amino acids that help the plant form protein. 

Nitrogenous liquid fertilizer helps improve crop yield and the quality of agricultural products. Nitrogenous types of liquid fertilizers are subdivided into four main groups, which are

  • Nitrate
  • Ammonia
  • Plant and animal by-products
  • Chemical compounds

3. Phosphate Fertilizer 

This is one of the best types of liquid fertilizer that comprises one of the essential elements plants need for adequate growth and development; this nutrient and element is phosphorus. 

The efficiency of this type of fertilizer depends on some factors, which include a method of fertilizing, properties and type of soil used, and the crops. This fertilizer is very beneficial for the effective growth of roots and shoots of plants. 

To make effective use of this fertilizer, you need to consider the factors I have mentioned.

The soil in question has to be suitable for planting, the crop has to be phosphorous tolerant, and you have to apply the required amount of phosphorus fertilizer that will ensure effective growth of the plant. 

4. Potassium Liquid Fertilizer 

This type of liquid fertilizer is explicitly applied to soil that is deficient in potash. Potassium liquid fertilizer is used for many purposes, but they are used as

  • Muriate of potash( also called potassium chloride)
  • Sulfate of potash(potassium sulfate)

5. Muriate Of Potash 

This is a type of liquid crystalline fertilizer that contains 50 to 63 percent potash. This potash is very beneficial for plants and crops. 

One of the benefits of this fertilizer is that it is well absorbed in the soil to the point it is not easily leached out of the ground. 

This type of fertilizer is applied during sowing time or close before the sowing time, which makes it practical for plants to grow and produce in large quantities. 

6. Sulfate Of Potash 

This is a more expensive type of potassium-liquid fertilizer—the reason for they that cause it is prepared by treating potassium chloride with magnesium sulfate. 

This fertilizer is effective for crops as it contains 49 to 54 percent of potassium oxide. This liquid fertilizer is very easy to absorb by plants immediately after application. 

Another benefit of this fertilizer is that it can easily be applied at any time or during the season, making it effective and a good choice for farmers. 

7. Compound Fertilizer 

This is a type of liquid fertilizer that contains at least two or three different types of essential nutrients that are important for the effective growth and development of crops. 

When you’re short of both nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil, this is where compound fertilizer becomes the next best option. 

This fertilizer contains 16 percent nitrogen and 20% P2O5. Another thing you need to know is that two or three types of fertilizer can be mixed effectively to get a compound fertilizer suitable for all crops. 

This makes compound fertilizer one of the best types of liquid fertilizer out there.

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8. Complete Fertilizer (NPK)

This is one of the most effective types of fertilizer. It has both liquid and solid types, and the liquid Is widely used among farmers because it is easily absorbed into the soil and plant. 

But one thing you should consider is that compound fertilizers are not always well adapted to different soil types. This means you can’t use this fertilizer for any soil. 

This fertilizer contains all the three most crucial elements required for the proper growth of plants. These elements are (N, P, and K) this is where this fertilizer got the name “complete fertilizer.” 

Sometimes this fertilizer is prepared by adding other elements like DDT, BHC, and mercury. The reason for adding these is to make the fertilizer weed, pest, and disease-resistant.

When mixing complete fertilizer, you should be careful. Not all types of fertilizer are compatible with this complete fertilizer. 

9. Organic Liquid Fertilizers

We have discussed the inorganic type of fertilizer extensively; next, we will discuss the organic variety of liquid fertilizer. 

Organic liquid fertilizers are obtained naturally from plants and animal materials.

They are;

  • Manure
  • Compost
  • Rock phosphate
  • Chicken litter
  • Bone meal

10. Manure

This is a pure example of an organic liquid fertilizer made from animal excreta(cow dung and goat droppings). Cow dung or cattle manure is a good nitrogen source and organic carbon. These essential nutrients are essential for the healthy growth of plants.

Moreover, goat manure is rich in nitrogen and potash, which increases the water-retentive ability of the soil.

11. Compost 

This is another example of a pure organic type of liquid fertilizer. It is organic material that is decomposed through composting.

The organic matter that is used in the preparation of this type of fertilizer is plant waste, animal excreta, etc. Because it is organic, it has no side effects on the plant itself. 

12. Rock Phosphate

This is included in the type of organic liquid fertilizer we have. It is a sedimentary rock that can be broken into pieces and melted into liquid form, and it is used mainly to fix the phosphate levels of the soil, which is very beneficial to the growth of plants. 

13. Chicken Litter 

This is an essential type of organic liquid fertilizer; it consists mainly of chicken manure and sawdust, which has a very high level of nitrogen which is very beneficial for plants and crops. It is better in soil conditioning for good harvest than chemical fertilizers. 

14. Bone Meal

This is a pure organic liquid type of fertilizer, and it is a mixture of the waste that is found in a slaughterhouse. This type of fertilizer contains a high proportion of phosphorus which is very important in the healthy growth and development of plants.

Advantages of Liquid Fertilizer 

  • Liquid fertilizers have a rapid effect on crops because they are in liquid form, which makes it easy for plants to absorb
  • Liquid fertilizer is effective for supplying a specific nutrient that is needed for the effective growth of crops
  • Liquid fertilizers are predictable. By using them, you can be sure of the effective growth of your crops, and they are reliable too
  • Liquid fertilizer is very effective in increasing crop yield, and they provide enough food production to feed a large population

Disadvantages of Liquid Fertilizer 

  • Sometimes liquid fertilizer can be costly
  • Using liquid fertilizer too often without practicing bush fallowing will reduce the microbial activities in the soil and disturb the soil PH
  • Using liquid fertilizer without washing your hands can be toxic to your skin and causes respiratory problems
  • Sometimes leaching may occur in the land where liquid fertilizer is effectively used; this will cause eutrophication and contamination of the river

Uses Of Liquid Fertilizer 

  • Liquid fertilizer is excellent in providing nutrients to the plant for effective growth.
  • When the increase in the yield of the crop is required, liquid fertilizer is the option that comes to mind 
  • When nutrients are lost from potted plants or other crops, liquid fertilizer is added to replace the lost nutrients.
  • Nitrogen-rich fertilizers such as those we’ve mentioned are adequate for the greening of lawns. 
  • Organic fertilizer, such as liquid fertilizer, is effective in improving the texture and fertility of the soil, which makes it ideal for planting. 
  • The nutritional needs of plants are addressed using liquid fertilizers. 

Conclusion 

We have come to the end of this article on the types of liquid fertilizers we have. The ones we have listed out for you are one of the best types of liquid fertilizers out there. 

We believe this article has been of help to you; feel free to comment your thoughts in the comment section, and don’t forget to share with your friends. 

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