Nutrient Content of Fertilizer Materials

The following tables can be used as quick reference guides to fertilizer materials. These materials may be used alone or blended with other fertilizer materials to form a multinutrient fertilizer.

The actual nutrient content may vary from what is listed, depending upon the manufacturer, the purity of the product, or other materials blended with the product. Most values are for the fertilizer-grade product and not the pure chemical. The chemical formulas given are for the primary active compound.

Primary and Secondary Nutrient Sources

Material Percentage Approx. CaCO3
Equiv./100 lb.*
Comments
P2O5 K2O Ca Mg S

Nitrogen Materials 

Ammonium nitrate**
NH4NO3
34 0 0 0 0 0 -61  
Ammonium nitrate limestone
NH4NO3 + (CaCO3 + MgCO3)
20 0 0 6 4 0 0 Ca and Mg depend on limestone used
Ammonium nitrate sulfate
NH4NO3 + (NH4)2SO4
30 0 0 0 0 5 -71  
Ammonium sulfate**
(NH4)2SO4
21 0 0 0 0 24 -110  
Anhydrous ammonia**
NH3
82 0 0 0 0 0 -148 Pressurized gas
Aqua ammonia
NH4OH
16-25 0 0 0 0 0 -36 to -54  
Calcium cyanamide
CaCN2
21 0 0 11 0 0 +63 Most alkaline N material
Calcium nitrate
Ca(NO3)24H2O
15 0 0 21 0 0 +20  
Calcium nitrate/urea (Calurea)
Ca(NO
3)2 + 4CO(NH2)2
34 0 0 10 0 0 -36 Don't blend with superphosphate
Crotonylidene diurea
(CDU)
32 0 0 0 0 0 NA Slow-release
Isobutylidene diurea
(IBDU)
31 0 0 0 0 0 NA Slow-release
Nitrogen solutions
(N-SOL or UAN solutions)**
(urea/ammonium nitrate):
32% UAN (35% urea + 45% A.N.)
30% UAN (33% urea + 42% A.N.)
28% UAN (30% urea + 40% A.N.)
21% AN (60% A.N. + 40% water)
19% AN (54% A.N. + 46% water)



32
30
28
21
19



0
0
0
0
0



0
0
0
0
0



0
0
0
0
0



0
0
0
0
0



0
0
0
0
0



-55
-52
-49
-37
-33


Solutions code:
320(0-45-35)
300(0-42-33)
280(0-40-30)
210(0-60-0)
190(0-54-0)
Potassium nitrate
KNO3
13 0 44 0 0 0 +26  
Sodium nitrate (nitrate of soda)
NaNO
3
16 0 0 0 0 0 +29  
Urea**
CO(NH2)2
45 0 0 0 0 0 -81  
Urea (sulfur coated)
CO(NH
2)2 + S
36-38 0 0 0 0 13-16 -118 N release depends on S coating
Ureaform
(urea + formaldehyde)
38 0 0 0 0 0 -68 Slow-release

Phosphorous Materials

Ammoniated superphosphate 12-17 22-35 0 *** 0 *** -7  
Ammonium phosphate**
Diammonium phosphate (DAP)
(NH
4)2H2PO4
Monoammonium phosphate (MAP)
NH
4HPO2
18

11
46

48
0

0
0

1
0

0
0

0
-70

-65
 
Ammonium phosphate nitrate
NH4H2PO4.NH4NO3
30 10 0 0 0 0 -54  
Ammonium phosphate sulfate
4NH4H2PO4. x (NH4)2SO4
16 20 0 0 0 15 -76 to -113 Mixture
Ammonium polyphosphate**
(NH4)HP2O7 + (NH4)5P3O10
10 34 0 0 0 0 -- Liquid
Basic Slag 0 0-6 *** 3-29 *** *** +70 Analysis variable
Bone meal (steamed)
Ca
3(PO4)2 + CaCO3
0-2 10-20 0 19-25 0 0 +20  
Concentrated superphosphate**
(triple superphosphate)
Ca(H
2PO4)2. x H2O
0 46 0 14 0 2 0  
Nitric phosphate 12-17 22-35 0 *** 0 *** -20  
Normal superphosphate
Ca(H2PO4)2. x H2O + CaSO4
0 20 0 21 0 11 0  
Phosphate rock 0 2-35 0 *** *** 0 +10 Total P2O5 relatively unavailable
Phosphoric acid**
H3PO4
Wet-process acid
Concentrated wet-process acid
Superphosphoric acid


0
0
0


30
40-54
76


0
0
0


0
0
0

0
0
0


0
0
0


-63
-84 to -110
-110
Liquid
Urea-ammonium phosphate 23 35 0 0 0 0   Research mixture
Urea phosphate
CO(NH2)2 + H3PO4
17 44 0 0 0 0 -82 Research

Potassium Materials

Greensand 0 1 6 0 0 0   Natural low-grade, mineral
Potassium carbonate
K2CO3 solid
K
2CO3 liquid
0
0
0
0
48
34
0
0
0
0
0
0
+70
+50
 
Potassium chloride**
KCl(muriate of potash)
0 0 60 0 0 0 0 Most widely used, single fertilizer material
Potassium magnesium sulfate**
(sulfate of potash magnesia)
K
2SO4. 2MgSO4 or
MgSO
4. K2SO4. 6H2O
0 0 21 0 11 23 0  
Potassium metaphosphate
KPO3
0 59 39 0 0 0 ***  
Potassium nitrate (nitrate of potash)
KNO
3
13 0 44 0 0 0 +26  
Potassium sulfate (sulfate of potash)
K
2SO4
0 0 52 0 0 16 0  

Calcium Materials

Calcium chloride
CaCl2
0 0 0 36 0 0 0 Water soluble
Burned lime
CaO
0 0 0 70 0 0 +178  
Calcitic limestone** (ground)
CaCO
3
0 0 0 36 0 0 +95 to 100  
Dolomitic limestone** (ground)
CaCO
3 + MgCO3
0 0 0 24-30 6-12 0 +95 to 108  
Selma chalk 0 0 0 32 0 0 +80  
Gypsum**
CaSO4. 2H2O
0 0 0 22 0 18 0 Solubility = 0.02 lb./gal.
Hydrated lime
Ca(OH)2
0 0 0 50 0 0 +134 Solubility = 0.01 lb./gal.

Magnesium Materials

Dolomitic limestone** (ground)
CaCO
3 + MgCO3
0 0 0 24-30 6-12 0 +95 to 108 Analysis variable; must contain at least 6% Mg
Magnesium ammonium phosphate
MgNH4PO4. 6H2O
8 40 0 0 15 0   Solubility = 0.001 lb./gal.
Magnesium oxide
MgO
0 0 0 0 45 0 +250 Solubility = 0.00062g/100g
0.001 oz./gal.
Magnesium sulfate** (epsom salt)
MgSO
4. 7H2O
0 0 0 0 10 13 0 Solubility = 7.6 lb./gal.
Magnesium sulfate (Kieserite)
MgSO
4. H2O
0 0 0 0 17 23 0 Solubility = 4.7 lb./gal.
Potassium magnesium sulfate**
(sulfate of potash magnesia)
K
2SO4. 2MgSO4
0 0 21 0 11 23 0 Soluble

Sulfur Materials

Ammonium sulfate**
(NH4)2SO4
21 0 0 0 0 24 -110 Available in prilled or water-soluble crystals
Ammonium thiosulfate**
(60% solution)
(NH
4)S2O3
12 0 0 0 0 26   Liquid; reacts with alkaline materials
Elemental sulfur (S):
Wettable S
Flowable S
Flowers of S
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
90-100
52-70
90-100
-312
-218
-312
Elemental S must be oxidized to sulfate before available to plants
Gypsum **
CaSO
4. 2H2O
0 0 0 22 0 18 0  
Magnesium sulfate (epsom salt)
MgSO
4. 7H2O
0 0 0 0 10 13 0 Soluble
Potassium magnesium sulfate** 0 0 21 0 11 23 0  
Potassium sulfate
K2SO4
0 0 52 0 0 16 0 Soluble
Sulfuric acid
H2SO4
0 0 0 0 0 20-26 -62 to -81 Liquid; highly reactive
* Negative value indicates net acidifying effect on soil; positive value indicates net basic reaction in soil.
** Commonly available materials
*** Present in undetermined amounts
Symbol Key:
N = Nitrogen; P2O5 = Phosphate; K2O = Potash; Ca = Calcium; Mg = Magnesium; S = Sulfur; CaCO3 = Calcitic Limestone

Micronutrient Materials

Materials Nutrient Content

Copper (Cu)

Chelated Cu*:
Cu EDTA
Cu HEDTA
13% Cu
9% Cu
Cupric ammonium phosphate
Cu(NH4)PO4. H2O
30% Cu
Cupric Oxide (CuO) 60-80% Cu
Copper sulfate*:
CuSO4. H2O
CuSO4. 5H2O
CuSO4. 3Cu(OH)2
35% Cu
25% Cu
13-53% Cu
Copper frits 40-50% Cu
Copper polyflavonoid 6% Cu

Boron (B)

Borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate)
Na2B4O7. 10H2O
11% B
Boric acid (H3BO3) 17% B
Boron frit/sodium borosilicate 6% B 
Calcium borate (colemanite)
Ca2B6O115H2O
10% B
Fertilizer borate* (sodium tetraborate)
Borate Granular (Na2B4O7. 5H2O)
Borate 48
14% B
15% B
48 refers to
percentage B2O3
Solubor*
Na2B4O7
20% B
66% B2O3
Magnesium borate (boracite)
2Mg3B8O15. MgCl2
21% B

Iron (Fe)

Basic slag 10-13% Fe
Ferric sulfate Fe2(SO4)3. 4H2O 20% Fe
Ferrous sulfate* FeSO4. 7H2O 20% Fe
Ferrous ammonium sulfate
(NH4)2SO4. FeSO4. 6H2O
14% Fe
Ferrous ammonium phosphate
Fe(NH4)PO4. H2O
29% Fe
Ferrous oxalate FeC2O4. 2H2O 30% Fe
Ferrous carbonate
FeCO3. H2O
42% Fe
Iron chelates*:
Fe DTPA
Fe EDTA
Fe EDDHA
Fe HEDTA
10% Fe
9-12% Fe
6% Fe
5-9% Fe
Iron ligninsulfonate 5-11% Fe
Iron polyflavonoid 6-10% Fe
Iron Frits 40% Fe

Manganese (Mn)

Basic clag 1-3% Mn
Manganese frits 10-25% Mn
Manganese chloride
MnCl2
17% Mn
Manganese carbonate
MnCO3
31% Mn
Manganese oxide
MnO
68-70% Mn
Manganese sulfate*
MnSO4. 4H2O
24% Mn
Manganese chelate*
Mn EDTA
12% Mn
Manganese ammonium phosphate
Mn(NH4)PO4. H2O
28% Mn
Manganese polyflavonoid 8% Mn

Molybdenum (Mo)

Ammonium molybdate
(NH4)6Mo7O24. 2H2O
up to 54% Mo
Sodium molybdate*
Na2MoO4. 2H2O
38-46% Mo
Molybdenum frit 30% Mo
Superphosphate trace as impurity

Zinc (Zn)

Zinc chelate*
Na2Zn EDTA
9-14% Zn
Zinc ammonium phosphate
Zn(NH4)PO4. H2O
34% Zn
Zinc sulfate*
ZnSO4. H2O
22-36% Zn
Zinc sulfide ( sphalerite) 61% Zn
Zinc oxide
ZnO
78-80% Zn
Zinc ligninsulfonate 5-12% Zn
Zinc polyflavonoid 7-10% Zn
* Commonly used materials

Organic Fertilizer Materials (Approximate Values)

Material N P2O5 K2O Ca Mg S Micro-
nutrients
Acidic (-)
Neutral (0)
Alkaline (+)
Comments
Blood (dried) 12-15 3 1 * * * * -  
Blood meal 15 1 1 * * * * -  
Bone meal (steamed) 0-2 10-20 0 19-25 0 0   +  
Compost (garden) Variable depending upon components and amendments
Cottonseed meal 6-7 2.5 1.5 * * * * -  
Cottonseed hull ash 0   27 * *     +
Cotton motes
(composted gin wastes)
2 0.5 3 4 0.7 0.6 * - May contain weed seed
Fish scrap
(acidulated)
7-10 1-2 0 * * 2   - Traces of I and Hg
Fish scrap
(dried fish meal)
9 3   6 * * *    
Hay:
Legume
Grass
3.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
2.4
1.9
1.2
0.8
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.2
*
*
-
-
 
Manure: (dried)
Cattle
Horse
Poultry
Broiler litter
Hen-caged layers
Hen-litter
Sheep
Swine
1.5
0.4

3.0
1.5
1.8
0.6
0.6
1.5
0.2

3.0
1.3
2.8
0.3
0.4
1.2
0.3

2.0
0.5
1.4
0.2
0.1
1.1
*

1.8
6
*
*
*
0.3
*

0.4
0.4
*
*
*
*
*

0.3
0.3
*
*
*
*
*

*
*
*
*
*
-
-

+
+
+
-
-
Feedlot manure usually
contains 60-70% water

Average moisture = 20%
Average moisture = 70%
Average moisture = 37%
Peat/Muck 2.3 0.5 0.7   * *      
Sawdust (mixed soft + hard woods) 0.2 0 0.2         - High C:N ratio; needs N fert.
Seaweed (dried) 0.7 0.8 5.0 * * * * +,-  
Sewage, sludge
(dried, municipal)
5 6 0.5 3 1 1   + Depending on source, may contain heavy metals. Use only on nonfood-producing areas
Tankage 7 1.5 3-10 * * * * -,+  
Wood ashes 0 2 6 20 1   * + 70% CaCO3 equivalent
* Present in undetermined amounts.
Symbol Key:
N = Nitrogen; P2O5 = Phosphate; K2O = Potash; Ca = Calcium; Mg = Magnesium; S = Sulfur; CaCO3 = Calcitic Limestone