Fertilizer contains nutrients that plants need to flourish, usually nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Adding fertilizer to a garden or field is a good idea when the soil is not naturally abundant in these needed nutrients. Long-term farming or gardening in one spot can rob the soil of chemicals, which will make the land less survivable for plants over time. Certain types of plants require some nutrients more than others, so it is a good idea to keep this in mind if you want to grow specific crops.
Key Takeaways:
- These basic elements are usually in the form of chemical compounds that can be converted by the plant to access the needed elements.
- Soil is very much a living, breathing, organic system of nutrients and matter, which plants draw from to build themselves.
- Replacing and fortifying nutrient levels is key to maintaining healthy soils.
“Soil is very much a living, breathing, organic system of nutrients and matter, which plants draw from to build themselves.”