N.P.K.

Home More Questions Web Resources for this page Book Resources for this page Growmore Commercially Available Products

What is N.P.K.?

N.P.K. are the chemical symbols for Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium and are the main chemicals needed by most plants. In practice these chemical elements are taken up by the plant as compounds containing the elements. Commercial fertilisers are sold with the percentage of each shown. Growmore for example, is classed as a balanced fertiliser and the NPK is given as  7:7:7 meaning it contains 7% of each element..
More specific mixtures are available for different plants. Chempak produce a set of plant specific needs.

Nitrogen

This the 7th element to be found in the periodic table. It has the chemical symbol N and is normally in the form of a clear odourless gas. Nitrogen makes up 78% of the Earths atmosphere.

In relation to plants this is the element that encourages leafy growth.

Phosphorus

This the 15th element to be found in the periodic table, with the chemical symbol P. It is a non metallic element. Not present in a natural form. Although can be extracted and stored in oil.

Plants require Phosphorus to produce a healthy root system

Potassium

This is the 19th element in the periodic table with the chemical symbol K.  The Latin name is Kalium and is a silvery white metal although oxidises easily. See more on Potassium

Potash is responsible for making plants hardy and for setting fruit.

Growmore

Growmore contains a ratio of 7-7-7 see more.

Web Resources

Google definition of a NPK.

Book Resources

The chemical elements are part of the information that can be remembered by using the techniques learnt in Master Your Memory by Tony Buzan ISBN0563487003