Best Green Houses

Greenhouses are used to provide crops with a favorable environment that would trigger their

healthy growth. While the provision of optimal temperature, humidity level and water supply are

primary concerns in a greenhouse, the supply of nutrients is also an important aspect that must

be catered for in a greenhouse.

What are fertilizers?

Plants are able to manufacture their own food by a process called photosynthesis. By this

process, plants combine carbon dioxide from air, and water and nutrients from the soil, like

nitrates, phosphates and sulfates, to make food substances. Sunlight is used as the source of

energy to power this process. While the simplest food product is in the form of carbohydrates,

which only formed from carbon dioxide and water, higher organic compounds like proteins and

minerals that are essential parts of growth need nutrients from soil. Fertilizers act as a source

for these nutrients. Fertilizers also add porosity to the soil, which is important in the sense that it

increases the soil's capacity to hold water and air without drowning the plant. In open nature,

plants receive a constant supply of nutrients in the form of decaying organic matter and animal

waste in the form of manure. However, since a greenhouse is secluded from the open

environment, the supply of nutrients is essential. Fertilizers are essentially substances that act

as sources of essential nutrients like nitrogen, iron, phosphorous, sulfur and other elements.

Nitrogen is the most important of these since it is used to make proteins. Proteins are one of the

main food groups along with fats and carbohydrates. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which only

contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, proteins contain nitrogen in addition to these three

elements. Proteins are regarded as building blocks of life. In order to supply this essential

element, fertilizers are rich in nitrogen.

Types of fertilizer

Fertilizers could be in solid form or liquid. The type of fertilizer needed for your crops depends

on the type of plants you have planted. This is due to the fact that each plant has its own needs

for different substances that are essential for its growth. The Specific nutrients contained in a

fertilizer also determine its category.

Nutrient contents

Since different elements are needed for healthy growth of plants, fertilizers are rich in them.

These elements include:

1. Nitrogen

Nitrogen is the most important of these since it is used to make proteins. Proteins are one of the

main food groups along with fats and carbohydrates. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which only

contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, proteins contain nitrogen in addition to these three

elements. Proteins are regarded as building blocks of life. In order to supply this essential

element, fertilizers are rich in nitrogen, which is usually around 50%. This essentially takes the

form of nitrate compounds.

2. Potassium

The most common source of this essential element in fertilizers is potassium nitrate. Potassium

is needed by the plant for proper utilization of water.

3. Phosphorus

This element is a must for plant growth. While it is usually supplied in large amounts, over

dosage could hamper the solubility of other nutrients needed by plants. Phosphorus is usually

added in the form of super phosphate or phosphoric acid.

In addition to the aforementioned, other nutrients like iron, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, copper,

calcium, potassium, chloride etc are also required. These could be supplied either through the

growth medium, or by supplemental application.

The amount of the nutrients being supplied must be carefully monitored. Only by proper

application can optimum plant growth be reached which would ultimately lead to a good harvest