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Nutrient Content of Fertilizer and Organic Materials

Table of Contents

Inorganic Nutrient Sources

Nutrients for Organic Materials

 

Prepared by
J. P. Zublena, J. V. Baird, and J. P. Lilly, Extension Soil Science Specialists

Published by
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

Publication AG-439-18
June 1991 (DED)

Last Web Update:
December 1997 (DBL)

Inorganic Nutrient Sources

Proper soil and crop management are required when using fertilizer materials to avoid contaminating surface water or groundwater. Plant nutrient requirements can be met by applying inorganic or organic fertilizers. Inorganic materials may be used separately or blended to form multinutrient fertilizers; some organic sources are also blended and sold under various commercial labels. The quantity of nutrients sold in commercially available inorganic and organic fertilizer materials are guaranteed by the manufacturers and are listed on each bag of fertilizer material sold in North Carolina.

This publication serves as a reference for most commercial grade fertilizer materials. Elemental quantities listed in Tables 1 and 2 are within the range available in the state. For exact nutrient content, refer to the label on the fertilizer material that you purchase. Organic materials that are not sold as "fertilizers" are not regulated by law in North Carolina. This means there is no guaranteed quantity of nutrients in most organic materials. A discussion of organic sources of nutrients precedes the organic fertilizer rnaterial reference in Tables 3 and 4.
Table 1. Nutrient Content and Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) Equivalence of Commercial Fertilizers
 

Material

Percentage by Weight

N P205 K20 Ca Mg S CaCO3
Equiv.*
(lb per
100 lb)
NITROGEN MATERIALS
Ammonium nitrate
   NH4NO3		 30 0 0 0 0 0 -59
Ammonium nitrate limestone
   NH4NO3 +(CaCO3+MgCO3)		 20 0 0 7 4 0.4 4
Ammonium nitrate sulfate
   NH4NO3+(NH4)2SO4		 26 0 0 0 0 15 -85
Ammonium sulfate
   (NH4)2SO4		 21 0 0 0.3 0 24 -110
Ammonium thiosulfate
   (NH4)2S2O3		 12 0 0 0 0 26 —
Anhydrous ammonia
   NH3		 82 0 0 0 0 0 -148
Aqua ammonia
   NH4OH		 16
to
25		 0 0 0 0 0 -36
to
-54
Calcium cyanamid
   CaCN2		 21 0 0 38 0.1 0.3 63
Calcium nitrate
   Ca(NO3)2.4H2O		 15 0 0 19 1.5 — 20
Calcium nitrate/urea
   Ca(NO3)2+4CO(NH2)2		 34 0 0 10 0 0 -36+
Crotonylidene diurea (CDU) 32 0 0 0 0 0 —
Diacyandiamide (DCD)
   C2H4N4		 65 — — — — — —
Isobutylidene diurea (IBDU) 31 0 0 0 0 0 —
Nitrogene solution
   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
Osmocote
   (available in various formulations)		 14 14 14 — — — —
Oxamide
   C2H4N2O2		 31 — — — — — —
Potassium nitrate
   KNO3		 13 0 44 0.6 0.4 0.2 26
Sodium nitrate
   NaNO3		 16 0 0.2 0.1 — — 29
Triazone
   C3H7N3O		 46 — — — — — —
UAN-Ammonium sulfate
   solutions (N = 25% to 28%)		 25
to
28		 0 0 0 0 2
to
3		 0
Urea
   CO(NH2)2		 46 0 0 0 0 0 -84
Urea (sulfur coated)
   CO(NH2)2+S		 36
to
38		 0 0 0 0 13
to
16		 -118
Ureaformaldehyde 38 0 0 0 0 0 -68
Urea sulfate
    CO(NH2)2.H2SO4		 17 — — — — 20 —
PHOSPHORUS MATERIALS
Ammoniated superphosphate 3
to
6		 18
to
20		 0 17 0 12 -7
Diammonium phosphate (DAP)
   (NH4)2HPO4		 18 46 0 0 0 0 -70
Monoammonium phosphate (MAP)
   NH4H2PO4		 11 48 0.2 1 0.3 2.2 -65
Ammonium phosphate nitrate
   NH4H2PO4.NH4NO3		 27 15 0 0 0 0 -62
Ammonium phosphate sulfate
   4NH4H2PO4+(NH4)2SO4		 13
to
16		 20
to
39		 0.2 0.3 0.1 15 -76
to
-113
Ammonium polyphosphate (APP)
   (NH4)3HP2O7		 10 34 0 0 0 0 —
Basic slag
   5CaO.P2O5.SiO2		 0 2
to
17		 0 3
to
33		 3 — 70
Concentrated superphosphate
   Ca(H2PO4)2.H2O		 0 42
to
50		 0.4 14 0.3 1.4 0
Ordinary superphosphate
   Ca(H2PO4)2.H2O+CaSO4		 0 18
to
20		 0.2 20 0.2 12 0
Nitric phosphate 14
to
22		 10
to
22		 0 8
to
10		 0.1 0.3 -15
to
-25
Phosphate rock 0 2
to
35		 0 — — 0 10
North Carolina rock 0 31 0 35 0 0 —
Wet-process phosphoric acid
   H3PO4		 0 30 0 0 0 0 -63
Concentrated wet-process acid 0 40
to
45		 0 0 0 0 -84
to
-113
Superphosphoric acid 0 72 0 0 0 0 -109
Urea ammonium phosphate (UAP)
   CO(NH2)2.NH4H2PO4		 25 35 0 0 0 0 —
POTASSIUM MATERIALS
Potassium carbonate
   K2CO3 solid
    K2CO3 liquid		 0
0		 0
0		 48
34		 0
0		 0
0		 0
0		 70
50
Potassium chloride
   (Muriate of potash) KCI		 0 0 60
to
62		 0.1 0.1 0 0
Potassium magnesium sulfate
   (sulfate of potash magnesia)
    K2SO4.2MgSO4/MgSO4.K2SO4.6H2O		 0 0 22 0 11 23 0
Potassium metaphosphate
   KPO3		 0 59 39 0 0 0 —
Potassium nitrate
   (nitrate of potash) KNO3		 13 0 44 0.6 0.4 0.2 26
Potassium sulfate
   K2SO4		 0 0 50 0.7 1 18 0
CALCIUM MATERIALS
Calcium chloride
   CaCl2		 0 0 0 36 0 0 0
Burned lime, calcium oxide
   CaO		 0 0 0 70 0 0 178
Calcitic limestone
   CaCO3		 0 0 0.3 32 3 0.1 90
to
100
Dolomitic limestone
   CaCO3+MgCO3		 0 0 0 21
to
30		 6
to
12		 0.3 95
to
108
Selma chalk 0 0 0 32 0 0 80
Gypsum
   CaSO4.2H2O		 0 0 0.5 22 0.4 17 0
Hydrated lime
   (Slaked lime) Ca(OH)2		 0 0 0 50 0 0 136
MAGNESIUM MATERIALS
Dolomitic limestone
   CaCO3+MgCO3		 0 0 0 21
to
30		 6
to
11		 0.3 95
to
108
Magnesium ammonium phosphate
   MgNH4PO4.6H2O		 8 40 0 0 15 0 —
Magnesium oxide
   (Magnesia) MgO		 0 0 0 0 45 0 250
Magnesium sulfate
   (Epsom Salt) MgSO4.7H2O		 0 0 0 2 10 14 0
Magnesium sulfate
   (Kieserite) MgSO4.H2O		 0 0 0 0 17 23 0
Potassium magnesium sulfate
   (sulfate of potash magnesia)
   K2SO4.2MgSO4		 0 0 22 0 11 23 0
SULFUR MATERIALS
Ammonium sulfate
   (NH4)2SO4		 21 0 0 0.3 0 24 -110
Ammonium thiosulfate (60% sol)
    (NH4)2S2O3		 12 0 0 0 0 26 —
Elemental sulfur (S): Wettable S 0 0 0 0 0 90
to
100		 -312
Elemental sulfur (S): Flowable S 0 0 0 0 0 52
to
70		 -218
Elemental sulfur (S): Flowers of S 0 0 0 0 0 90
to
100		 -312
Gypsum
   CaSO4.2H2O		 0 0 0.5 22 0.4 17 0
Magnesium sulfate
   (Epsom Salt) MgSO4.7H2O		 0 0 0 2 10 14 0
Potassium magnesium sulfate
   K2SO4.2MgSO4		 0 0 22 0 11 23 0
Potassium sulfate
   K2SO4		 0 0 50 0.7 1 18 0
Sulfuric acid
   H2SO4		 0 0 0 0 0 20
to
33		 -62
to
-102
Sulfates of Cu, Fe
   Mn and Zn		 (see micronutrient section)
*Approximate CaCO3 equivalent in pounds per 100 pounds of material. Negative value indicates a net acidifying effect on soil; positive value indicates a net basic reaction in soil.

**Do not blend with superphosphate.

 

 

Table 2. Nutrient Concentration of Micronutrients
Material Concentration
COPPER (Cu) MATERIALS

Percent Cu

Copper chelates
   Cu EDTA
   CU HEDTA		 13
9
Cupric ammonium phosphate
   Cu(NH4)PO4.H2O		 32
Copper sulfate
   CuSO4.H2O (monohydrate)
   CuSO4.5H2O (pentahydrate)
   CuSO4.3Cu(OH)2
   Ammonia base liquid CuSO4		 35
25
13 to 53
8
Copper frits 40 to 50
Copper polyflavonoid 6
Malachite
   CuCO3.Cu(OH)2		 57
Azurite
   2CuCO3.Cu(OH)2		 55
Cuprous Oxide
   Cu2O  		89
Cupric Oxide
   CuO		 75
Chalcopyrite
   CuFeS2		 35
Chalcosite
   Cu2S		 80
Cupric acetate
   Cu(C2H3O2)2.H2O		 32
BORON (B) MATERIALS Percent B
Borax
   (sodium tetraborate decahydrate)
   Na2B4O7.10H2O		 11
Boric acid
   (H3BO3)		 17
Boron frit/sodium borosilicate 17
Calcium borate
   (Colemanite) Ca2B6O11.5H2O		 10
Fertilizer borate (sodium tetraborate)
   Borate Granular (Na2B4O7.5H2O)
   Borate 48		 14.3
14.9
Magnesium borate (boracite)
   2Mg3B8O15.MgCl2		 21
Solubar
   Na2B8O13.4H2O		 20.5
IRON (Fe) MATERIALS Percent Fe
Basic slag 10 to 13
Ferric sulfate
   Fe2(SO4)3.9H2O		 20
Ferrous sulfate
   FeSO4.7H2O		 20
Ferrous ammonium sulfate
   (NH4)2SO4.FeSO4.6H2O		 14
Ferrous ammonium phosphate
   Fe(NH4)PO4.H2O		 29
Ferrous oxalate
   FeC2O4.2H2O		 30
Ferrous carbonate
   FeCO3.H2O		 42
Iron chelates
   Fe DTPA
   Fe EDTA
   Fe EDDHA
   Fe HEDTA		 10
9 to 12
6
5 to 9
Iron lignosulfonate 5 to 11
Iron polyflavonoid 6 to 10
Iron frits 40
Iron methoxyphenylpropane
   FeMPP		 5
Ferrous Oxide
   FeO		 77
Ferric Oxide
   Fe2O3		 69
Iron ammonium polyphosphate
   Fe(NH4)HP2O7		 22
MANGANESE (Mn) MATERIALS Percent Mn
Basic slag 1 to 3
Manganous oxide
   MnO		 41 to 68
Manganese methoxyphenylpropane
   MnMPP		 10 to 12
Manganese frits 10 to 25
Manganese chloride
   MnCl2		 17
Manganese carbonate
   MnCO3		 31
Manganese oxide
   MnO2		 62 to 70
Manganese sulfate
   MnSO4.3H2O		 24
Manganese chelate
   Mn EDTA		 12
Manganese ammonium phosphate
   Mn(NH4)PO4.6H2O		 28
Manganese polyfavonoid 8
MOLYBDENUM (Mo) MATERIALS Percent Mo
Ammonium molybdate
   (NH4)6Mo7O24.4H2O		 uo to 54
Sodium molybdate
   Na2MoO4.2H2O		 38 to 46
Molybdenum frit 30
Molybdenum trioxide
   MoO3		 60
Molybdenum sulfide
   MoS2		 60
ZINC (Zn) MATERIALS Percent Zn
Zinc carbonate
   ZnCO3		 52
Zinc frits (silicates) varies
Zinc phosphates
   Zn3(PO4)2		 51
Zinc chelate
   Na2Zn EDTA
   NaZn NTA
   NaZn HEDTA		 9 to 14
13
9
Zinc ammonium phosphate
   Zn(NH4)PO4H2O		 34
Zinc sulfate
   ZnSO4.H2O		 22 to 36
Zinc sulfide (sphalerite) 61
Zinc oxide
   ZnO		 78 to 80
Zinc lignosulfonate 5 to 12
Zing polyflavonoid 7 to 10

 

Common Conversions
P2O5 x 0.43 = P K20 x 0.83 = K
P x 2.29 = P2O5 K x 1.20 =  K20

 

Nutrients for Organic Materials

Nutrients listed for organic materials in the following tables are averages and may not accurately reflect the quantity in a specific source. Using these values can result in either overfertilization or underfertilization in many cases. To determine the quantity of nutrients in a specific organic source, send a sample to a qualified laboratory. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Agronomic Division, performs analyses for a reasonable fee. Contact the Plant and Waste Laboratory, P.O. Box 27647, Blue Ridge Road Center, Raleigh, NC 27611.

Remember that most of the nutrients reported are not readily available for plant growth. Nutrients in organic matter must be released by soil microorganisms through a decaying process called mineralization. This biological process is affected by variations in moisture, temperature, and the microbial species and populations present in the soil. Therefore, organic materials are far less predictable in nutrient content, nutrient release, and nutrient-use efficiency than commercial grade fertilizers. Because of this unpredictability, organic materials are frequently overapplied, which may lead to contamination of surface water or groundwater by excess nutrients such as nitrate. Organic materials can serve as effective and environmentally sound fertilizer materials only if their nutrient contents are known and their mineralization rates are estimated closely. The report received on samples sent to the NCDA Agronomic Division lists the nutrient contents and estimated rates of mineralization.

Table 3. Nutrient Content of Organic Materials
  Percentage by Weight
Material N P2O5 K2O Ca Mg S Cl
Apple pomace 0.2 — 0.2 — — — —
Blood (dried) 12 to 15 3.0 — 0.3 — — 0.6
Bone meal (raw) 3.5 22.0 — 22.0 0.6 0.2 0.2
Bone meal (steamed) 2.0 28.0 0.2 23.0 0.3 0.1 —
Brewers grains (wet) 0.9 0.5 — — — — —
Common crab waste 2.0 3.6 0.2 — — — —
Compost (garden) varies with components and amendments
Cotton waste from factory 1.3 0.4 0.4 — — — —
Cottonseed hull ash 0 — 27.0 — — — —
Cottonseed meal 6 to 7 2.5 1.5 0.4 0.9 0.2 —
Cotton motes 2.0 0.5 3.0 4.0 0.7 0.6 —
Cowpea forage 0.4 0.1 0.4        
Dog manure 2.0 10.0 0.3 — — — —
Eggs 2.2 0.4 0.2 — — — —
Egg shells (burned) — 0.4 0.3 — — — —
Egg shells 1.2 0.4 0.2 — — — —
Feathers 15.3 — — — — — —
Fermentation sludges 3.5 0.5 0.1 7.3 0.1 — —
Fish scrap (acidulated) 5.7 3.0 — 6.1 0.3 0.2 0.5
Fish scrap (dried) 9.5 6.0 — 6.1 0.3 0.2 1.5
Fly ash:
   coal
   wood		 0.3
0.1		 —
0.6		 0.1
10.0		 0.48
9.8		 —
0.66		 —
—		 —
—
Frittercake:
   enzyme production
   citric acid production  		—
—		 2.2
2.0		 0.5
0.3		 —
—		 —
5.2		 —
—		 —
—
Garbage tankage 2.5 1.5 1.0 3.2 0.3 0.4 1.3
Greensand — 1 to 2 5.0 — — — —
Grape skins (ash) — 3.6 31.0 — — — —
Hair 12 to 16 — — — — — —
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		 —
—
Leather (acidulated) — 7 to 8 — — — — —
Leather (ground) 10 to 12 — — — — — —
Leather scrap (ash) — 2 0.4 — — — —
Milk 0.5 0.3 0.2 — — — —
Oak leves 0.8 0.4 0.2 — — — —
Peanut hull meal 1.2 0.5 0.8 — — — —
Peanut meal 7.2 1.5 1.2 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.1
Peat/muck 2.7 — — 0.7 0.3 1.0 0.1
Pine needles 0.5 0.1 — — — — —
Poultry processing:
   DAF sludge		 8.0 1.8 0.3 — — — —
Potato tubers 0.4 0.2 0.5 — — — —
Potato, leaves & stalks — 0.6 0.2 0.4 — — —
Potato skins, raw ash — — 5.2 27.5 — — —
Sawdust 0.2 — 0.2 — — — —
Sea marsh hay 1.1 0.2 0.8 — — — —
Seaweed (dried) 0.7 0.8 5.0 — — — —
Sewage sludge (municipal) 2.6 3.7 0.2 1.3 0.2 — —
Shrimp heads 7.8 4.2 — — — — —
Shrimp waste 2.9 10 — — — — —
Siftings from oyster shell mound 0.4 10.4 0.1 — — — —
Soot from chimney flues — 0.5 to 11 — 1.0 0.4 — —
Soybean meal 7.0 1.2 1.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 —
Spanish moss 0.6 0.1 0.6 — — — —
Spent brewery yeast — 7.0 0.4 0.3 0.04 0.03 —
String bean strings & stems (ash) — 5.0 18.0 — — — —
Sweetpotato skins boiled (ash) — 3.29 13.9 — — — —
Sweetpotatoes 0.2 0.1 0.5 — — — —
Tankage 7.0 1.5 3 to 10 — — — —
Textile sludges 2.8 2.1 0.2 0.5 0.2 — —
Wood ashes 0.0 2.0 6.0 20.0 1.0 — —
Wood processing wastes — 0.4 0.2 0.1 1.1 0.2 —
Tobacco leaves 4.0 0.5 6.0 — — — —
Tobacco stalks 3.7 0.6 4.5 — — — —
Tobacco stems 2.5 0.9 7.0 — — — —
Tomatoes, fruit 0.2 0.1 0.4 — — — —
Tomato leaves 0.4 0.1 0.4 — — — —
Note: Approximate values are given. Have materials analyzed for nutrient content before using.

 

Table 4. Nutrient Content of Manures
 

Type

TKN P2O5 K2O Ca Mg S
lb/unit wet basis
DAIRY
Fresh (lb/ton) 10 5 8 4 2 1
Paved surface scraped (lb/ton) 10 6 9 5 2 2
Liquid manure (lb/1,000 lb)1 23 14 21 10 5 3
Lagoon liquid (lb/acre-inch)2 137 77 195 69 35 25
Anaerobic lagoon sludge (lb/acre-inch)2 15 22 8 12 4 4
BEEF
Fresh (lb/ton) 12 7 9 5 2 2
Paved surface scraped (lb/ton) 14 9 13 5 3 2
Unpaved feedlot (lb/ton) 26 16 20 14 6 5
Lagoon liquid (lb/acre-inch)2 83 77 129 24 19 —
Lagoon sludge (lb/1,000 lb)1 38 51 15 36 5 —
BROILER
Fresh (lb/ton) 26 17 11 10 4 2
House litter (lb/ton) 72 78 46 41 8 15
Stockpiled litter (lb/ton) 36 80 34 54 8 12
DUCK
Fresh (lb/ton) 28 23 17 — — —
House litter (lb/ton) 19 17 14 22 3 3
Stockpiled litter (lb/ton) 24 42 22 27 4 6
GOAT
Fresh (lb/ton) 22 12 18 — — —
HORSE
Fresh (lb/ton) 12 6 12 11 2 2
LAYERS
Fresh (lb/ton) 26 22 11 41 4 4
Undercage paved (lb/ton) 28 31 20 43 6 7
Deep pit (lb/ton) 38 56 30 86 6 9
Liquid (lb/1,000 lb)1 62 59 37 35 7 8
Lagoon liquid (lb/acre-inch)2 179 46 266 25 7 52
Lagoon sludge (lb/1,000 lb)1 26 92 13 71 7 12
RABBIT
Fresh (lb/ton) 24 23 13 19 4 2
SHEEP
Fresh (lb/ton) 21 10 20 14 4 3
Unpaved (lb/ton) 14 11 19 24 7 6
SWINE
Fresh (lb/ton) 12 9 9 8 2 2
Surface scraped (lb/ton) 13 12 9 12 2 2
Liquid manure (lb/1,000 lb)1 31 22 17 9 3 5
Lagoon liquid (lb/acre-inch)2 136 53 133 25 8 10
Lagoon sludge (lb/1,000 lb)1 22 49 7 16 4 8
TURKEY
Fresh (lb/ton) 27 25 12 27 2 —
House litter (lb/ton) 52 64 37 35 6 9
Stockpiled litter (lb/ton) 36 72 33 42 7 10
Notes:
Approximate nutrient contents are given. Have materials analyzed for nutrient content before using.
North Carolina mean waste analysis 1981 to 1990 supplied by J. C. Barker, NCSU Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
1Pounds per thousand pounds of manure liquid (slurry).
2Pounds per acre-inch. Estimated total lagoon liquid includes total liquid manure plus average annual lagoon surface rainfall surplus; does not account for seepage.