Dear Laura,

maybe following discussion and reference are useful:

https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_can_I_assess_the_new_formula_about_N_use_efficiency#:~:text=available%20or%20not.-,N%20use%20efficiency%3DN%20uptake%20by%20plant%2F%20(fertilizer%20N,Wang%20and%20Zhou%2C%202014).

https://www.fertilizer.org/images/Library_Downloads/2014_fue_chapter_1.pdf

BR

Nils

Improving the efficiency of nitrogen (N) uptake and utilization in plants could potentially increase crop yields while reducing N fertilization and, subsequently, environmental pollution. Within most plants, N is transported primarily as amino acids. Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient that plants require in large amounts for growth and development. In industrial countries, high N fertilization enables maximum crop yields, and in the last 50 years, the use of synthetic N fertilizers has increased dramatically to meet the agricultural demands of a growing population.

NUE (%) = (YF -YC/FN) )*100

Where, YF = Yield of fertilized plot, YC = Yield of control plot and FN = Fertilizer N applied (kg ha-1) *100

Apparent N Recovery (ANR) measure by the following formula:

ANR (kgha-1) =NUF - NUC/FN

Where, NUF = Total N uptake in fertilized plot, NUC = Total N uptake in control plot and FN = Fertilizer N applied (kg ha-1).

Thank you Nils Borchard for the paper. It is very useful.

Thank you Prem Baboo for the papers. Are very useful.

Thank you Neda Ravankhah

Hello Laura, in my view, the effectiveness and potency of fertilizers are affected by hygroscopicity. Particles tend to clump together and become soft and sticky when exposed to humidity, affecting the flowability and the spreading quality of the fertilizer materials. One way of evaluating the potency of the fertilizer is by observing the response of plants.

Thank you M.K. Tripathi

Thank you Luz G. Asio

I think the most important characteristics of a fertilizer are it's salt index and burning potential as well as it's effect on soil pH.

Thank you Dionisio Salbado Bucao

Agreed with Dr @M.K. Tripathi

Effectiveness is to occur positive changes.

Solubility

Availability

Little toxicity

Absorptivity

Little accumulation

Residual in soil

Elements type

Elements content in given fertilizer.

Potency of absorption by plants.

It is impact on yield. However, it should be 'organic'.

Thank you Ali F Almehemdi

Thank you Aman Arora

Thanks!

Availability and Solubility are the most important characteristics of a fertilizer...

Laura Bulgariu

I think these points are the most impotent...

• Free-flowing (easily applied)
• Consistent in particle size with smooth and hard granules.
• Easily spread – ensuring even distribution patterns.
• Quickly dissolve when in contact with moist soil or water (avoid run-off)
• Free from contaminants and additives.

Thank you Sandip Kumar Gupta

Thank you Shivam Kumar Rai

The most important feature of the fertilizer is that it contains the elements necessary for the plant, in a soft form, ready to be absorbed by the plant.Fertilizer can be evaluated through its clear consequences for plant growth and productivity

Thank you J.s. Alkobaisy

Firstly a fertilizer should have all the necessary nutrients required for crop growth. Secondly it should not be so violatile to prevent plant uptake. Evaluation of the fertilizer can be done by setting up trials or experiments and apply different rates. There after an assessment can be done on crop performance through checking growth traits like yield, number of 1000 or 100 seed sample, cob or pod size or weight, biomass, height etc and many other growth parameters of interest

Thank you Kafula Chisanga

Fertilizers are chemical substances supplied to the crops to increase their productivity. These are used by the farmers daily to increase the crop yield. The fertilizers contain the essential nutrients required by the plants, including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.

Best Overall Fertilizer: Miracle-Gro Water-Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. Miracle-Gro is a well-known and trusted brand among gardeners, and its All Purpose Plant Food is a versatile and wallet-friendly mineral fertilizer that you can use on vegetables, trees, houseplants, and more.

Fertilizer should be non-toxic so that will not harm the plants and the soil. Fertilizers will be considered as a good one if it is soluble in water. Fertilizer should posses tendency to become a liquid i.e. it should be deliquescent. https://www.toppr.com/ask/question/characteristics-of-good-fertilizer-isare/

Organic fertilizers usually contain plant nutrients in low concentrations. Many of these nutrients have to be converted into inorganic forms by soil bacteria and fungi before plants can use them, so they typically are more slowly released, especially during cold weather when soil microbes are not as active. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/heres-scoop-chemical-organic-fertilizers

Check https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306919218302331

Fertilizer assists in crop growth. It can be evaluated by keeping all other things constant and making fertilizer to vary and observing the yield.

Also, I think this paper can be of help

http://www.fao.org/3/aq355e/aq355e.pdf

Please find this paper I found again

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/9/1320/pdf

Thank you Sudhir Kumar Singh Yadav Phd

Thank you Chinaza Godswill Awuchi for the suggestions.

Thank you Kiprotich Kiptum for the papers.

Depend on many factors, the fates of these chemicals is one of them including plant availability and uptake.

The most important characteristics of fertilizer are: 1- It contains the elements or component to be prepared for the plant. 2- The elements contained in the fertilizer should be easy to obtain by the plant and be ready. 3- That it is not lost when adding it to the soil as much as possible As for the method of evaluation, its results can be observed on the plant, its growth and yield, in addition to laboratory tests.

Promotes plant root development.

It helps the multiplication and spread of soil microorganisms.

Helps to quickly loosen the straw in the field.

Helps retain water in light dust.

It helps plants absorb elements such as nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, iron and zinc.

It provides better movement of water and air through the soil.

The effectiveness of fertilizers is determined by their quality, properties, viability of plant species, the extent of their need for nutrients and the content of absorbable substances in the soil. And depending on the composition of the fertilizers, they are of two types:

Organic fertilizers: These include animal and plant fertilizers, compost, green fertilizers ... and others. They contain all the nutrients necessary for plants (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium ... and trace elements).

Major mineral fertilizers: It is the compound that contains 2-3 nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium), and the simple one that contains one of these nutrients.

The doses of fertilizers added to the unit area are usually expressed in tons / hectare for organic fertilizers, or kg / m2 for green surfaces and covers, or kg / for a single tree or palm, and for mineral fertilizers, it is expressed in kilograms / hectare, g / per tree, or per square meter.

Ses caractéristiques peuvent être déterminées en fonction des différents éléments qui interviennent dans sa conception et son temps de conservation.

son efficacité par contre peut faire intervenir la capacité des plantes à absorber certains de ses constituants qui favorisent leur croissance et production optimale et à court terme

Thank you Patrick S. Michael

Thank you J.s. Alkobaisy

Thank you Safa Abd Al Ameer Al-Zreejawi

Thank you Zoa Parfait Alexis

The most important characteristics of a fertilizer is to be adapted to the kind of crop you are growing and to the different stages of growth and maturation (ratio of N,P,K) and the physical and chemical nature of the soil (capacity of ions adsorption, pH, presence of humus). All these characteristics are tested in agronomic research stations, and field research as well.

Thank you Jean-Pierre Jost

Proper crop manipulation and biosafety.

Thank you Aditya Banerjee

Welcome Ma'am.

Thanks.

Fertilizers are the nutrient supliments to fulfill the crop demand. Sufficient nutrients must be contained in them. They should be quickly responded by the crops. Their effectiveness can be evaluated in terms of agronomic, physiological and recovery efficiencies.

Thank you Girijesh Kumar Sharma

OK. Thanks.

Dear Laura Bulgariu

Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to soil to improve plant’s growth and yield due to increase its fertility. Fertilizers are food supplements for plants and need 16 nutrients

to be healthy.

Fertilizers are typically composed of:

1- Macronutrients: This includes three main nutrients are Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. These material are considered as Primary Nutrients

2- Micronutrients contain trace elements that improve the growth of plants. Calcium, magnesium, and sulfur are also important materials in plant growth. They are only included in fertilizers in small amounts, and they consider as Secondary Nutrients. however, since most soils naturally contain enough of these components. Other micronutrients include iron, chlorine, copper, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, and boron, which primarily function as cofactors in enzymatic reactions.

Regards

Thank you Hani Khalil Ismail

Dear Laura, this is an interesting technical question of fundamental importance. For some basic information about the use and evaluation of fertilizers please have a look at the following useful links:

Quantitative measurement of fertilizer uptake by crops

(see attached pdf file)

and

http://www.nzdl.org/cgi-bin/library?e=d-00000-00---off-0hdl--00-0----0-10-0---0---0direct-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about---00-0-1-00-0-0-11----0-0-&a=d&c=hdl&cl=CL1.16&d=HASH412cd503b5262205ac14c6.11.pr

This is an entire book entitled "Soils, Crops and Fertilizer Use". One might argue that these references are somewhat outdated, but the basics about fertilizers are long known. In this context you might be interested in reading something about the "Father of fertilizers" Justus von Liebig:

Justus Liebig – father of fertilizer industry

https://www.worldofchemicals.com/263/chemistry-articles/justus-liebig-father-of-fertilizer-industry.html

With best wishes, Frank Edelmann

Thank you Frank T. Edelmann for the article.

Laura Bulgari mam,

Firstly farmer or scientists judge a fertilizer on basis of their nutrients Content

Second ..on basis of durability, handling and storage life

Third- Fertilizer do not have any adverse effects on crop when use their higher concentration ( specially in case of foliar spray)

Thank you Kuldeep Singh

I agree Nusrat Husain

excellent topic, and of great relevance

Thank you Esteban Rodríguez Torres

Certainly, NPK is the essential component of fertilizer. Besides these other micronutrients, moisture content is an important parameter.

Thank you Bashu Gautam

The most important characteristics of a Fertilizer is that it should support to enhance the harvest and most importantly it should not polute the ground water in the area. This has been the biggest problem with chemical based fertilizers.

I agree Kolita Weerasekera

Fertilizers are inorganic in nature. Any contamination with other deteriorate it's quality in terms of nutrient contents and physical appearance. Also their solubility in water and other solution that can be meant for evaluation of adulteration. Regards

Thank you Uma Nath Shukla

The important characteristic of fertilizer is its capability to make available particular nutrient/ nutrients to plants as per active ingredients available into it and effectivity of fertilizers could be observed by measuring plant growth and development attributes after application and could be compared with a patch with no application. Soil scientists draw conclusions from withdrawal of nutrients from soils measuring through testing.

Thank you Suresh K Malhotra

N, P and K are often the most common elements needed by plants in varying ratios depending on the crop, soil pH, etc. Acidic fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate were used commonly long ago. However, a neutral fertilizer such as urea can provide the needed nitrogen to the soil without altering the pH dramatically with long term use. One of the negative aspects of inorganic chemical fertilizers is the run off into streams and rivers causing pollution and negativity affecting wildlife. Slow release and organic fertilizers as well as proper water management and hydrology can help with these issues.

Thank you Srini Vasan

The most important advantage of any fertilizer (organic/inorganic) is its ability to increase crop production. Therefore, a fertilizer's effectiveness depends on its ability to increase productivity. However, it has a serious impact on the environment, particularly soil, water, and animal life.

Thank you Imranul Hoque

I think the effectiveness of fertilizers is determined by their quality, properties, viability of plant species, the extent of their need for nutrients and the content of absorbable substances in the soil Laura Bulgariu

Thank you Shivam Maurya

Yield boosting and soil fertility improvement are some of the important characteristics of a good fertilizer. It may be measured using post-harvest annual comparative yields. Thanks.

Dear Dr Laura Bulgariu . See the following useful link: https://www.toppr.com/ask/question/characteristics-of-good-fertilizer-isare/

Thank you Seyi Festus Olatoyinbo

Thank you Aref Wazwaz for the link.

You are most welcome dear Laura Bulgariu . Wish you the best always.

@ Prof. Laura Bulgariu Thanks for your appreciative comment. My best regards!!!

Fertilizer should be Eco friendly.

Thank you Tapas Chatterjee

Also check please the following very useful link:

https://www.sciencedirect.com ›

http://www.fertilizer.org ›

https://journals.plos.org ›

Fertilizers, which can be divided as mineral or organic, are compounds that play a vital role in developing plants, providing the soil with the nutrients they need to germinate produce leaves, seeds, and fruits.

Fertilizers can contain just one element or more than one. The main fertilizing elements are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. There are also micronutrients such as borax and zinc sulfate, among others added to fertilizers.

Fertility is a soil capacity that can be conducted under ideal conditions through man's intervention, through liming and fertilization. For this reason and because they significantly affect plant productivity, fertilizers are essential inputs in modern agriculture, mainly irrigated.

Thank you Rk Naresh

Thank you Jose Roberto Rasi

a good quality fertilizer should have the following:

• Free-flowing (easily applied)
• Consistent in particle size with smooth and hard granules.
• Easily spread – ensuring even distribution patterns.
• Quickly dissolve when in contact with moist soil or water (avoid run-off)
• Free from contaminants and additive.
• The most important characteristics of a fertilizer is to be adapted to the kind of crop you are growing and to the different stages of growth and maturation (ratio of N,P,K) and the physical and chemical nature of the soil (capacity of ions adsorption, pH, presence of humus).
• The effectiveness of fertilizers is determined by their quality, properties, viability of plant species, the extent of their need for nutrients and the content of absorbable substances in the soil.

Dr. Laura Bulgariu,

You're welcome. My best regards.

The most important characteristic of fertilizer is it helps the ground be more suitable for growing plants. Lab testing can evaluate its effectiveness. In-house testing with an electrical conductivity meter also helps.

Thank you M.N. Arun

Thank you Salma Haque

Interesting observations. Thanks.

Fertilization plays an important role in promoting the initial growth and improving the quality of rootstock. Phosphorus nutrition could significantly promote the occurrence of fibrous roots, while excessive phosphorus supply might disturb the absorption and utilization of nitrogen of roots, intensify the lignifcation process of the main stem, and then affect the growth of the aboveground part. However, optimum form, content and proportion of nutrient elements might play a crucial role in regulating soil state and improve plant growth and Chemical properties of soils are important in that, along with their physical and biological properties, they regulate the nutrient supplies to the plant. Without these nutrients supplied by the soil or applied as inorganic fertilizers, organically by manures, and other vegetative materials, plant growth would cease. Therefore, the effectiveness of fertilizers is determined by their quality, properties, viability of plant species, the extent of their need for nutrients and the content of absorbable substances in the soil. The fertilizer solution can be tested using two different methods: sending a sample off to a laboratory or in-house testing with an electrical conductivity (E.C.) meter. Laboratory testing determines the amount of each fertilizer element in the fertilizer solution and the application rate.

Kindly check also the following useful link:

https://www.fertilizer.org ›

https://www.extension.purdue.edu ›

https://www.intechopen.com ›

Thank you Rk Naresh

The fertilizer solution can be tested using two different methods: sending a sample off to a laboratory or in-house testing with an electrical conductivity (E.C.) meter. Laboratory testing determines the amount of each fertilizer element in the fertilizer solution and the application rate.

Thank you Chuck A Arize