04-24-2026, 12:23 AM
Plants need 17 essential nutrients to grow well. These are grouped into macronutrients, secondary nutrients, and micronutrients.
Macronutrients (also come from air and water): Carbon ©, Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K).
Secondary nutrients: Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S).
Micronutrients: Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), Chlorine (Cl), Nickel (Ni).
Most normal fertilizers (NPK) only give nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This is not enough for full plant growth.
Plants also need other nutrients to stay healthy and avoid problems like poor growth, weak stems, and low fruit production.
You can get these extra nutrients from compost, manure, micronutrient sprays, or complete fertilizers.
Manure will take care of many macro and secondary nutrients, supplying elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur in a more balanced and natural form.
It also improves soil structure, enhances water retention, and supports beneficial microbial activity, all of which contribute to healthier plant growth.
But manure alone may not give enough micronutrients, so extra feeding may still be needed depending on your soil and plants.
Conclusion
In addition to NPK, use enough manure and spray foliar fertilizer (the ones with micronutrients) weekly. If you can, include potassium sulphate and calcium nitrate in the foliar fertilizer. Do this if you want bumper harvest.
Macronutrients (also come from air and water): Carbon ©, Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K).
Secondary nutrients: Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S).
Micronutrients: Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), Chlorine (Cl), Nickel (Ni).
Most normal fertilizers (NPK) only give nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This is not enough for full plant growth.
Plants also need other nutrients to stay healthy and avoid problems like poor growth, weak stems, and low fruit production.
You can get these extra nutrients from compost, manure, micronutrient sprays, or complete fertilizers.
Manure will take care of many macro and secondary nutrients, supplying elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur in a more balanced and natural form.
It also improves soil structure, enhances water retention, and supports beneficial microbial activity, all of which contribute to healthier plant growth.
But manure alone may not give enough micronutrients, so extra feeding may still be needed depending on your soil and plants.
Conclusion
In addition to NPK, use enough manure and spray foliar fertilizer (the ones with micronutrients) weekly. If you can, include potassium sulphate and calcium nitrate in the foliar fertilizer. Do this if you want bumper harvest.