1. Look at the formula
Water-soluble fertilizer is actually formula fertilizer. Different formulas are prepared according to different crops, different soils and different water qualities to maximize the nutritional needs of crops and improve Fertilizer utilization rate and waste reduction, therefore, formula is the key to distinguishing the quality of water-soluble fertilizer. Take a look at the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. For example, in the commonly used high-potassium formula, according to the nutritional needs of general crops during the fruit setting period, the ratio of nitrogen:phosphorus:potassium is best controlled at 2:1:4. The effect will be very different with different ratios. You can take a look at the market Products with good performance, such as Gypsophila’s Old Webmaster Water-soluble Fertilizer, Haifa’s Baolifeng Water-soluble Fertilizer, etc., all follow this ratio. Then look at whether the trace elements are complete and the ratio is reasonable. A good water-soluble fertilizer must contain all 6 trace elements, and there must be a scientific ratio, because there is a problem of antagonism and synergy between various nutrients. It is not just a high content of one or a few elements, but a high content. It’s best if the ratio is scientific and reasonable. There are many water-soluble fertilizers on the Chinese market that contain relatively high amounts of trace elements such as boron and iron. In fact, the effect is not necessarily good, and the absorption and utilization rate is not necessarily high.
2. Look at the content
Good water-soluble fertilizers use industrial-grade or even food-grade raw materials. For example, Israeli Ramla special fertilizer is very pure and does not add any Fillers, so the content is relatively high, 100% are nutrients that can be absorbed and utilized by crops, and the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content can generally reach 60% or even higher. Other poor water-soluble fertilizers generally have low content. Every time one content is missing, the cost will be different, and the price of the fertilizer will be different. At the same time, low-content water-soluble fertilizers have relatively low requirements on raw materials and production technology, and generally use agricultural grade fertilizers. Raw materials contain a lot of impurities and fillers. These impurities and fillers not only have no benefit to the soil and crops, but also cause damage to the environment.
3. Look at water solubility
Plants have no teeth and cannot eat fertilizers, but can only drink fertilizers. Therefore, only fertilizers that are completely dissolved in water can be absorbed and utilized by crops. To identify the water solubility of water-soluble fertilizer, you only need to dissolve the fertilizer into clear water and see if the solution is clear and transparent. If it is the same as clear water except for the color of the fertilizer, the water solubility is very good; if the solution is turbid or even precipitated, the water solubility is very poor. , cannot be used in drip irrigation systems, and there will be more waste of fertilizers.
4. Smell
Crops, like people, like to eat good-tasting things, and they also do not like fertilizer crops with pungent or other peculiar smells. Therefore, the quality of water-soluble fertilizer can be identified by smelling it. Good water-soluble fertilizers are made from high-purity raw materials and have no taste or a very light fragrance. Fertilizers with peculiar smell are either added with hormones or contain too many harmful substances. This kind of fertilizer is effective very quickly, but it does not do any good for the crop's disease resistance and sustained yield and quality.
5. Comparison
After preliminary screening of water-soluble fertilizers through the above simple methods, then make field comparisons to determine which water-soluble fertilizer to use based on actual application effects. Good fertilizers will not be effective too quickly because nutrients have to be absorbed and transformed. After using a good water-soluble fertilizer two or three times, you will see obvious differences in plant growth, crop quality, crop yield and disease resistance. The more times you use it, the greater the difference.