Fertilizer Technology
- Agricultural Sciences
- 500 level
- 2 credit units
- 78 pages
- 14 units
This course provides an introduction to fertilizer technology, covering terminologies, importance, history, sources, calculations, application, manufacture, and quality assessment. It explores macro- and micronutrient fertilizers, their roles in agriculture, and methods of production. The course also examines chemical and physical methods for assessing fertilizer quality, providing a comprehensive understanding of fertilizer technology and its impact on crop production and soil fertility management.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 120 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical
- Practical work
- No
- Basic knowledge of chemistry
- Basic understanding of plant biology
- Familiarity with agricultural practices
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assignments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of SLM512, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
SLM512 · UNIT 1: FERTILIZER TERMINOLOGIES
This examination concludes the assessment for the course. It constitutes 70% of the whole course. You will be informed of the time for the examination.
What you should be able to do
- Define basic fertilizer terminologies.
- Explain the importance of fertilizers in agriculture.
- Calculate fertilizer rates for application to crops.
- Describe how fertilizers are manufactured.
- Ascertain the quality of fertilizers using chemical and physical methods.
- Explain the role of fertilizers in integrated soil fertility management.
What it prepares you for
- Agronomist
- Soil Scientist
- Fertilizer Sales Representative
- Agricultural Consultant
- Farm Manager
- Agriculture
- Fertilizer Production
- Environmental Management
- Soil Conservation
- Horticulture
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3:
Unit 1: Fertilizer calculations content
Complex calculations involving multiple nutrients and fertilizer types require strong quantitative skills and careful attention to detail.
- Module 3:
Unit 4: Phosphorus fertilizer production and use content
Understanding the chemical reactions and processes involved in phosphate rock beneficiation requires knowledge of chemistry and mineralogy.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 74 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1:
Unit 1: Fertilizer Terminologies · 3 hours
Define fertilizer terminologies.. Explain the meaning of fertilizer-related terms.. Differentiate between organic and mineral fertilizers..
Unit 2: Importance of Inorganic Fertilizers in Agriculture · 3 hours
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of inorganic fertilizers.. Explain the importance of N, P, and K for crop growth.. Describe the environmental impacts of fertilizer use..
- Week 2Module 1:
Unit 3: Importance of Organic Fertilizers in Agriculture · 3 hours
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of organic fertilizers.. Explain the role of organic matter in improving soil structure.. Compare organic and inorganic fertilizer impacts..
Unit 4: Role of Fertilizers in Integrated Soil Fertility Management · 3 hours
Define Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM).. Explain the role of organic and inorganic fertilizers in ISFM.. Describe the benefits of ISFM for sustainable agriculture..
- Week 3Module 2:
Unit 1: History of fertilizer consumption · 4 hours
Describe the early history of fertilizer consumption.. Discuss the contributions of key scientists to fertilizer development.. Explain the importance of silt deposits in maintaining soil productivity..
- Week 4Module 2:
Unit 2: Compositions of Nitrogen fertilizer sources · 3 hours
Describe the composition of urea fertilizer.. Explain the process of urea hydrolysis in the soil.. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using urea..
Unit 2: Compositions of Nitrogen fertilizer sources · 3 hours
Describe the composition of ammonium sulfate fertilizer.. Explain the benefits of sulfur content in ammonium sulfate.. Compare ammonium sulfate with urea fertilizer..
- Week 5Module 2:
Unit 2: Compositions of Nitrogen fertilizer sources · 3 hours
Describe the composition of calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) fertilizer.. Explain the advantages of CAN in semi-arid regions.. Discuss the storage and handling requirements of CAN..
Unit 3: Composition of phosphorus fertilizer sources · 3 hours
Describe the composition of single superphosphate (SSP) fertilizer.. Explain the manufacturing process of SSP.. Discuss the plant-available form of phosphorus in SSP..
- Week 6Module 2:
Unit 3: Composition of phosphorus fertilizer sources · 3 hours
Describe the composition of concentrated superphosphate fertilizer.. Explain the manufacturing process of concentrated superphosphate.. Compare concentrated superphosphate with SSP..
Unit 3: Composition of phosphorus fertilizer sources · 3 hours
Describe the composition of triple superphosphate fertilizer.. Explain the advantages of triple superphosphate over SSP.. Discuss the plant-available form of phosphorus in triple superphosphate..
- Week 7Module 2:
Unit 4: Composition of potassium fertilizers sources · 4 hours
Describe the composition of muriate of potash (MOP) fertilizer.. Explain the mining and processing of MOP.. Discuss the application of MOP to the soil..
- Week 8Module 2:
Unit 4: Composition of potassium fertilizers sources · 3 hours
Describe the composition of sulfate of potash fertilizer.. Explain the advantages of sulfate of potash over MOP.. Discuss the use of sulfate of potash in tobacco production..
Unit 5: Composition of micronutrient fertilizer sources · 3 hours
Describe the requirements and nature of micronutrient fertilizer sources.. Explain the importance of micronutrients in plant growth.. Discuss the narrow margin between deficiency and toxicity of micronutrients..
- Week 9Module 2:
Unit 5: Composition of micronutrient fertilizer sources · 3 hours
Discuss the causes of micronutrient deficiencies in plants.. Describe the forms of micronutrient fertilizer sources.. Explain the use of spray or seed treatments with micronutrients..
Unit 5: Composition of micronutrient fertilizer sources · 3 hours
Define chelates and explain their role in supplying micronutrients to plants.. Discuss the application of chelates to the soil or as foliar sprays.. Explain how plants absorb chelates..
- Week 10Module 3:
Unit 1: Fertilizer calculations content · 3 hours
Calculate fertilizer rates for single fertilizers.. Apply the formula A = (R x 100) / C to calculate fertilizer material required.. Convert fertilizer amounts to bags..
Unit 1: Fertilizer calculations content · 3 hours
Calculate fertilizer rates for multinutrient fertilizers.. Determine how much of each nutrient is supplied by a compound fertilizer.. Supplement with straight fertilizers to meet recommended rates..
- Week 11Module 3:
Unit 2 Factors effecting fertilizer use · 3 hours
Describe the crop factors affecting fertilizer use.. Explain how different crops require different amounts of nutrients.. Discuss the impact of new crop varieties on fertilizer requirements..
Unit 2 Factors effecting fertilizer use · 3 hours
Describe the soil factors affecting fertilizer use.. Explain how soil depth, texture, and structure influence fertilizer response.. Discuss the role of cation exchange capacity (CEC) in retaining fertilizers..
- Week 12Module 3:
Unit 2 Factors effecting fertilizer use · 3 hours
Describe the climatic factors affecting fertilizer use.. Explain how rainfall influences nutrient leaching.. Discuss the profitability of fertilizer application in humid and low rainfall regions..
Unit 3: Methods of fertilizer application content · 3 hours
Describe the methods of fertilizer application.. Explain the objectives of broadcasting and placement.. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method..
- Week 13Module 3:
Unit 4: Phosphorus fertilizer production and use content · 3 hours
Explain the process of phosphate rock mining.. Describe the steps involved in beneficiation.. Discuss the production of granular P fertilizers..
Unit 5: Potassium fertilizer production and use content · 3 hours
Describe the mining and beneficiation of potassium fertilizers.. Explain the production of potassium chloride (KCl) and potassium sulfate (K2SO4).. Discuss the use of potassium fertilizers in agriculture..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all unit summaries and key terms.
- Practice fertilizer calculation problems from Unit 1 of Module 3.
- Create concept maps linking different fertilizer types to their nutrient compositions (Modules 2).
- Focus on understanding the advantages and disadvantages of different fertilizer application methods (Unit 3, Module 3).
- Study the manufacturing processes of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers (Units 4 and 5, Module 3).
- Understand the chemical and physical properties of fertilizers and how they affect application (Unit 6, Module 3).
Questions students ask about this course
What is SLM512 about?
This course provides an introduction to fertilizer technology, covering terminologies, importance, history, sources, calculations, application, manufacture, and quality assessment. It explores macro- and micronutrient fertilizers, their roles in agriculture, and methods of production. The course also examines chemical and physical methods for assessing fertilizer quality, providing a comprehensive understanding of fertilizer technology and its impact on crop production and soil fertility management.
How many units does SLM512 have?
SLM512, Fertilizer Technology, has 14 units across 3 modules, over 78 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is SLM512?
SLM512 carries 2 credit units, at 500 level in Agricultural Sciences.
Is SLM512 hard?
SLM512 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical work.
How long does SLM512 take to study?
About 120 hours of study, spread across its 14 units.
How is SLM512 assessed?
SLM512 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assignments and final examination.
What do I need before starting SLM512?
Basic knowledge of chemistry Basic understanding of plant biology Familiarity with agricultural practices
What can I do with SLM512?
Agronomist, Soil Scientist, Fertilizer Sales Representative, Agricultural Consultant and Farm Manager.