Definition
Fertilizer is food for plants. Just like people need different kinds of nutrients to live a healthy life, plants also need different kinds of nutrients. For plants, nutrients are typically pulled from the ground and the soil that their roots grow in. This is why fertilizer is so important.
Fertilizer is any compound that contains many of the nutrients that a plant needs, and fertilizer aids plants in their growth processes. Fertilizer can come in many forms, including liquid, powder, and granular fertilizer. According to Utah State University, “Most fertilizers that are commonly used in agriculture contain the three basic plant nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Some fertilizers also contain certain ‘micronutrients,’ such as zinc and other metals, that are necessary for plant growth. Fertilizers are applied to replace the essential nutrients for plant growth to the soil after they have been depleted.”
CASFER hopes to develop a fertilizer that enables the nitrogen circular economy, pulling nitrogen from waste streams and reutilizing it in vital fertilizer for crops. CASFER is developing a fertilizer that will help plants thrive and will help preserve our beautiful planet.