Every living creature needs nourishment for intensive growth. And plants are no exception. In order for trees, bushes, cereals and other representatives of the flora to develop well, they need to provide access to water, sunlight and nutrients. The latter come to plants mainly from the soil, and with a lack of at least one significant element, it will not be possible to get a good crop.
Benefits of Nutrient Mixtures
The natural accumulation of nutrients in the soil at the scale of today's agriculture is insufficient, so fertilizers are used all over the world. They, along with the development of breeders and geneticists who create new varieties of healthy crops, have become a key aspect in meeting global consumer demand for food. In the modern world, food has become an important strategic resource, and with the growth of the world's population, its importance will only grow. Modern fertilizers are most often in the form of dry mixtures in the form of granules. And for some people the question arises: “Why do granular fertilizers be granulated ? “After all, this process leads to an increase in prime cost, which means that it is reflected in the final price of the product. So, we will figure out for what purpose granular fertilizers are granulated and how this happens.
Granulation technology
It is worth explaining that not only fertilizers are granulated, but also many other substances and products, such as coffee, drugs, animal feed, chemicals and much more. Despite the fact that all of the above has a different origin and purpose, the granulation technology for them is the same: dried and crushed raw materials, which in appearance should resemble flour, are fed using a conveyor belt to the granulator. It mixes the substance with a small amount of water or steam, then the moistened “flour” is fed into the press, where the formation of granules takes place. At this stage, the formed particles are very fragile, so they are sent for cooling and purging. After this, the particles acquire good hardness and are ready for packaging and sale.
So why granulate mineral fertilizers? This process is not cheap and requires the use of special equipment, not to mention the cost of electricity and labor. And isn’t it easier to sell nutrient mixtures in the form of a dry powder?
What is the purpose of granulating mineral fertilizers
There are actually several reasons for this additional processing. Firstly, granules are stored much better than regular powder. Anyone who has encountered the fact that the bulk product is caked, soaked and covered with a crust will never ask for what purpose granular fertilizers are used, since the answer is quite obvious. Secondly, granules are more loose, which means that fertilizer is easier to apply to the soil and dose. Thus, it is much easier to mechanize the process of applying nutrients using seeders or cultivators.
Thirdly, such particles are heavier than the powder, and therefore, are not carried by the wind, which ensures convenience during work. And finally, oddly enough, in this way the fertilizer is given a presentation. Even if you do not take into account all the advantages, granular products always look more attractive and expensive, which means they are preferred.
The prolonged action of granular fertilizers
The greatest benefit of fertilizer granulation is the emergence of a prolonged effect. Simply put, the granules have a slow release and an extended action time. Fertilizer particles do not immediately dissolve and soak into the soil like powder, but slowly melt. Thus, plants receive not a concentrated dose of nutrients (which can harm), but several small portions over a fairly long time. In addition, the increased duration of action reduces the number of fertilizers, which greatly facilitates the work of agricultural workers and amateur gardeners. So, we found out for what purpose granular fertilizers are granulated. It remains to add only that not only mineral complexes, but also natural organics are subjected to such processing.