Q. I would like to know if chemical fertilisers such as urea, NPK, DAP etc are necessary for plants? Isn’t it sufficient to apply cow manure monthly? Will it not provide all the nutrients?

A. Chemical fertilisers can deliver quick results and boost yields, but they often degrade soil health over time.Organic fertilisers, like cow manure, release nutrients slowly, which often leads to a more gradual growth pace and sometimes smaller harvests. Many slow-growing ornamental plants do not require any fertilisers. The best fertiliser choice depends on many factors: your plant’s type and life stage, soil quality, container size, and even your local climate and budget.

A plant’s nutrient needs change significantly throughout its life cycle. When it is growing, the focus is more on foliage, before shifting to flowering and fruiting when it enters the maturity and fruiting phases. For a more specific answer, knowing the plant and its growth stage would be ideal. However, I can offer some general principles.

Nutrients in cow manure........

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