fertilizer Hear it!

fertilizer Definition

fer·til·izer (-ī′zər)

noun

a person or thing that fertilizes; specif., any material, as manure, chemicals, etc., put on or in the soil to improve the quality or quantity of plant growth

fertilizer Synonyms

fertilizer

n.

manure, top dressing, organic fertilizer, commercial fertilizer, chemical fertilizer, plant food, compost, humus, mulch, soil amendment.

Common fertilizers include: manure, guano, sphagnum, peat moss, phosphorus, phosphate, superphosphate, dung, litter, crushed limestone, bone dust, kelp, seaweed, bone meal, nitrogen, nitric nitrogen, ammonic nitrogen, ammonium sulfate, legumes, potash.

fertilizer Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • apply: Take care to apply the fertilizer evenly to ensure best results.
  • add: The easiest way to do this is by adding liquid fertilizer to the water.
  • buy: The government of Malawi has introduced a system of coupons, enabling farmers to buy fertilizer at subsidized prices.

Adjective modifier

  • nitrogenous: The introduction of improved pasture which relies on nitrogenous fertilizer with the elimination of white clover is one major loss of a nectar source.
  • inorganic: Do not use inorganic fertilizers exclusively for years on end.
  • soluble: Liquid or soluble fertilizers are most easy to apply.
  • granular: Use a top dressing of granular fertilizer in Spring, followed by a liquid feed once week during the main growing season.
  • artificial: Nitrogen fixation genes can also be added, thus reducing need for artificial fertilizers.
  • synthetic: The four-year rotation used 73 percent less synthetic nitrogen fertilizer than the two-year rotation.

Modifies a noun

  • mill: These, however, were all slight matters to a man who had escaped from Durham's fertilizer mill.
  • placement: Discussion This introduction was followed by an initial discussion on fertilizer placement.
  • factory: Seed being distributed, fertilizer factories working overtime; transport companies running at capacity.
  • recommendation: You receive a detailed interpretation of the results as well as fertilizer recommendations for either fruit, vegetables, ornamentals or lawns.
  • input: They have a low fertilizer input from the farmer who manages them.

Noun used with modifier

  • slow-release: Incorporate slow-release fertilizer to reduce the need for extra feeding later.
  • nitrogen: Without nitrogen fertilizers you or your children could starve.
  • nitrate: In 1909 Fritz Haber found a way of extracting nitrogen, the source of nitrate fertilizers.
  • phosphate: The starter effect of phosphate fertilizer applied to potted vegetable plants.
  • chemical: Organic crops, not using chemical fertilizers, also need a lot of land to grow.
  • mineral: Fourth, no mineral fertilizers are used, only liberal application of organic compost.

Browse dictionary entries near fertilizer

  1. fertilize
  2. fertilization
  3. fertility
  4. fertile octogenarian rule
  5. fertile material
  6. Fertile Crescent
  7. fertile
  8. ferryman
  9. ferryboat
  10. ferry
  1. ferula
  2. ferule
  3. fervency
  4. fervent
  5. fervid
  6. fervor
  7. Fescennine
  8. fescue
  9. fess
  10. fess up