Organic vs chemical fertilisers: What you need to know

Best of both worlds: Application of organic fertilisers (black granules on the soil) and chemical fertilisers (supplied via drip irrigation) for a well-balanced nutrient diet for the plants. Photo: Tan Ngai Paing

Plants need nutrients to grow and flourish. In total, 17 essential nutrient elements are required for a plant’s life cycle.

Among them, elements such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) are required in larger quantities, whereas others such as boron (B), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu), are needed in smaller amounts.