NPK
/EN-PEE-KAY/🪨 Soil Types● Basic
Also known as: nitrogen phosphorus potassium, fertilizer ratio, fertiliser ratio
The standard abbreviation for the three essential macronutrients required by plants: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). Fertiliser labels display the NPK ratio as three numbers (e.g., 10-10-10) representing the percentage by weight of each nutrient. Nitrogen promotes leafy growth, phosphorus supports root development and flowering, and potassium strengthens overall plant health and disease resistance. Soil testing reveals which nutrients are deficient.
Etymology
Chemical symbols: N (nitrogenium), P (phosphorus), K (kalium)
Example
“A fertiliser labelled 10-10-10 contains 10% each of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium by weight.”