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Abstract

In this chapter we review the classification and main features of fertilizers. Among nitrogen fertilizers, nitric and ammonium are the most appropriate for topdressing and basal applications, respectively, while urea may be applied in both modes. Phosphorus fertilizers are distinguished mainly by their solubility which determines the application form. Potassium fertilizers are highly soluble. Deficiencies of micronutrients are often due to their conversion to insoluble forms in calcareous soils or the inability of plants to mobilize and transport them; their deficiency is usually solved with forms bound to organic compounds (complexes or chelates).

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Correspondence to Antonio Delgado .

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Delgado, A., Quemada, M., Villalobos, F.J. (2016). Fertilizers. In: Villalobos, F., Fereres, E. (eds) Principles of Agronomy for Sustainable Agriculture. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46116-8_23

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