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  • Fertilizers for horticulture

    The essentials for optimal crop growth


    Did you know that fertilizers are essential for your crop? Not only are fertilizers essential for growth, but they also contribute to fast absorption and improved metabolism. The addition of chelates and biostimulants provides essential nutrition elements and contributes to healthy soil and strong and resilient crops.

    Advantages at a glance

    Full of nutrients
    Fast absorption
    Improved metabolism
    Beneficial for large productions

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Why do plants need fertilizers?

Fertilizing the crop is important to make your crop resistant to diseases and viruses. Plants get most of their nutrition from the soil. So, when the nutrients in the soil run out, the crop weakens. When this happens, your crop becomes more susceptible to diseases, fungi and pests. By feeding, plants actually become stronger and healthier. You can feed the plant by enriching the soil with fertilizers, which includes all the necessary nutrients. The most important nutrients are: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Sulphur, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Carbon, Magnesium.


Four types of fertilizers



  • Organic fertilizers are composed of natural raw materials (of plant or animal origin). Read about the benefits of organic fertilizers.




  • Organic mineral fertilizers are combined fertilizers: part organic and part fertilizer.




  • Artificial fertilizers are made artificially. They are salts that dissolve immediately when in contact with water.



  • Coated fertilizers are provided with a coating, which slows down the release (dissolution) and therefore there is continuous release during growing season.

The main ingredients of fertilizers are:

1. Main elements (the basic nutrition for the plant)
2. Trace elements (supplementary nutrition for the plant)

In addition, to the most important nutrients, there are also micronutrients: nutrients that the plant need, but which are less important. These are also called trace elements. Trace elements are: Boron, Molybdenum, Manganese, Copper, Zinc, Iron.  

At Royal Brinkman you could choose between:
Crops benefit the most from organic fertilizers, as organic fertilizers feed the soil and therefore the plant, which results in a better soil structure. You can read the exact difference between organic and mineral fertilizers in the article written by one of our specialists.

When artificial fertilizers or chemical pesticides are used, the micro-organisms and the soil cycle cannot function properly. This worsens the soil structure, the absorption capacity and the resistance of the plants. 


Our best-selling fertilizers



Three types of fertilization methods
  • Nutrigation (Fertigation)

    Nutrigation, also called fertigation, is the combination of fertilizing and watering. The fertilizers are added to the water through a dosage system. Through the main pipe and drip hoses, the mixture reaches the crop. The water and nutrients are therefore applied simultaneously in precise combination and timing. You apply the fertilizers through an irrigation system, for example. This is a convenient and easy way to water your plants.

    Advantages of Nutrigation
    Less dropout 
    Better root development
    Improved plant resilience



  • Foliar feeding

    Foliar feeding is the fastest way to feed plants. All leaves have stomata through which they can absorb nutrients immediately. Therefore, nutrients are not taken up by roots but rather by leaves. Always apply foliar under high pressure and delicate drip. Our specialists have written an article about foliar feeding.

    Advantages of Foliar feeding
    Quick intake of nutrients
    High utilization of nutritional elements
    Nutrients are in the right place immediately, so less energy is needed


  • Soil fertilization

    With soil fertilization, fertilizers are applied to the surface. The advantage of soil fertilization is the relatively quick intake of nutrients. Soil fertility is the ability of a soil to sustain plant growth. Chemical, organic and physical soil characteristics depend on soil water holding capacity and nutrient release.

    Advantages of Soil fertilization
     Ease of use 
     Optimal nutrition of crops in soil
     Save cultivation through controlled release of nutrients


  • How do you recognize deficiency symptoms in plants?

    Nutrition is essential for a healthy crop. In order to prevent your crop from running out of elements, it is crucial that you detect deficiency symptoms as soon as possible. The best way to regulate your weakened crop depends on a variety of factors, such as acidity of the crop. These deficiency symptoms can cause crop damage, resulting in lower yield. Our specialist wrote an article about the most important nutrients and how you can recognize deficiency symptoms related to the shortages of the different nutrients.
  • How do you solve deficiency symptoms?

    Trace elements - also called micronutrients – ensure that you supply the plant with essential nutrients when there is a shortage. The following nutrients are considered as most important trace elements for plants: Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Boron, Copper and Molybdenum. In addition to regular trace elements, there are also chelates. Chelates are organic elements that are slowly released at high and low pH levels. Chelates support the crop by regulating the transport of the nutrients to the roots.

    To ensure that every nutrient needed is absorbed by the plant, the use of chelates should not be forgotten. Choosing the right chelate depends on the pH level in the fertilizer tank and in the root environment.


  • Dangers of fertilizers

    Most fertilizers are basically chemical products. Therefore, incorrect mixing or dosing can cause fertilizers to precipitate in the fertilizer tank. When fertilizers precipitate, they are no longer absorbable by the plant. In addition, precipitation directly causes clogging of filters, with all its consequences. To avoid this problem, it is important that you undertake certain actions.

    Apart from precipitation in the fertilizer tank, fertilizers can also work against each other. When different elements work against each other, this is called an 'antagonistic effect'. It is important to know which fertilizers interact with each other and in which way. Our specialists have written an article on which elements can repress or counteract each other. In addition to fertilizers opposing each other, unintentional contamination can also occur. This means that undesirable fertilizers come into contact with each other.




Storing Fertilizers 
Fertilizers must be stored in a designated storage area because some fertilizers contain dangerous substances. Thus, the proper storage of these dangerous substances is an important matter. An unsafe way of storing and handling these substances can lead to health problems, personal injury or even explosion hazard. Read more about how fertilizers can be stored properly or how to prepare fertilizer tanks.

How much storage capacity you need depends on the acres of land and the fertilizer schedule. By applying the formula below, you can calculate how much storage capacity you will need.   



  • In addition to storing fertilizer properly, it is also important to prepare the tanks properly. Improper preparation of fertilizer tanks can cause problems. Calculating an optimal feeding schedule is therefore an important part of greenhouse horticulture. If you have too little time to prepare a good feeding schedule, you can also choose to use blended fertilizers, also known as composite big bags. In this case, various solid fertilizers are mixed together based on your requirements.

    Precipitation in fertilizer tanks is often caused by an incorrect dosage. When precipitation occurs, the filters to clog, which hinders the fertilizer to reach the plant. Read how to prevent precipitation in our Knowledge Center article.


What is resilient cultivation?

Increasing plant resilience is getting more and more important in the horticultural sector. In the future, the use of chemical pesticides will be reduced due to governmental regulations. At the same time, stress factors must be combated in order to meet the growing global food demand. This forces growers to use other products to control diseases and pests. Biological crop protection, but also products that improve plant resistance, offer a solution.

Plant resistance can be enhanced above ground and below ground in various ways. Above ground, plant resistance can be improved by stimulating the plant immune system, by using plant strengthening foliar fertilizers, and by increasing plant vitality. Strengthening plant resistance below ground can be done by using plant strengthening fertilizers, stimulating soil life, and using uptake and soil conditioners. In this article, you will read more about the different possibilities to increase plant resilience.


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