Fertilizer

Fertilizers (British English fertilisers) are compounds given to plants to promote growth; they are usually applied either via the soil, for uptake by plant roots, or by foliar feeding, for uptake through leaves. Fertilizers can be organic (composed of organic matter, i.e. carbon based), or inorganic (containing simple, inorganic chemicals). They can be naturally occurring compounds such as peat or mineral deposits, or manufactured through natural processes (such as composting), or chemical processes (such as the Haber process).