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🔬 Biology  ·  Mineral Nutrition  ·  NEET

What does NPK stand for in fertilizers?

Answer: Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Kalium (potassium).

  • A Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium, the three macronutrients
  • B Nitrogen-Protein-Krypton, an invalid combination
  • C Nitrite-Phosphate-Kelp, not a real fertilizer label
  • D Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Kalium (potassium)

Correct answer: D. Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Kalium (potassium)

Explanation: NPK fertilizers contain Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K, from Kalium). These are the three macronutrients most commonly deficient in agricultural soils and most important for plant growth.

Nitrogen Cycle: Key ConversionsN₂ (air)N-fixation(Rhizobium, nitrogenase)NH₃/NH₄⁺nitrificationNO₃⁻denitrificationback to N₂leghaemoglobin protectsnitrogenase from O₂

Atmospheric N₂ is fixed into ammonia by nitrogen-fixing bacteria (protected from oxygen by leghaemoglobin in root nodules), converted to nitrate via nitrification for plant uptake, and eventually returned to the atmosphere as N₂ via denitrification, completing the cycle.

Concept context

Essential mineral elements, their roles and deficiency symptoms. Nitrogen fixation and soil nutrition.

Read the full Mineral Nutrition notes →