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Fertilizer DoseHow to dose fertilizer for plants & crops, done right

Know exactly how much fertilizer your crop needs.

Fertilizer Dose turns published agronomic recommendations into precise per-acre, per-kanal and per-marla fertilizer doses — with real data, every calculation shown, and nothing invented.

Calculate my doseDiagnose a plant
Sourced data
Every figure cited
DAP-first
Standard NPK method
4 units
Acre · Kanal · Marla · Ha

Crop library

Doses for the crops you actually grow

Recommended N–P₂O₅–K₂O per hectare from published sources. Crops marked 'in review' are never guessed — data lands only when verified.

Wheat

Rabi (winter)

Verified data

N 124 · P₂O₅ 62 · K₂O – kg/ha

Open crop guide

Rice (Paddy)

Kharif (summer)

Verified data

N 104 · P₂O₅ 30 · K₂O 30 kg/ha

Open crop guide

Maize

Kharif (also spring in irrigated areas)

Verified data

N 124 · P₂O₅ 60 · K₂O 30 kg/ha

Open crop guide

Cotton

Kharif

Verified data

N 170 · P₂O₅ 65 · K₂O 70 kg/ha

Open crop guide

Sugarcane

Year-round (12–14 month crop)

Verified data

N 150 · P₂O₅ 60 · K₂O 150 kg/ha

Open crop guide

Potato

Rabi

Verified data

N 170 · P₂O₅ 100 · K₂O 220 kg/ha

Open crop guide

Grow

Crops, plants & vegetables

One growing library: field crops with verified fertilizer doses, plus vegetables and plants with honest, review-gated data.

31

Crops

Wheat, rice, maize, cotton and more — with verified NPK doses where published.

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17

Vegetables

Tomato, onion, chili, okra and more. Data lands only after verification.

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8

Plants

Flowering, indoor, outdoor and fruit plants for home gardens.

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Planting calendar

What to grow this month?

A region-aware sowing calendar for your province — no one-size-fits-all guesses. Every window is sourced and verification-badged.

Where do you grow?

Choose your country to see what to plant this month — verified windows only.

Main tools

Everything a grower needs, in one place

Dose CalculatorEnter crop + area in acre, kanal, marla or hectare — get exact urea, DAP and MOP quantities with every calculation step shown.
Plant DoctorUpload a leaf photo, describe the symptoms, and get an AI-assisted diagnosis with causes, actions and prevention steps.
Fertilizer LibraryLabel-accurate NPK compositions, benefits, precautions and application guidance for every major fertilizer.
Crop LibrarySeason, soil, water, growth stages and common problems for wheat, rice, maize, cotton, sugarcane and potato.
Profit CalculatorEnter your own yield, price and cost assumptions — see net profit, break-even and ROI per acre and per hectare.
CompareSide-by-side fertilizer nutrient costs from your own prices, and crop doses from verified data.

AI Plant Doctor

Something wrong with your crop? Ask the Plant Doctor.

Upload a leaf photo, describe what you see, and get a structured assessment — possible issues, likely causes, what to do next, and how to prevent it.

  • Photo-first diagnosisUpload a clear leaf or plant photo — the AI reads visual symptoms.
  • Honest uncertaintyEvery suggestion carries low / medium / high confidence wording. No false certainty.
  • Actionable next stepsCauses, immediate actions and prevention — plus when to call your agri officer.
Open Plant Doctor

Drop a leaf photo here

JPG, PNG or WebP · max 5 MB

Runs server-side via Gemini — your API key never touches the browser.

Fertilizer library

Know what's actually in the bag

Label-accurate NPK compositions. These percentages are the entire basis of every dose calculation.

FertilizerN %P₂O₅ %K₂O %
Urea4600
DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate)18460
MOP (Muriate of Potash)0060
SSP (Single Super Phosphate)0160
SOP (Sulphate of Potash)0050
Ammonium Sulphate2100

Browse the full fertilizer library →

From the blog

Learn the why behind the dose

Guides9 min read

How to Calculate Fertilizer Dose Per Acre (With a Worked Example)

The exact formula agronomists use to convert a nutrient recommendation into bags of urea, DAP and MOP — explained with a real wheat example.

Fertilizers5 min read

Urea vs DAP: What Each Fertilizer Actually Does

Both supply nitrogen, but they are not interchangeable. Here's what each one does in the soil and when to use which.

Soil Health6 min read

Why Soil Testing Saves You Money Every Season

A soil test costs less than a single bag of DAP — and stops you buying fertilizer your field doesn't need.

Fertilizers9 min read

How to Read a Fertilizer Bag Label: NPK Numbers Explained

Learn how to read a fertilizer bag label: the three NPK numbers tell you exactly how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium each bag holds.

Fertilizers10 min read

Organic vs Chemical Fertilizer: Honest Pros and Cons

Organic vs chemical fertilizer, honestly compared: chemicals feed the crop fast and precisely, organics build the soil slowly. Most farms need both.

Crop Nutrition9 min read

Fertilizer Burn: Symptoms and How to Fix Over-Fertilization

Fertilizer burn symptoms look like drought: brown leaf edges, wilting, stunted seedlings. It is salt injury, and quick watering can save the crop.

Fertilizers9 min read

What Happens If You Apply Too Much DAP?

Too much DAP wastes money and harms crops: excess phosphorus locks up in soil, can trigger zinc deficiency, and extra nitrogen risks seedling damage.

Guides6 min read

Best Time of Day to Apply Fertilizer (And Why It Matters)

The best time of day to apply fertilizer is early morning or late evening, when cool temperatures and calm air keep nutrients working for your crop instead of escaping into the air.

Guides6 min read

Does Rain Wash Away Fertilizer? What Actually Happens

Does rain wash away fertilizer? Light rain usually helps by moving nutrients into the soil, while heavy rain shortly after application can cause runoff and leaching. Here is what actually happens.

Guides7 min read

Foliar Spray vs Soil Application: Which Is Better?

Foliar spray vs soil application: soil feeding handles the bulk of a crop's NPK needs, while foliar sprays are best for quick correction of micronutrient deficiencies. Most crops need both, for different jobs.

Fertilizers9 min read

How Long Does Urea Last in Soil?

Urea converts to plant-available nitrogen within days, but how long that nitrogen actually stays usable depends on temperature, moisture, soil pH, and how you apply it. Here is the timeline in plain words.

Crop Nutrition9 min read

Nitrogen Deficiency in Wheat: Symptoms and How to Correct It

Yellowing that starts on the oldest, lowest leaves and moves upward is the classic sign of nitrogen shortage in wheat. Learn to read the symptoms, find the cause, and correct it without overdoing the topdress.

Crop Nutrition9 min read

Phosphorus Deficiency in Rice: Symptoms and How to Correct It

Stunted plants with dark, bluish-green leaves and purple discoloration are the classic phosphorus deficiency symptoms in rice. Because phosphorus barely moves in soil, placement and timing matter more than the product you choose.

Crop Nutrition8 min read

Why Are My Plant Leaves Turning Yellow? A Nutrient Guide

Yellow leaves are your plant's distress signal. Learn to read the pattern — old vs new leaves, veins vs margins — to identify the exact nutrient deficiency.

Fertilizers7 min read

What Is NPK 19-19-19 Used For? (Deep Guide)

NPK 19-19-19 is the all-rounder complex fertilizer: 19% each of N, P2O5 and K2O. Learn when it shines, when it wastes money, and how to dose it.

Fertilizers8 min read

Can Manure Replace Chemical Fertilizer? Honest Answer

Manure can replace much of your chemical fertilizer — but rarely all of it. The honest math on nutrients, bulk, timing, and the integrated middle path.

Guides8 min read

How to Make Compost at Home for Crops (Step by Step)

Turn farm waste into free fertilizer: here is exactly how to make compost at home for crops, from building the pile to spreading it in the field.

Soil Health7 min read

How to Take a Soil Sample for Testing (Step-by-Step Guide)

A bad sample gives a misleading report. Here is exactly how to take a soil sample for testing: tools, depth, spots, mixing, and labelling, step by step.

Fertilizers7 min read

Urea vs DAP: Which to Buy? A Farmer's Decision Guide

Stop comparing bag prices. On urea vs DAP, here is how to decide which to buy: cost per kilo of actual nutrient, and when paying DAP prices is a waste.

Guides8 min read

NPK Fertilizer Calculation Formula (With Worked Example)

The one-line formula that turns any nutrient recommendation into exact kilograms of urea, DAP and MOP — with a full worked example and the three mistakes that waste money.

Guides8 min read

Organic Fertilizers for Plants: Compost, Manure and Vermicompost

FYM, compost, vermicompost and green manure — what they realistically contribute, how to use them, and an honest comparison with chemical fertilizers.

Guides9 min read

How to Dose Fertilizer for Plants: Pots, Garden Beds and Watering Cans

How much fertilizer per plant, in grams — not guesses. Learn the ppm method professionals use to dose fertilizer for potted plants, then let our free calculator do the math.

Guides8 min read

Best Fertilizer for Tomato Plants: Verified NPK Doses and Schedule by Region

What is the best fertilizer for tomato plants? The verified answer is a dose plus a schedule: in Punjab (Pakistan) officials recommend 110–130 kg N, 75–90 kg P₂O₅ and 80–100 kg K₂O per hectare, with nitrogen split three ways. Here are the sourced doses for six regions.

Guides8 min read

Best Fertilizer for Potatoes: Verified NPK Doses and the Two-Split Schedule

The best fertilizer for potatoes is a verified regional dose applied in two splits — half the nitrogen at planting, half at earthing-up. Punjab (Pakistan): 150–180 kg N, 100–125 kg P₂O₅ and 125–150 kg K₂O per hectare. Sourced doses for six more regions inside.

Guides7 min read

Best Fertilizer for Onions: Verified NPK Doses and Why Late Nitrogen Hurts

Onion recommendations agree on two things: a moderate verified NPK dose — 100–115 kg N, 50–65 kg P₂O₅ and 60–75 kg K₂O per hectare in northern India — and no nitrogen after bulb formation begins. Sourced doses and the three-split schedule inside.

Guides7 min read

Best Fertilizer for Cabbage: Verified NPK Doses and the Three-Split Nitrogen Plan

Cabbage wants all its phosphorus and potash up front and its nitrogen in three splits timed to head formation: 120–140 kg N, 60–75 kg P₂O₅ and 60–75 kg K₂O per hectare in northern India; 110–135 / 60–75 / 60–75 in Punjab (Pakistan). Verified doses for six regions inside.

Guides7 min read

Best Fertilizer for Cauliflower: Verified NPK Doses, Boron and the Curd-Stage Split

Cauliflower programmes put phosphorus, potash and boron in the basal and split nitrogen three ways, with the last split at curd initiation: 125–150 kg N, 75–85 kg P₂O₅ and 75–85 kg K₂O per hectare in northern India. Verified doses for six regions inside.

Why Fertilizer Dose

Built on proof, not promises

Real figures only

Every NPK value and crop dose is sourced and cited. No invented numbers, ever.

Shows its working

Each result explains the formula step by step — verify it with a pen if you like.

Speaks your units

Acre, kanal, marla, hectare. Enter land the way you measure it.

Light & dark

A full day/night theme that respects your system setting and your eyes.

Rooted in the region

Default recommendations follow Punjab (Pakistan) and North Indian agronomic guidance, with region tags on every figure. Units, terminology and crop calendars match how farming actually works here.

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FAQ

Questions farmers ask us

With the standard agronomic formula: fertilizer (kg) = (nutrient needed × 100) ÷ nutrient % in the fertilizer. We apply it DAP-first — phosphorus from DAP, then the remaining nitrogen from urea (accounting for DAP's 18% nitrogen), then potassium from MOP — and show every step.
Acre, kanal, marla and hectare. Conversions used: 1 acre = 8 kanal = 160 marla, 1 kanal = 20 marla, 1 hectare = 2.471 acres.
Published provincial and research-institute recommendations (e.g. PAU package of practices), region-tagged. Every figure in the calculator carries its source citation, and crops without a verified source are marked 'data in review' rather than guessed.
No. It gives AI-assisted possibilities with uncertainty wording, but you should always confirm with your local agriculture officer before treating a crop — especially before spraying anything.
Yes — the calculator, libraries and guides are free. An account is only needed for features like saving diagnoses.
Yes, urea and DAP can be applied together as a basal dose at sowing. DAP provides phosphorus (46% P₂O₅) plus 18% nitrogen, while urea adds more nitrogen (46% N). A common practice is to mix them before broadcasting. However, avoid mixing urea with SSP (single super phosphate) in the same application if the mixture will sit — it can become lumpy. Always check your crop's recommended NPK ratio first.
The basal dose is the fertilizer applied at or before sowing/planting, worked into the soil. It typically includes the full phosphorus and potassium requirement plus a portion of nitrogen (usually 1/3 to 1/2). The remaining nitrogen is given as top-dressing later — for example, urea at tillering for wheat. Basal application ensures nutrients are available to young roots from day one.
It depends on your soil and crop. DAP (18-46-0) has higher phosphorus concentration (46% P₂O₅), so you need less product per acre — good for transport and handling. SSP (16% P₂O₅) also provides sulphur (~11%) and calcium (~19%), making it better for oilseeds, pulses, and sulphur-deficient soils. DAP is usually cheaper per kg of phosphorus, but SSP adds secondary nutrients. Use our Compare tool to check which is cheaper per kg of P₂O₅ at your local prices.
A soil test measures your soil's existing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, and organic matter. Instead of using a blanket recommendation, the fertilizer dose is adjusted — if your soil already has high phosphorus, you apply less P fertilizer. This saves money and prevents over-fertilization. We recommend getting a soil test every 2-3 years through your local agriculture department. Our calculator uses standard recommendations; for soil-test-based precision doses, consult your local soil testing lab with these standard figures as a starting point.
Once applied, urea converts to plant-available ammonium within about 2–4 days through natural soil enzymes, then to nitrate over the following 2–4 weeks depending on soil temperature and moisture. In practical terms, a single urea application feeds the crop for roughly 4–6 weeks, which is why nitrogen is usually split into 2–3 doses across the season. Losses as ammonia gas are highest on hot, dry, alkaline soils when urea sits on the surface — working it into moist soil reduces this.
Urea (46-0-0) supplies only nitrogen at 46% N — the most concentrated nitrogen fertilizer available. DAP (18-46-0) supplies 18% nitrogen plus 46% phosphate (P₂O₅). In practice, DAP is used as a basal dose at sowing when the crop needs phosphorus for root establishment, while urea is used for nitrogen top-dressing during active growth. They serve different primary purposes, which is why farmers often use them together rather than as substitutes for each other.
Start with a soil test if possible — it tells you what your soil already has so you only add what is missing. Then use the Plant Dose Calculator on Fertilizer Dose: enter your plant type and pot or bed size, and it gives the exact grams per plant. As a rule of thumb, apply in small splits rather than all at once, water after granular application, and always follow the label rate — more fertilizer does not mean more growth and can burn roots.
Well-rotted farmyard manure typically contains around 0.5–1.0% nitrogen, 0.2–0.5% phosphate (P₂O₅), and 0.5–1.0% potash (K₂O), but this varies widely with the animal source, feed, bedding material, and how it was stored and composted. Because the nutrient content is low and variable compared to mineral fertilizers, FYM works best as a soil conditioner — it adds organic matter, improves soil structure, and supplies micronutrients — while mineral fertilizers provide the precise NPK dose the crop needs.
Early morning (before about 9–10 am) or late evening are the best times to foliar-feed plants. Leaf pores (stomata) are open, temperatures are cooler, and spray droplets stay wet longer, which improves nutrient absorption. Avoid spraying in the heat of midday — droplets dry too fast for good uptake and concentrated residue can scorch leaves. Also skip spraying just before expected rain, which washes the feed off.
The three numbers on a fertilizer bag (for example 15-15-15) are the percentage by weight of nitrogen (N), phosphate (P₂O₅), and potash (K₂O). So a 50 kg bag of 15-15-15 contains 7.5 kg each of N, P₂O₅, and K₂O. Note that phosphorus and potassium are expressed in their oxide forms by industry convention, not as elemental P and K — the Fertilizer Dose calculators handle this conversion for you.
Ammonium sulphate (21-0-0 plus 24% sulphur) supplies nitrogen together with sulphur, making it useful where soils are sulphur-deficient — common in high-yielding cereals and oilseeds. It has an acidifying effect on soil, so it suits neutral to alkaline soils well, but use it cautiously on already-acidic soils. It is also a good choice when you want nitrogen without adding any phosphorus or potassium.
No — foliar feeding is a supplement, not a replacement. Leaves absorb nutrients quickly but in small amounts, making foliar sprays ideal for correcting micronutrient deficiencies (zinc, iron, boron) or giving a quick boost during critical growth stages. But the bulk of NPK must come through the soil because plants need kilograms of nutrients per acre, and leaves simply cannot absorb that volume. Use foliar feeding alongside your soil-applied basal and top-dressing program, not instead of it.
The standard formula is: fertilizer needed (kg) = (nutrient needed in kg × 100) ÷ nutrient % in the fertilizer. For example, if wheat needs 50 kg of nitrogen per acre and you are using urea (46% N): 50 × 100 ÷ 46 = 109 kg of urea per acre. For phosphorus from DAP (46% P₂O₅): if you need 30 kg P₂O₅, you need 30 × 100 ÷ 46 = 65 kg of DAP. Our Dose Calculator does this automatically for your crop and area.
No — 19-19-19 is a synthetic (chemical) fertilizer. It is manufactured to contain exactly 19% nitrogen, 19% phosphate (P₂O₅), and 19% potash (K₂O) in every granule. Organic fertilizers like FYM, compost, or vermicompost have much lower and variable nutrient content (typically under 2% NPK combined). If you want organic certification, 19-19-19 does not qualify. It is, however, a convenient balanced option for general plant feeding where organic status does not matter.
Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata/bispinosa) is a fast-growing legume grown as green manure, mainly in rice-wheat systems. Sown before paddy transplanting, it grows 6-8 feet in 45-60 days, then is ploughed into the soil where it decomposes and adds 60-80 kg of nitrogen per hectare — roughly equivalent to 130-175 kg of urea. It also adds organic matter and improves soil structure. Seed rate is typically 20-25 kg per acre, and it needs no fertilizer itself since it fixes atmospheric nitrogen.
In Pakistan and India, the standard fertilizer bag weighs 50 kg. This applies to urea, DAP, MOP, SSP, and most granular fertilizers. Some specialty products (micronutrients, water-soluble fertilizers) come in smaller packs of 1, 5, or 25 kg. When calculating doses, always convert your per-acre requirement into number of bags: for example, 109 kg of urea per acre = just over 2 bags (2.18 bags).

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