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Fertilizers - Fertilizers are soluble salts of essential elements. Ions are charged atoms or molecules. Some ions have a positive charge-cations- and others have a negative charge-anions. When fertilizers are put into or on the soil, the ions become available in the water. “See essential elements”. Remember, fertilizers are not a source of energy. Quick release fertilizers are those that release the ions as soon as the materials dissolve in the soil water. Slow or controlled release fertilizers are of two basic types: 1. The chemical granules are coated with materials that must wear away or dissolve away before the fertilizer granules are able to dissolve in the soil water. 2. The essential elements may be bonded with carbon to form organic molecules. The microorganisms must break down these molecules before the ions are released into the soil water. Once the ions enter the soil water they are like small magnets or submarines with a positive or negative charge.

See A TOUCH OF CHEMISTRY, SHIGO, 1996

See NEW TREE BIOLOGY DICTIONARY, SHIGO,1986, pg45