Do the KNP's of a fertilizer refer to concentration?

Question

Would a fertilizer with a 2-0-1 ratio have more potassium than a fertilizer with a 1-0-1 ratio, or are the ratios just that: ratios?

Answer 1

ratio stands to refer the propotion of nitrogen,phospherous and potassium..,

Answer 2

N-P-K  or

Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium

1:1:1           i.e. 15-15-15    good all-pupose fertilizer

1:0:0           i.e. 21-0-0       ammonium sulfate (only N)

3:1:2          i.e.  21-7-14     more N than K

1:0:2          i.e.  15-0-30      best for summer application

the numbers represent the percentage of nutrient contained in the fertilizer

Answer 3

OK, close, it's N-P-K.  Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.

What the numbers tell you is how much of each of these elements is present in 100 pounds of the fertilizer.

So for example a 20-4-8 plant food has 20 lbs. per 100 of actual Nitrogen, 4 lbs. per 100 of Phosphorus, and 8 lbs. per 100 of Potassium.

In your question the 2-0-1 and the 1-0-1 have exactly the same amounts of Phos and Potassium.  It has twice as much nitrogen, however and would probably give more noticeable results.  Both of them are very mild formulations.

Nitrogen promotes rapid vegetative growth.  Phosphorus is needed for root development, and potassium is needed to strengthen cell walls.  Plants also need traces of other elements like iron or magnesium, but N-P-K are the Big Three.