Fertilizer Products and Analyses
The fertilizer products commonly available to Ontario growers, with their guaranteed analyses and indicative bulk prices for budgeting.
Product analyses
| Product | Grade | N | P₂O₅ | K₂O | S | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urea | 46-0-0 | 46% | 0% | 0% | 0% | $700/t |
| UAN solution | 28-0-0 | 28% | 0% | 0% | 0% | $480/t |
| Ammonium sulphate | 21-0-0-24S | 21% | 0% | 0% | 24% | $650/t |
| Anhydrous ammonia | 82-0-0 | 82% | 0% | 0% | 0% | $1050/t |
| MAP | 11-52-0 | 11% | 52% | 0% | 0% | $950/t |
| DAP | 18-46-0 | 18% | 46% | 0% | 0% | $1000/t |
| Triple superphosphate | 0-46-0 | 0% | 46% | 0% | 0% | $850/t |
| Single superphosphate | 0-16-0-12S | 0% | 16% | 0% | 12% | $450/t |
| Potash (MOP) | 0-0-60 | 0% | 0% | 60% | 0% | $650/t |
| Sulphate of potash | 0-0-50-18S | 0% | 0% | 50% | 18% | $1100/t |
Buy the nutrient, not the bag
Compare products on cost per unit of nutrient, not price per tonne. Urea at $700/t carries 460 kg of N per tonne, so nitrogen costs about $1.52/kg. UAN looks cheaper per tonne but carries far less N per tonne — the comparison only makes sense after you divide.
Phosphate sources carry nitrogen too
MAP (11-52-0) and DAP (18-46-0) both supply meaningful nitrogen alongside phosphate. If you buy phosphate as MAP or DAP, that nitrogen must be credited against your N requirement or you will over-apply. The calculator solves phosphate first and subtracts the nitrogen it carries before sizing your urea or UAN.
Oxide versus elemental
Fertilizer is sold as oxides (P₂O₅, K₂O) but soil tests report elements (P, K). To convert: P = P₂O₅ × 0.4364 and K = K₂O × 0.8301. Mixing the two up is one of the most common and most expensive arithmetic errors in nutrient planning.
Related guides
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