FFA Horticulture CDE General Practice Exam

Which of the following nutrients is NOT represented in a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10?

1. Sulfur

2. Nitrogen

3. Phosphorus

4. Potassium

The correct answer is: Sulfur

The correct choice refers to sulfur, which is not typically included in the ratio displayed on a balanced fertilizer package like 10-10-10. This type of fertilizer indicates equal parts of three primary nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, each represented by the same number—10—in this case. Nitrogen is crucial for leafy growth and overall plant health, while phosphorus contributes to root development and flowering. Potassium plays a key role in water regulation, disease resistance, and overall plant vigor. These three macronutrients are the main components that the fertilizer label specifies, and they are essential for plant growth. Sulfur, while it is indeed an important nutrient for plants and is needed in smaller quantities for protein synthesis and enzyme function, is usually not included in the primary nutrient ratio displayed on fertilizer labels. Instead, it is commonly part of secondary nutrients in fertilizers or found in some specific fertilizers for sulfur-deficient soils. Thus, it doesn’t have a numerical representation in a balanced fertilizer such as the one described.