The primary nutrients required by plants are as follows:

Macronutrients

  1. Primary Macronutrients
    • Nitrogen (N)
    • Phosphorous (P)
    • Potassium (K)
  2. Secondary Macronutrients
    • Calcium (Ca)
    • Magnesium (Mg)
    • Sulfur (S)
  3. Non-mineral Macronutrients
    • Carbon (C)
    • Hydrogen (H)
    • Oxygen (O)

Micronutrients

  1. Trace Elements
    • Iron (Fe)
    • Manganese (Mn)
    • Zinc (Zn)
    • Copper (Cu)
    • Molybdenum (Mo)
    • Boron (B)
    • Chlorine (Cl)
    • Nickel (Ni)
    • Sodium (Na)
    • Cobalt (Co)

Let's take a look at some commonly-used amendments and nutrient sources in organic gardening, as well as rough estimates of their nutrient percentages.

organic nutrient sources down to earth dr earth amendments in boxes azomite kelp humic alfalfa phosphate
Each organic amendment provides a unique nutrient profile, many containing numerous macros, micros, and trace elements. Find these and more on the table below to better understand their nutrient profiles.

Amendment Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg) Sulfur (S) Carbon (C) Hydrogen (H) Oxygen (O) Iron (Fe) Manganese (Mn) Zinc (Zn) Copper (Cu) Molybdenum (Mo) Boron (B) Chlorine (Cl) Nickel (Ni) Sodium (Na) Cobalt (Co)
Alfalfa Hay 2-3% - 2-3% 1-2% - - 40-45% 6-7% 35-40% - - - - - - - - 0.01-0.05% -
Alfalfa Meal 2.5-3.5% 0.5-1% 2-3% 1-1.5% 0.2-0.5% 0.2-0.4% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Azomite - - - 1-5% 0.5-2% 0.1-0.5% - - - 1-5% 50-500 ppm 10-100 ppm 10-100 ppm 0.1-1 ppm 0.1-0.5% - - 0.1-0.5% 0.1-1 ppm
Basalt Dust - - - 7-15% 2-6% - 30-50% - 40-50% - - - - - - - - - -
Bat Guano 6-8% 3-10% 1-2% 5-10% 0.5-2% - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Blood Meal 13.25% 1.0% 0.6% - - - - - - - 0.5-1.0% - - - - - - - -
Bone Meal - 15-27% - 20-25% 8-12% 0.5-1% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Coffee Chaff 0.1-0.3% 0.05-0.1% 0.1-0.3% 0.1-0.3% 0.05-0.1% 0.05-0.1% Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies
Coffee Grounds 2-2.5% 0.1-0.5% 0.1-0.5% 0.5-1% 0.2-0.5% 0.1-0.5% Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies
Compost 1-3% 0.5-2% 1-2% - - - - - - Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies
Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate - - - - - 24-26% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crab Meal 10-12% 2-3% 1-2% 4-5% 1-2% 0.5-1% 6-8% 1-2% 15-20% - - - - - - - - 0.01-0.05% -
Cottonseed Meal 6-7% - 2-3% 1-2% - - 20-30% 3-5% 15-20% - - - - - - - - - -
Dolomite Lime (calcium magnesium carbonate) - - - 30-35% 8-12% - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Egg Shells - - - 95-97% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Elemental Sulfur - - - - - 90-99% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) - - - - 9.8-10.7% 12.9-13.8% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Feather Meal 7-12% 1-4% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Fish Bone Meal - 24-30% - 22-26% - 0.2-0.5% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Fish Emulsion 5-6% 1-4% 1-1.5% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Fish Meal 8-10% 5-8% 2-4% - - - 6-8% 1-2% 15-20% - - - - - - - - 0.01-0.05% -
Garden Lime (Calcium Carbonate) - - - 38-40% - - - 56-58% - - - - - - - - - - -
Granite Dust - - - - - - - - - 3-5% 0.5-1% 0.2-0.5% 0.1-0.3% - - - - - -
Greensand - - - 5-7% 0.5-2% - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Greenstone Metabasalt - - - 7-15% 2-6% - 30-50% - 40-50% - - - - - - - - - -
Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) - - - 20-23% - 15-20% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Humic Acids 0.1-0.3% 0.05-0.1% 0.1-0.3% 0.05-0.1% 0.05-0.1% 0.05-0.1% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Insect Frass - 1-2% 1-2% 2-3% 1-2% 0.5-1% 20-30% 2-4% 30-40% - - - - - - - - - -
Kelp Meal 1-3% 0.1-0.5% 1-3% 5-10% 0.5-2% 0.5-1% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Langbeinite (Sulfate Of Potash Magnesia) - - 20-22% - 10-12% 20-22% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Leaf Mould 0.1-0.3% 0.05-0.1% 0.1-0.3% 0.05-0.1% 0.05-0.1% 0.05-0.1% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Leaves 0.1-0.5% 0.05-0.2% 0.1-0.5% 0.1-0.5% 0.1-0.5% 0.05-0.2% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Leonardite - - - - - - 45-60% 4-5% 30-40% - - - - - - - - - -
Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate - - - - - 32-34% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Manure 0.5-2% 0.1-0.5% 0.1-0.5% 0.5-2% 0.1-0.5% 0.1-0.5% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Neem Seed Meal - - - - - - 2-3% 1-2% 3-4% 0.5-1% 0.2-0.5% 0.1-0.3% - - - - - - -
Oyster Shells - - - - - - 95-98% - - - - - - - - - - - -
Pine Needles 0.1-0.3% 0.05-0.1% 0.1-0.3% 0.05-0.1% 0.05-0.1% 0.05-0.1% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Rock Phosphate - - - - - - - 28-35% - - - - - - - - - - -
Seabird Guano 8-12% 10-15% 2-5% 3-5% 1-2% 1-3% 6-12% 0.5-1% 20-30% - - - - - - - - - -
Shredded Cardboard - - - - - - 40-60% - - - - - - - - - - - -
Shredded Paper - - - - - - 40-60% - - - - - - - - - - - -
Shrimp Meal 10-12% 2-4% 2-3% 4-6% 1-2% 0.5-1% 6-8% 1-2% 15-20% - - - - - - - - - -
Sulfate Of Potash (Potassium Sulfate) - - 50-52% - - 17-18% - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wood Ash - - - - - 0.5-2% 30-50% - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wood Chips - - - - - - 45-60% 6-7% 38-44% - - - - - - - - - -
Worm Castings 1-2% 0.5-1% 1-2% 1-2% 0.5-1% 0.2-0.5% 20-30% 3-5% 15-20% - - - - - - - - 0.01-0.05% -
Zinc Sulfate Monohydrate - - - - - 22-23% - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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