Glossary
Biostimulant, fertilizer and trade terms, each explained in a line or two.
- Acetobacter
- An endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacterium, best known in sugarcane, used as a biofertiliser. More
- Alternate bearing
- A pattern in fruit trees such as mango where a heavy crop is followed by a light one.
- Amino acid
- A building block of protein. Amino acid fertilizers supply free amino acids that crops can use directly, especially under stress. More
- Anti-transpirant
- A biostimulant category under the FCO that reduces water loss from leaves.
- Ascophyllum nodosum
- A cold-water brown seaweed from the North Atlantic, the most widely used seaweed in biostimulants. More
- Azospirillum
- A root-associated nitrogen-fixing bacterium used as a biofertiliser in cereals, millets and sugarcane. More
- Azotobacter
- A free-living nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium used as a biofertiliser in non-legume crops. More
- Basal application
- Fertilizer or soil input applied at or before sowing or planting.
- Biofertiliser
- A product containing living micro-organisms that supply or release nutrients. Regulated in India under FCO Schedule III. More
- Biostimulant
- A substance or micro-organism that stimulates plant processes to improve nutrient uptake, growth, quality or stress tolerance, regardless of nutrient content. Regulated in India under FCO Schedule VI. More
- Bulk supply
- Supply in large packs such as drums, IBCs or jumbo bags for formulation, repacking or distribution. More
- Carrier-based biofertiliser
- A biofertiliser in which micro-organisms are held on a solid carrier for seed and soil application.
- Chelate
- A molecule (such as EDTA) that holds a metal nutrient in a soluble, available form. More
- CIF
- Cost, Insurance and Freight: the seller pays freight and insurance to the destination port.
- Consortia
- A biofertiliser that combines several compatible organisms, for example N, P and K microbes. More
- Controlled-release fertilizer
- A fertilizer, usually polymer-coated, that releases nutrients at a rate set by the coating. More
- Custom blend
- A fertilizer or biostimulant formulated for a specific crop, soil or market. More
- Customised fertilizer
- In India, a notified multi-nutrient product made for specific soils and crops on the basis of soil-test data.
- Fertigation
- Applying fertilizers and soluble inputs through the irrigation system, usually drip.
- FCO
- The Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order 1985, India's main fertilizer regulation. More
- FOB
- Free On Board: the seller delivers the goods loaded on the vessel at the Indian port; the buyer pays freight from there.
- Foliar spray
- Applying a dilute solution directly to leaves.
- FOM and PROM
- Fermented organic manure and phosphate-rich organic manure, organic fertilizers specified under the FCO. More
- Fulvic acid
- The smaller, fully soluble fraction of humic substances, suited to foliar and drip use. More
- Humic acid
- The large-molecule fraction of humic substances, used to condition soil and hold nutrients. More
- IBC
- Intermediate bulk container, usually 1000 litres, used for bulk liquids.
- Jar test
- Mixing products in a jar in tank proportions to check compatibility before tank-mixing. More
- Kappaphycus alvarezii
- A red seaweed farmed in tropical waters including India; its extract is a common biostimulant. More
- KMB
- Potash mobilising bacteria: biofertilisers that release potassium held in soil minerals. More
- Micronutrient
- A nutrient needed in small amounts: zinc, boron, iron, manganese, copper, molybdenum. More
- MOQ
- Minimum order quantity. We have none.
- Mycorrhiza
- A fungus that colonises roots and extends a network into the soil, helping uptake of phosphorus and water. More
- NOC
- No Objection Certificate. Ours, from the Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Gujarat, covers 36 biostimulant grades and 11 biofertiliser types. More
- OEM
- Original equipment manufacturer: we manufacture products that you sell under your own brand. More
- Potassium humate
- The water-soluble potassium salt of humic acid. More
- Private label
- Products made by a manufacturer and sold under the buyer's brand. More
- Protein hydrolysate
- A mixture of free amino acids and peptides made by breaking down plant or animal protein. More
- PSB
- Phosphate solubilising bacteria: biofertilisers that release bound soil phosphorus. More
- Rhizobium
- Bacteria that fix nitrogen in nodules on legume roots; strains are crop-specific. More
- Sargassum
- A tropical brown seaweed found along Indian coasts, used for liquid and granular extracts. More
- Schedule III
- The part of the FCO that specifies biofertilisers. More
- Schedule VI
- The part of the FCO that specifies biostimulants. More
- Seaweed extract
- A concentrate made from marine algae, used as a biostimulant. More
- Slow-release fertilizer
- A fertilizer that releases nutrients gradually over weeks or months. More
- Water-soluble fertilizer
- A fully soluble NPK grade for drip and foliar feeding. More
- ZSB
- Zinc solubilising bacteria: biofertilisers that make soil zinc available. More
- Zyme granules
- An Indian trade name for broadcast granules carrying biostimulants such as seaweed or humic acid. More
Tell us what you need. We reply with a quote and a free sample.
No minimum order quantity. Dispatch in about one week.