In a fertilizer labeled 23-6-4, what nutrients do the numbers represent in order?

• A. 23% phosphorous acid, 6% nitrogen, and 4% potash
• B. 23% nitrogen, 6% phosphorous acid, and 4% potash
• C. 23% nitrogen, 6% lime, and 4% potash
• D. 23% nitrogen, 6% potash, and 4% phosphorous acid

Answer: (B)

Fertilizer labels show three numbers in the order of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, representing the percentages by weight of each nutrient. So a label like 23-6-4 means 23% nitrogen, 6% phosphorus, and 4% potassium. This is why the interpretation that lists nitrogen first, followed by phosphorus, then potassium is the correct one. The other choices mix up the nutrients or reference lime or phosphorous acid, which aren’t the components shown in the N-P-K labeling.