NPK

[en-pee-key]

abbreviation

1. Horticulture.,  a ratio of percentages of the three nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—that are especially important in a plant fertilizer. A fertilizer’s NPK is given as a series of three numbers, for example, 24–6–6, which means the content is 24 percent nitrogen, 6 percent phosphorus, and 6 percent potassium, so the NPK expressed as a simple ratio is 4:1:1.

Word History and Origins

Origin of NPK¹

First recorded in 1900–05; from the chemical symbols for nitrogen ( def. ) (N), phosphorus ( def. ) (P), and potassium ( def. ) (K)

Example Sentences

Because organic fertilizers like fish emulsion have very low concentrations of nitrogen and other elements, he recommends a monthly application of a water-soluble food labeled with a 20-20-20 NPK ratio instead.

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French car parts maker Valeo said on Tuesday it had signed an agreement to sell its thermal systems production assets in Russia to NPK Avtopribor for an undisclosed sum.

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French car parts maker Valeo said on Tuesday it had signed an agreement to sell its thermal systems production assets in Russia to NPK Avtopribor for an undisclosed sum.

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Pupuk Kaltim would also build a 100,000 tonne NPK fertiliser plant in Bontang, East Kalimantan, where it is based, he said.

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The firm currently makes 2.7 million tonnes of ammonia, 3.4 million tonnes of urea and 350,000 tonnes NPK fertiliser per year, making it among the Asia-Pacific's biggest producers.

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