NPK 10:26:26 (complex)
One granule carrying phosphorus and potassium together — a convenient basal for crops that want both at sowing, topped up with urea for nitrogen later.
- Composition
- 10% N, 26% P₂O₅, 26% K₂O
- Form
- Granules
- Price
- Subsidised (NBS)
- Best for
- Basal for potato, cotton, pulses
Overview
NPK 10:26:26 is a granular compound fertiliser: 10% nitrogen, 26% phosphorus (P₂O₅) and 26% potassium (K₂O). Its strength is that phosphorus and potassium sit in the same granule, so a crop that needs both at sowing gets an even, balanced placement from a single application instead of blending two or three straight fertilisers.
It suits crops with a real potassium demand at establishment — potato, cotton, pulses like gram and soybean, and chilli. The nitrogen it carries is only a starter dose, so it is not the end of the nitrogen story: you top up with urea as the crop grows. It is a subsidised NBS product, which keeps it affordable relative to water-soluble grades.
What it is and when to reach for it
- A balanced P-and-K basal complex with starter nitrogen — reach for it where the crop needs both phosphorus and potassium at sowing.
- It is convenient: one bag instead of blending DAP and MOP, with even placement in the furrow.
- Its nitrogen is only a starter — plan urea top dressings on top of it.
How to apply it well
- Apply as basal at sowing, placed near the seed like any phosphorus-carrying fertiliser.
- Match the grade to the crop’s need — 10:26:26 suits high-potash crops; a phosphorus-heavier grade may suit others.
- Follow with urea top dressings to complete the nitrogen the crop needs.
Common mistakes
- Treating its 10% nitrogen as the whole nitrogen dose and skipping urea top dressings.
- Using it as a top dressing — like DAP, the phosphorus in it will not move down to the roots.
- Buying a balanced complex when a soil test shows you need mostly one nutrient, where a straight fertiliser is cheaper.
Crops it is used on
Open a crop for its full nutrient schedule.
Common questions
What does 10:26:26 mean?
It is the N-P-K grade: 10% nitrogen, 26% phosphorus (as P₂O₅) and 26% potassium (as K₂O). A 50 kg bag therefore carries 5 kg N, 13 kg P₂O₅ and 13 kg K₂O.
Which crops is 10:26:26 best for?
Crops that need both phosphorus and potassium at sowing — potato, cotton, pulses like gram and soybean, and chilli. It gives an even basal placement of P and K from one bag, after which you top up nitrogen with urea.
Is 10:26:26 better than DAP?
It depends on the crop. DAP gives more phosphorus and some nitrogen but no potassium; 10:26:26 gives balanced phosphorus and potassium with a little nitrogen. On a crop with a real potassium demand at sowing, the complex saves you blending DAP and MOP; where only phosphorus is short, DAP (with urea and MOP as needed) can be cheaper.
Composition and doses follow ICAR / Soil Health Card guidance; prices are the notified subsidised rates for the season shown and are guidance, not a quote. A soil test for your field always beats a general rate. See our editorial policy.