Abstract: A method for applying an agricultural fertilizer to a field through an irrigation system connected to a source of hard water, includes providing a fertilizer composition comprising a mixture of (i) a fertilizer component comprising an ammonium phosphate or an ammonium sulfate, and (ii) an acid comprising one or more of a phosphoric acid, a citric acid, a malic acid, a formic acid, and an oxalic acid; combining the fertilizer composition with hard water from the hard water source and providing the mixture to an irrigation system; and using the irrigation system to apply the mixture of fertilizer composition and hard water to the field.

Abstract: A method for applying an agricultural fertilizer to a field through an irrigation system connected to a source of hard water, includes providing a fertilizer composition comprising a mixture of (i) a fertilizer component comprising an ammonium phosphate or an ammonium sulfate, and (ii) an acid comprising one or more of a phosphoric acid, a citric acid, a malic acid, a formic acid, and an oxalic acid; combining the fertilizer composition with hard water from the hard water source and providing the mixture to an irrigation system; and using the irrigation system to apply the mixture of fertilizer composition and hard water to the field.

Abstract: A plant fertilizer composition that includes an acid whereby said acid may react with, chelate, or block any metal ions in the soil in which the plants grow during administration of the fertilizer. This reaction renders the metal ions substantially ineffective for reacting with the fertilizer components. The fertilizer is thereby shielded from interference with any metal ions in the soil and the delivery of the fertilizer to the plant roots is thereby enhanced. The acid may be, but is not limited to, an organic acid and is preferably citric acid. The fertilizer composition may include phosphorus. Likes in one embodiment, the fertilizer composition may include phosphate ions and citric acid, the citric acid chelating any metal ions in the soil in which the plants grow thereby facilitating the transportation of phosphate to the plant roots.