In agricultural production, BB fertilizer (blended fertilizer) and compound fertilizer are commonly used multi-nutrient fertilizers by farmers. However, they differ significantly in production processes, nutrient characteristics, and application scenarios. Choosing the right fertilizer is a key prerequisite for improving crop yield and quality.

From a production process perspective, BB fertilizer production lines can be described as "simple mixing." They use large-particle urea, diammonium phosphate, and other single-element fertilizers or compound fertilizers as raw materials, completing physical mixing through mechanical stirring. There are no chemical reactions or granulation steps. The production equipment is simple, the cost is low, and the nutrient ratio can be adjusted at any time. In contrast, NPK compound fertilizer production lines involve a complex "chemical synthesis" process. The raw materials must first be crushed, and then re-granulated using an NPK fertilizer granulator through a high-temperature chemical reaction. Each fertilizer pellet undergoes multiple chemical processes, requiring highly sophisticated equipment and technology, thus resulting in higher production costs.
Nutrient uniformity is the core difference between the two. BB fertilizer granules are of mixed colors and uneven sizes, with different nutrient granules remaining independent. This can easily lead to stratification during transportation or application, resulting in uneven nutrient distribution in the field. Compound fertilizers, on the other hand, benefit from their chemical synthesis, achieving a consistent nutrient ratio within each granule. Whether applied mechanically or manually, they ensure a uniform nutrient supply, which is why they are more favored in large-scale planting.
In terms of fertilizer efficiency, the nutrient release rate of BB fertilizers is determined independently by each raw material, allowing for precise formulation for different growth stages of crops. This makes them suitable for cash crops with specific nutrient requirements, such as vegetables and fruit trees. Compound fertilizers, however, offer a more balanced and stable nutrient release, with a gentle initial effect and strong follow-up effect, providing continuous nutrients for field crops like wheat and corn throughout their entire growth cycle. Furthermore, the fertilizer granules are harder and less prone to clumping, exhibiting superior physical properties compared to BB fertilizers.
From an application perspective, BB fertilizers are suitable for growers with soil testing and formulation capabilities. They allow for customized nutrient ratios based on soil fertility, specifically addressing soil nutrient deficiencies. Compound fertilizers, with their fixed formulas and ease of use, are more suitable for novice farmers and large-scale grain crop cultivation, providing basic nutrient supplementation without requiring specialized knowledge.
The two also have clearly different implementation standards: BB fertilizers follow GB/T 21633-2020, while compound fertilizers follow GB15063-2001. Farmers can quickly distinguish genuine from counterfeit products by checking the packaging labels.