If you are standing in front of bags labelled urea, DAP, MAP, SuPerfect, MOP, SOP and CK88, the first question is not "which bag is best?" It is "which nutrient am I trying to supply?"
The simple map is:
- Urea — concentrated nitrogen.
- DAP and MAP — phosphorus plus starter nitrogen.
- Gran-Am — nitrogen plus sulphur.
- SuPerfect — phosphorus plus sulphur and calcium.
- MOP and SOP — potassium products.
- CK88 — a broader NPKS blend.
Rule of thumb: identify the nutrient job first; then compare the products that actually do that job.
1. Which fertiliser is mainly nitrogen?
Urea is the standard starting point when the job is mainly nitrogen. TGRM's current Incitec Pivot granular urea is 46% nitrogen, making it the most concentrated nitrogen option in this group.
Gran-Am is the comparison when you need nitrogen and sulphur together. It supplies less nitrogen per tonne than urea, but adds sulphate sulphur.
Rule of thumb: nitrogen only — start with urea; nitrogen plus sulphur — look at Gran-Am.
2. What are DAP and MAP used for?
DAP and MAP are concentrated phosphorus fertilisers that also carry starter nitrogen. They are commonly used where phosphorus is needed at planting or establishment and you also want some nitrogen in the same granule.
They are not "better versions" of urea. Urea is mainly a nitrogen product; DAP and MAP are phosphorus-first products with nitrogen included.
Rule of thumb: if phosphorus is the main job, DAP or MAP belongs in the comparison; if nitrogen is the main job, start with urea.
3. What's the difference between DAP and MAP?
Both supply concentrated phosphorus plus starter nitrogen. DAP carries more nitrogen than MAP, while MAP is the more phosphorus-focused option with less nitrogen in the analysis.
If the program calls for phosphorus plus a higher starter-nitrogen contribution, DAP is the natural comparison point. If you want concentrated phosphorus with less nitrogen in the product analysis, compare MAP.
Rule of thumb: more starter nitrogen with the phosphorus — DAP; less nitrogen with the phosphorus — MAP.
Final choice between DAP and MAP can also depend on soil, placement and the wider fertiliser program, so paddock-specific recommendations belong with agronomic advice.
4. Where does SuPerfect fit?
SuPerfect is built around a different job. It supplies phosphorus, sulphur and calcium and is commonly used in pasture systems. DAP and MAP are more concentrated phosphorus products and also bring starter nitrogen.
If the need is pasture phosphorus with sulphur and calcium in the same product, SuPerfect is the more relevant starting point. If the priority is concentrated phosphorus with starter nitrogen, compare DAP or MAP.
Rule of thumb: pasture P + S + Ca — SuPerfect; concentrated P + starter N — DAP or MAP.
5. What is potash, and what's the difference between MOP and SOP?
Potash products are used to supply potassium. Muriate of Potash (MOP) is the standard potassium option where chloride is not a concern. TGRM's current Incitec Pivot MOP is listed at 50% potassium.
Sulphate of Potash (SOP) also supplies potassium, but without the chloride carried by MOP, and it adds sulphur. That makes SOP the more relevant comparison where chloride-sensitive crops, or soil or irrigation-water salinity, make MOP less suitable.
Rule of thumb: standard potassium job — MOP; where chloride is a concern — SOP.
6. Where does CK88 fit?
CK88 is different from the more targeted products above because it supplies several major nutrients in one blend. TGRM's current product information lists 15.1% nitrogen, 4.4% phosphorus, 11.5% potassium and 13.6% sulphur.
Choose CK88 as the comparison when the job calls for a broad NPKS blend rather than a concentrated single-nutrient or phosphorus product.
Rule of thumb: broad NPKS blend — CK88; targeted nutrient job — choose the more specific fertiliser.
7. Quick comparison
- Urea: concentrated nitrogen.
- Gran-Am: nitrogen plus sulphate sulphur.
- DAP: concentrated phosphorus plus more starter nitrogen than MAP.
- MAP: concentrated phosphorus plus less nitrogen than DAP.
- SuPerfect: phosphorus, sulphur and calcium for pasture-oriented use.
- MOP: concentrated potassium as potassium chloride.
- SOP: potassium plus sulphur without MOP's chloride.
- CK88: multi-nutrient NPKS blend.
8. What TGRM can help with
TGRM carries a broader bagged and bulk fertiliser range than the products in this guide. If you know the nutrient job but are unsure which stocked product fits it, ask us to compare the analyses and available options.
Buy bagged fertiliser close to when you plan to use it and keep bags off wet ground. Once granular fertiliser picks up moisture it can cake and become harder to handle and spread.
This is a product-selection guide only. Final paddock nutrient requirements, rates, placement and fertiliser programs should be based on soil or plant testing and agronomic advice.
Sources referenced: Incitec Pivot Fertilisers product information for urea, Gran-Am, SuPerfect, Muriate of Potash, Sulphate of Potash and CK88 as stocked by TGRM (analyses quoted as at August 2026); general fertiliser nutrient roles per Incitec Pivot and Australian soil-nutrition references. Product availability and analyses change — check the current bag or product page.
