This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Growers who search for the best water-soluble fertilizer companies usually have a pretty down-to-earth goal: they want a nutrient program that behaves predictably when the crop and the system have zero patience for mistakes.

In hydroponics and greenhouse production, fertilizer is not just an “input.” It is basically part of the plumbing. If something does not dissolve cleanly or it nudges pH in a weird direction, you feel it fast: clogged emitters, drifting EC, uneven growth, the whole headache.

That’s also why things like solubility, purity, pH behavior, and formulation consistency can matter just as much as the nutrient numbers on the label. And yes, the commercial side is growing. Fortune Business Insights estimates the global fertilizers market at USD 144.50 billion in 2024, projecting USD 192.21 billion by 2032. Within that, fertigation was valued at USD 20.69 billion in 2024 and is forecast at a 5.11% CAGR, and fruits and vegetables are projected at a 4.83% CAGR.

Zooming out a bit helps explain why this “precision feeding” conversation keeps getting louder. FAO’s Statistical Yearbook 2024 reports global agricultural value at USD 3.8 trillion in 2022, primary crop production at 9.6 billion tonnes, and inorganic fertilizer use at 185 million tonnes of nutrients. The same release points to worsening water stress in some regions, which is part of the reason irrigation-based nutrition is getting treated as a strategic tool, not just a nice upgrade.

So what counts as a water-soluble fertilizer, in plain language? It’s a concentrated nutrient product designed to dissolve in water so you can apply it through drip irrigation, fertigation, or foliar feeding. In hydroponics, it’s even more central because the nutrient solution is the crop’s main food source, not a soil supplement. These fertilizers are formulated to dissolve in water and support precise nutrient delivery through irrigation systems.

What Are Water-Soluble Fertilizers?

Water-soluble fertilizers are specialty fertilizers that dissolve fully, or close enough that they run cleanly through irrigation and foliar systems, letting growers deliver nutrients with real control. The big advantage is flexibility. You can change concentration, timing, and ratios as the crop changes, instead of sticking with a generic schedule that kind of fits, until it doesn’t.

These fertilizers are designed to dissolve completely and deliver plant-ready nutrients with minimal impurities. In greenhouse and fertigation systems, characteristics like low chloride or sodium levels, stable nutrient solutions, and compatibility with injectors and emitters become important. Those details may sound technical, but they show up in practical ways for growers: fewer deposits in irrigation lines, more stable tank mixes, and fewer surprises during crop cycles.

Not all fertilizers behave the same once they hit water. In hydroponics and greenhouse fertigation, growers tend to choose products based on predictable dissolution, low impurity levels, and steady nutrient delivery. Yara International positions its YaraTera line as a full family of fully water-soluble products for fertigation, including NPKs, straights, chelates, liquids, and biostimulants. EuroChem makes a similar stage-based argument for its water-soluble NPK products, which it says are adapted to crop phases such as rooting, development, growth stimulation, and ripening.

A simple way to think about water-soluble fertilizers is this: they sit right at the intersection of chemistry and irrigation management. The crop only gets the payoff if the nutrient source, the water quality, and the delivery method play nicely together. That is why the more credible water-soluble fertilizer companies usually talk about more than product bags. They talk about systems, water, support, and crop programs.

Why Hydroponics Requires Specialized Fertilizers

Hydroponics is less forgiving than soil because there is no soil buffer to soften your mistakes. The nutrient solution has to deliver everything the plant needs, in the right ratio, at the right concentration, and in forms that stay available. Haifa’s hydroponics materials are pretty blunt about it; hydroponic growing calls for very high purity and solubility, with essentially no tolerance for contaminants that could harm plants or clog equipment.

This is where “specialized” stops being marketing and starts being risk management. If a product does not dissolve well, it can leave residue, block emitters, complicate EC and pH control, or create nutrient antagonisms that reduce uptake. High-purity, low-chloride inputs and formulas designed for fertigation can reduce those risks, at least in most setups. Haifa highlights sodium- and chloride-free nutrition in its soluble range, while SQM positions its natural-source potassium nitrate as chloride-free and fully water-soluble, with formulas designed for fertigation and nutrient absorption.

The market numbers support the trend toward more specialized products. Fortune Business Insights says the liquid fertilizer segment is projected to grow at a 4.56% CAGR from 2025 to 2032, and it also describes fertigation as the fastest-growing application mode among the listed methods. That matches what a lot of growers already learn the hard way: once irrigation becomes the delivery platform, fertilizer quality has to keep up.

Consistency becomes the real bar. A supplier can look great on paper, but if products dissolve inconsistently, if formulas are too generic for sensitive greenhouse crops, or if technical support is thin, growers can lose yield quickly. That is why strong hydroponic nutrient suppliers rarely get judged on NPK alone. People judge them on purity, formulation range, water compatibility, technical guidance, and whether they can support crop-specific recipes across different growth stages.

Best Water-Soluble Fertilizer Manufacturers

There is no single best supplier for every operation. A tomato greenhouse, a leafy greens hydroponic farm, and a nursery running container fertigation can all care about different things. Still, based on publicly visible portfolios and technical positioning, ICL Group, Haifa Group, Yara International, SQM, and EuroChem Group come up as serious players in water-soluble nutrition. The difference is mostly about what each one seems to lean into: greenhouse specialization, hydroponic purity, fertigation breadth, nitrate-based inputs, or integrated agronomy support.

Comparison snapshot

#1 ICL Group

ICL Group

looks strongest when you want breadth, a full water-soluble fertigation lineup instead of one flagship product. On its agriculture pages, ICL describes itself as a leading manufacturer and distributor of water-soluble and liquid fertilizers, listing brands like Agrolution, Solinure, NovaNPK, Novacid, and Fertiflow. The public messaging ties those products to precise nutrition, crop-stage management, and crop-specific applications for fruit trees, vegetables, and other cash crops.

If you’re managing multiple crops or running a year-round greenhouse schedule, that range can be genuinely useful. ICL also leans into irrigation performance, not just nutrition theory. For example, it describes Solinure as being made for fruit and vegetable crops in field or greenhouse settings, with emphasis on high purity and reducing deposit buildup and blockages in irrigation systems. That mix, formulation range plus irrigation practicality, is why ICL reads as one of the more “complete” options in this set.

#2 Haifa Group

Haifa Group

comes across as the most clearly hydroponics-forward supplier here, at least from what it emphasizes publicly. The company states outright that hydroponic growing requires fertilizers with very high purity and solubility, and it presents hydroponic solutions as a core use case, not an afterthought. Its water-soluble positioning focuses on complete dissolution, plant-ready nutrients, rapid absorption, and products that are virtually free of chloride and sodium.

That focus tends to align with what hydroponic growers actually worry about day to day, clean system performance and predictable chemistry. Haifa’s public lineup includes greenhouse-grade NPKs under Poly-Feed GG, potassium nitrate through Multi-K, and additional products tailored for greenhouse and soilless systems. If your main requirement is a hydroponic-first supplier, Haifa looks especially aligned.

#3 Yara International

Yara’s strength looks a little different. Its water-soluble story is less “hydroponics specialist” and more “fertigation ecosystem.” YaraTera is described as a full range of water-soluble products for fertigation, including NPKs, straights, chelates, liquid fertilizers, and biostimulants. Then it layers in software, training programs, and support tools, which can matter a lot for commercial growers who want repeatable systems and documentation, not just products.

Yara also shows a two-track approach in public materials, YaraTera for fully water-soluble fertigation, and YaraRega for water-soluble granular NPKs in field fertigation. So, Yara may be a better fit when the buyer values integration, training, and agronomic infrastructure, even if its hydroponics messaging is not as “front and center” as Haifa’s.

#4 SQM

SQM stands out most for nitrate-based specialty nutrition, especially potassium nitrate. On its official pages, SQM describes itself as a global leader in natural-source potassium nitrate and positions it as chloride-free, fully water-soluble, and suited for fertigation. It also points to agronomic expertise supported by field trials and teams working across more than 100 countries, which signals a heavy emphasis on real-world crop programs.

Its Ultrasol line is positioned as a complete water-soluble nutrient range for fertigation across phenological phases, with macro and micronutrients designed for efficient absorption. If your buying criteria centers on chloride-free nitrate inputs and specialty fertigation programs for fruits and vegetables, SQM’s positioning fits that priority well.

#5 EuroChem Group

EuroChem Group reads as a practical fertigation supplier with a broad water-soluble offering, rather than a hydroponics-only brand. Its public agriculture pages describe a complete range of water-soluble fertilizers for efficient fertigation, including tailor-made formulas adapted to phases like rooting, development, growth stimulation, fattening, and ripening. That stage-based framing can be genuinely useful in greenhouse programs where feed recipes keep shifting.

EuroChem also highlights system-focused features that matter in irrigation. For instance, Aqualis UP Solub is positioned for foliar or fertigation use in alkaline conditions, with acidity that helps clean irrigation systems and reduce clogging risk. It also describes products like calcium nitrate and monoammonium phosphate as fully water-soluble and low in insoluble matter, which is exactly what injection-based systems need.

Choosing Nutrients for Greenhouse Crops

For greenhouse and hydroponic growers, picking a supplier is only half the job. The other half is building a nutrient strategy that fits your water, your crop stage, and your system constraints. When things go wrong, it usually isn’t because one single factor was “bad,” it’s because a few small mismatches stacked up.

1. Start with your water, not your fertilizer bag. Hard or alkaline water can create availability issues and equipment problems quickly. That’s where irrigation-friendly or acidifying products can matter. EuroChem positions urea phosphate solutions for alkaline conditions and clogging prevention, and ICL highlights products designed to reduce deposit buildup in irrigation systems. Water tests may feel like homework, but they tend to save money and frustration.
2. Match the formulation to the crop stage. Greenhouse crops rarely require the same ratio during rooting, vegetative growth, fruit set, and ripening. EuroChem leans into phase-specific formulas, and Yara emphasizes a range that includes straights, chelates, and fertigation tools. In practice, a tomato greenhouse often does better with a supplier that can support recipe changes across the full cycle, not just sell a generic soluble NPK.
3. Prioritize purity if you run hydroponics or other soilless systems. Haifa’s hydroponics positioning and SQM’s chloride-free nitrate emphasis point to the same thing: sensitive irrigation-fed systems usually benefit from clean, highly soluble inputs with minimal undesirable salts. This becomes even more important when water quality varies or the crop is salt-sensitive.
4. Decide whether you want a full-program supplier or a specialist component supplier. ICL, Haifa, and Yara present broad portfolios with multiple product families and support layers. SQM looks more like a nitrate-focused specialist, and EuroChem comes across strong in practical, stage-based fertigation programs. None of those approaches is automatically better. The best fit depends on whether you want one main supplier, multiple component suppliers, or a hybrid model. This is still an editorial comparison based on public product materials, not a universal ranking.
5. Finally, do not ignore technical support. Yara emphasizes training and software, SQM points to agronomic teams and field trials, and ICL highlights tailored solutions and crop-specific application guidance. In greenhouse production, support often matters as much as the base formula, because nutrient programs have to adapt to seasonality, water tests, substrate choice, and yield and quality targets.

Conclusion

The best water-soluble fertilizer companies for hydroponics are not always the biggest fertilizer companies overall. They are the ones whose soluble product quality, irrigation compatibility, and support systems match the reality of greenhouse and soilless production, where small errors can turn into big losses.

The market context helps explain why this category keeps expanding. Fertigation is growing faster than many other application modes, and fruits and vegetables remain one of the more dynamic segments. In the end, the “best” choice usually comes down to your crop, your water, your system design, and how much technical backup you actually want on speed dial.

As golf fans anticipate the 90th Masters Tournament at the illustrious Augusta National Golf Club, IBM continues to innovate the way they consume the first major championship of the season, including this year with its new AI-enabled digital experiences. 

IBM and the Masters Tournament announced Monday the new and enhanced digital fan features on the award-winning Masters digital platforms, including the Masters app, as they continue to evolve over their 30-year collaboration to bring rich history and on-course excitement to the millions watching from April 9-12.

One of those new features is within the Masters Vault video archive, which allows fans to explore over 50 years of Masters Tournament final round broadcasts. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXBUSINESS.COM

A general view of IBM and the Masters Tournament’s “Masters Vault Search” within its app ahead of the 90th Masters Tournament in April 2026. (IBM / Fox News)

Now, using the watsonx AI-powered capabilities, IBM and the Masters Tournament are introducing the Masters Vault Search, where fans can find the shots and moments they’re looking for through simple, conversation-style prompts. 

A system of AI agents, powered by specialized solutions including IBM’s Granite small language models (SLM) and agentic AI platform watsonx Orchestrate, has been built to instantly find the exact clips fans are searching for. Once performed, fans will be able to watch full-length replays, as they relive, reminisce and prepare themselves for the coming action in this year’s tournament. 

The Masters Vault Search is also built with optical character recognition, speech-to-text transcription of broadcast commentary and scene detection to analyze the footage a fan is looking for. 

UFC AND IBM REVEAL AI-POWERED ‘IN-FIGHT INSIGHTS’ TECHNOLOGY AHEAD OF MADISON SQUARE GARDEN EVENT

The vault dates to 1968, which means fans can see Jack Nicklaus’ 1975 back-nine charge, including his famous 40-foot birdie putt on 16, to capture his fifth green jacket. Nicklaus’ sixth green jacket is arguably the greatest Masters finish in tournament history, shooting 30 on the back nine with a birdie-birdie finish to win his sixth jacket. 

Then, there’s Phil Mickelson’s winning putt in 2004, Tiger Woods’ iconic chip-in at 16 the year after, and of course, Rory McIlroy completing the career Grand Slam in a thrilling 2025 tournament. Individual stroke data, which started in 2015, will be available as well. 

A general view of IBM and the Masters Tournament’s “Hole Insights” within its app ahead of the 90th Masters Tournament in April 2026. (IBM / Fox News)

Finally, the AI-powered Hole Insights returns for its third year, and is even more accurate than before. This feature provides fans insights around every shot taken by every player on every hole during the Masters. 

The new enhancement combines on-course visuals with data-driven insights, including historical scoring probabilities and contextual performance trends. This helps fans better understand how each shot, position and decision will impact outcomes for golfers throughout the four-day tournament. 

Also, legendary caddie and commentator Jim “Bones” Mackay advised the IBM team behind the solution, lending his expertise and first-hand knowledge of one of the hardest golf courses in the world to better deliver the analysis for fans to consume. 

“The Masters Tournament and IBM have continually raised the bar on unique digital experiences that blend cutting-edge technology with the timelessness of Augusta National Golf Club,” Jonathan Adashek, senior vice president of marketing and communications at IBM, said in a press release. “The introduction of Masters Vault Search and updates to Hole Insights show how generative and agentic AI can transform vast amounts of data into meaningful insights – whether you’re a golf fan who wants to understand the implications of a single shot in real time, or a financial institution using AI to analyze millions of transactions to identify patterns and inform decisions.”

A detailed view of a pin flag during the Par Three Contest prior to the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images / Getty Images)

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

IBM and the Masters Tournament have been pioneering the enhanced fan experience with the use of emerging technology. IBM is also partnered with iconic sports and entertainment organizations, including the UFC, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, among others, where fan experiences are powered by the same AI hybrid cloud solutions used by clients across industries.

Those using the Masters digital platforms will also be able to use key features for this year’s tournament like AI Highlights, Round in Three Minutes, My Group, and even access the Masters app on Apple Vision Pro. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

DoorDash is rolling out an emergency relief program to help delivery drivers cope with rising gas prices as the Iran war drives fuel costs higher.

The program, effective immediately through April 26, 2026, combines cash-back incentives with weekly payments to help reduce fuel costs for active Dashers.

At the center of the initiative is a 10% cash back offer on gas purchases for Dashers using the DoorDash Crimson Visa debit card. The company is also introducing weekly relief payments for Dashers who drive at least 125 miles while making deliveries, with payouts ranging from $5 to $15 depending on mileage.

Dashers who reach 125 miles earn $5 (about $1.00 per gallon in savings), those who hit 200 miles earn $10 (about $1.25 per gallon), and those who drive 250 miles earn $15 (about $1.50 per gallon).

TRUMP PROMISED LOWER COSTS; THE IRAN CONFLICT NOW THREATENS THAT PLEDGE

DoorDash rolled out an emergency relief plan for delivery drivers facing high gas prices. (Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Drivers who qualify for both benefits could see total savings between $1.40 and $1.90 per gallon, depending on how much they drive.

“Rising gas prices have a real impact on Dashers, especially those who are delivering the most,” said Cody Aughney, vice president of dasher and logistics at DoorDash. “This program is about giving Dashers real savings at the pump.”

The move is part of DoorDash’s broader effort to support its driver network as fuel prices remain a key concern for gig workers who rely on their vehicles for income.

The effort comes as gas prices rise sharply nationwide.

A STATE-BY-STATE LOOK AT GAS PRICES AS IRAN CONFLICT PUSHES OIL HIGHER

People fuel vehicles at a gas station in Los Angeles, on Nov. 15, 2021. (Zeng Hui/Xinhua via Getty Images)

The national average is now $3.95 per gallon, up $1.02 from a month ago, according to AAA.

Prices are climbing across nearly every region, with some states already well above the national average. On the West Coast, drivers are seeing the highest costs, with prices reaching $5.79 per gallon in California and $5.27 in Washington.

Along the East Coast, gas prices are nearing—or in some cases surpassing—$3.70 per gallon, including $3.86 in New York and $3.80 in Maine.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Meanwhile, in the Midwest, Illinois stands out with prices at $4.16 per gallon, while much of the region remains in the mid-$3 range. Prices are generally lower across the South, though still on the rise, with Texas at $3.62 and Florida at $3.93.

SEOUL, South Korea — After nearly four years of hiatus driven by mandatory military service, K-pop supergroup BTS made a blockbuster return in March 2026 with their fifth Korean-language studio album “Arirang” and a free, open-air comeback concert in central Seoul, drawing massive crowds, record-breaking sales and streams, and widespread acclaim as one of the most successful music events of the year.

The album, released March 20, 2026, via Big Hit Music under HYBE, marks BTS’s first full-group project since 2022’s “Proof” anthology and their first studio LP in six years. Featuring 14 tracks—including lead single “Swim” and collaborations with producers like Diplo, Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, Mike WiLL Made-It and Ryan Tedder—the record blends introspective themes rooted in Korean identity with the group’s signature high-energy sound. Members RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook contributed significantly to songwriting and production, reflecting personal growth during their service period.

Commercial performance exceeded even high expectations. “Arirang” sold 3.98 million copies on its first day according to Hanteo Chart data, surpassing BTS’s previous first-day high from “Map of the Soul: 7” (3.38 million first-week sales) and achieving double-million status in hours. Pre-orders topped 4.06 million globally across more than 100 countries, with cumulative projections pointing to 6 million or more. The album claimed No. 1 on iTunes in over 80 countries and dominated charts worldwide upon release.

Streaming numbers were equally explosive. On Spotify, “Arirang” amassed 110 million global streams in its first day, claiming the platform’s most-streamed album of 2026 so far and the most-streamed K-pop album in Spotify history. Every track from the album occupied the top 14 spots on Spotify’s Global chart, with BTS surpassing 1 billion total streams in 2026 alone, making them the first K-pop act to hit that milestone this year. Lead single “Swim” quickly topped Melon’s TOP 100 in South Korea within an hour of release, while all album tracks entered the top 50.

The comeback culminated in the “BTS The Comeback Live: ARIRANG” concert on March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square, drawing an estimated 104,000 to 260,000 fans—described by organizers and media as potentially the largest public concert in South Korean history. The hourlong, Netflix-livestreamed event to 190 countries featured high-energy performances heavy on new material, emotional reunions and modified choreography to accommodate RM’s ankle injury from rehearsal. A drone show lit the Seoul sky with the members’ faces, and the city raised its terror alert level but reported no incidents amid orderly crowds.

Analysts hailed the event as a cultural and economic triumph. IBK Investment & Securities projected the “ARIRANG” world tour—set to launch April 9 in Goyang with 82 stadium shows across 34 cities through 2027—could generate at least 2.9 trillion Korean won (about $1.93 billion), potentially rivaling Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” record of $2.2 billion. The comeback is expected to boost Korea’s overall K-pop industry, which faced a 19% album sales drop in 2024 amid the group’s absence.

The return comes after all seven members completed military service, with the last discharges in 2025 paving the way for full-group activities. Solo successes during the hiatus—chart-topping projects from each member—fueled anticipation, but the full reunion delivered unmatched impact. Critics praised “Arirang” for artistic maturity while retaining commercial appeal, with The New York Times calling it a “raucous test of creative mettle” and a beacon of Korean soft power.

Fans, known as ARMY, mobilized globally, booking hotels in Seoul months in advance and driving viral social media buzz. The concert’s emotional weight was palpable, with members expressing gratitude for fan support during their break. “This is BTS 2.0 is only just beginning,” j-hope said onstage, encapsulating the fresh chapter.

Challenges included RM’s injury and the evolving K-pop landscape, where groups like Stray Kids and NewJeans filled the void, but BTS’s dominance proved undiminished. Netflix’s partnership extends to a two-part documentary “BTS: The Return” premiering March 27, offering behind-the-scenes glimpses, plus U.S. fan events like the March 23 Spotify showcase in New York.

As the world tour approaches, with screenings of early shows planned for global theaters, BTS’s 2026 resurgence has already rewritten records. From physical sales to digital dominance, the comeback reaffirms their status as global superstars, turning a long-awaited reunion into an industry-defining moment.