California commercial fertilizer sales have grown dramatically since 1955. Total sales of nitrogen (N) and potash (K) tripled while phosphate (P) sales more than doubled. Total fertilizer sales of 830,000 tons for the year ending June 30,1976 were distributed approximately 71 percent nitrogen, 22 percent phosphates, and 7 percent potash. The highly diversified and intensive cropping patterns characteristic of California agriculture will continue to require large amounts of fertilizer to maintain present levels of production.