also: きひ
noun
basal fertilizer; base fertilizer; pre-planting fertilizer
Fertilizer applied to the soil before planting or transplanting, as opposed to topdressing (追肥). Common in gardening and farming.
野菜を植える前に元肥を土に混ぜてください。
Please mix basal fertilizer into the soil before planting vegetables.
元肥として堆肥を使う農家が多い。
Many farmers use compost as a basal fertilizer.
Alternate kanji spelling with the reading きひ. Used in agricultural contexts.
Variant spelling with okurigana; less common.
追肥 is topdressing or additional fertilizer applied during the growing season, while 元肥 is applied before planting.
Compound of 元 (moto, 'origin, base') and 肥 (goe, 'fertilizer, manure'). The reading きひ for 基肥 uses the on'yomi of 基 (ki, 'base') and 肥 (hi).