NOVELTY - Fertilizer and/or biostimulating composition comprises at least one fructooligosaccharide comprising 2-10 carbohydrate units, where the fructooligosaccharide is optionally sulfated.    USE - The composition is useful: for fertilizing plants to improve their absorption of mineral nutrients, or for biostimulation of plants; or as an elicitor of mechanisms of absorption of mineral nutrients in plants and as agent for stimulating the natural defenses of plants (all claimed). The ability of the composition to improve the absorption of minerals was tested in hydroponically grown young lettuce plants of 15 days old by conducting the tests in a greenhouse at temperatures of 22 degrees C/16 degrees C day/night, 60% humidity and a 10 hour photoperiod. The results showed that the plants grown in a nutrient solution (comprised of 10 mg/l of Profeed L95 (RTM: Fructooligosaccharide) together with 2 mM nitrate, 2 mM phosphate, 4 mM potassium, 1 mM calcium, 2 mM magnesium, 100 mu M iron, 14 mM boron, 16 mu M manganese, 4 mu M molybdenum and 0.8 mu M of copper) exhibited nitrate, phosphate and calcium absorption rate of 112.95%, 159.8% and 119%, respectively, as compared to control (i.e. plants grown in the same nutrient solution without Profeed L95 (RTM: Fructooligosaccharide) that exhibited nitrate, phosphate and calcium absorption rate of 100% each, respectively.    ADVANTAGE - The composition increases production of organic nitrogen in the plants to meet growth requirements culture needs for growth, and also increases protein content and nutritional value of protein crops and forages, while reducing the risk of toxicity caused by an excessive accumulation of ammonium ions in the leaf level or reducing the accumulation of nitrate in the leaves.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for fertilizing plants to improve their absorption of mineral nutrients, or biostimulation of plants, comprising applying fructooligosaccharide comprising 2-10 carbohydrate units or the composition to the plants or to the soil on which they grow.