What are Fertilizers?
Fertilizers
are chemical substances supplied to the crops to increase their productivity.
These are used by the farmers daily to increase the crop yield. The fertilizers
contain the essential nutrients required by the plants, including nitrogen,
potassium, and phosphorus. They enhance the water retention capacity of the
soil and also increase its fertility.
Types of Fertilizers
There
are six different types of fertilizers that are mentioned below:
Inorganic Fertilizers
Inorganic
fertilizers are chemical fertilizers that contain nutrient elements for the
growth of crops made by chemical means.
The
inorganic fertilizers are of the following types:
1. Nitrogen Fertilizers
Nitrogen
fertilizers contain nitrogen necessary for the development of crops. Nitrogen
is the main constituent of chlorophyll that maintains a balance in the process
of photosynthesis. It is also a part of amino acids in plants and constitutes
protein. Nitrogen fertilizers improve the production and quality of
agricultural products.
2. Phosphorus Fertilizer
The
main nutrient in a phosphorus fertilizer is phosphorus. The efficiency of
fertilizer depends upon effective phosphorus content, methods of fertilizing,
properties of soil and crop strains. Phosphorus found in the protoplasm of the
cell plays an important role in cell growth and proliferation. The phosphorus
fertilizer is beneficial for the growth of roots of the plants.
3. Organic Fertilizers
Organic
fertilizers are natural fertilizers obtained from plants and animals. It
enriches the soil with carbonic compounds essential for plant growth. Organic
fertilizers increase the organic matter content of the soil, promotes the
reproduction of microorganisms, and changes the physical and chemical
properties of the soil. It is considered to be one of the main nutrients for
green food.
Organic
fertilizers can be obtained from the following products:
1. Agricultural
Waste
2. Livestock
Manure
3. Industrial
Waste
4. Municipal
Sludge
Advantages of Fertilizers
The
advantages of fertilizers are mentioned below:
1. They
are easy to transport, store, and apply.
2. For
supplying a specific nutrient we can select a specific fertilizer due
to its nutrient specific nature.
3. They
are water-soluble and can easily dissolve in the soil. Hence, they are easily
absorbed by the plants.
4. They
have a rapid effect on the crops.
5. They
increase the crop yield and provide enough food to feed the large population.
6. They
are predictable and reliable.
Disadvantages of Fertilizers
Fertilizers
have the following disadvantages:
1. They
are expensive.
2. The
ingredients in the fertilizers are toxic to the skin and respiratory system.
3. Excessive
use of fertilizers damages the plants and reduces soil fertility.
4. Leaching
occurs and the fertilizers reach the rivers causing eutrophication.
5. Long
term use reduces the microbial activity and disturbs the pH of the soil.
Uses of Fertilizers
Fertilizers
are used for various purposes. The uses of fertilizers are mentioned below:
1. They are used to providing additional
nutrients to the plants.
2. They are added to improve the yield of the
crops.
3. Nitrogen-rich fertilizers are used for the
greening of lawns.
4. Organic fertilizers improve the texture and
fertility of the soil.
5. Gardeners use fertilizers to address certain
needs of the plants such as nutritional needs.
6. Fertilizers are added to potted plants to
replace the lost nutrients.
Importance of Fertilizers
It
is very difficult to meet the demands of the increasing population with such
fewer resources. Loss of soil fertility, pests, and lack of nutrients has
resulted in a decrease in agricultural production. This has increased the
importance of fertilizers in agriculture.
Fertilizers
can be important to the plants in the following ways:
1. Fertilizers
increase plants’ tolerance towards pests. This has reduced their reliance on
insecticides and herbicides, thereby, producing healthier crops.
Consequently,
diseases have reduced, providing aesthetic value to the crops.
2. Fertilizers
improve the water holding capacity of the plants and increase root depth.
3. The
potassium content present in the fertilizers strengthens the straws and stalks
of the plants.
4. The
phosphorus present in the fertilizers helps in the faster development of roots
and formation of seeds in the plants.
5. Nitrogen
in the fertilizers enhances the growth of the plants which can be characterized
by the green colour of the plants.
Since the chemical fertilizers adversely affect soil fertility, bio-fertilizers were brought into use. These are substances that contain living or latent cells, and even micro-organisms. They provide the soil with the necessary nutrients and microbes for the growth of the plants. They help the soil to retain its fertility. They are environment-friendly and also destroy pathogenic components responsible for causing disease in plants. Acetobacter and Rhizobium are two such widely used bio-fertilizers.
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