How are fertilizers used?
Fertilizers are added to crops in order to produce enough food to feed the human population. Fertilizers provide crops with nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, which allow crops to grow bigger, faster, and to produce more food. However, plants and animals cannot use the nitrogen gas in the air.
Why do farmers use fertilizers short answer?
Fertilizers replace the nutrients that crops remove from the soil. Without the addition of fertilizers, crop yields and agricultural productivity would be significantly reduced. That’s why mineral fertilizers are used to supplement the soil’s nutrient stocks with minerals that can be quickly absorbed and used by crops.
Why is Fertiliser used in farming?
Fertilisers provide nutrients for plants. Nutrients needed in the largest quantities in agriculture are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. However, reducing fertiliser input can lead to reduced plant growth which can aggravate problems such as soil erosion.
Is fertilizer used on farms?
Most fertilizers that are commonly used in agriculture contain the three basic plant nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Materials that are applied to the land primarily to enhance soil characteristics (rather than as plant food) are commonly referred to as soil amendments.
What are the advantage of fertilizers?
Advantages of applying fertilisers to the land: It increases crop yield and improves poor quality land. Manure improves soil texture, recycles nitrogen and introduces essential bacteria. Pasture is improved so animals fatten up quicker. Once marshland is drained, fertilisers can help reclaim that land for pasture.
What are two disadvantages of using fertilizers?
Fertilizers have the following disadvantages:
- They are expensive.
- The ingredients in the fertilizers are toxic to the skin and respiratory system.
- Excessive use of fertilizers damages the plants and reduces soil fertility.
- Leaching occurs and the fertilizers reach the rivers causing eutrophication.
