Fertilizer

Historical and Global Impact of Fertilizer

• Management of soil fertility has ancient origins
• John Bennet Lawes patented the first artificial manure in 1842
• Industrial processes like the Birkeland-Eyde and Haber processes revolutionized fertilizer production
• Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer production increased 20-fold in the last 50 years
• Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer supports almost half of the world’s population
• Phosphate fertilizer use increased significantly
• Asia leads in agricultural use of inorganic fertilizers

Mechanism and Types of Fertilizer

• Fertilizers enhance plant growth by providing nutrients and modifying soil properties
• Main macronutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
• Secondary macronutrients include calcium, magnesium, and sulfur
• Micronutrients like copper, iron, and zinc are essential
• Fertilizers can be natural (compost, animal manure) or synthetic
• Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are key nutrients in modern fertilization
• Various application methods exist for fertilizers

Environmental Impact and Microbiological Considerations

• Increased use of nitrogen fertilizers leads to water pollution and eutrophication
• Synthetic fertilizer production emits carbon and other pollutants
• Sustainable agriculture practices can mitigate environmental damage
• Nutrients in plant tissue and their importance
• Nitrogen and phosphate are vital for plant growth
• Specific bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen for plants
• Industrial agriculture contributes to adverse environmental effects

Classification and Micronutrients

• Fertilizers can be single-nutrient or multinutrient
• NPK fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
• Micronutrients are required in small quantities by plants
• Boron, zinc, molybdenum, iron, and manganese are typical micronutrients
• Micronutrient needs vary based on plant type and environmental conditions

Production and Statistics

• Synthetic fertilizers vs. organic fertilizers
• Production methods for nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, and NPK fertilizers
• Organic fertilizers derived from living or formerly living materials
• China is the largest producer and consumer of nitrogen fertilizers
• Africa has little reliance on nitrogen fertilizers
• Statistics from FAO’s World Food and Agriculture Yearbook 2020

Fertilizer Data Sources