Effects Of Chemical Fertilizers On The Environment – The use of fertilizers has helped mankind achieve mass crop production to feed a growing population. However, in order to do so, we have not overlooked the difficulty that lies ahead in its worst form. This article explains how fertilizers affect the environment and those who live in it.

“The more we pour big machines, fuel, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and chemicals into farming, the more we disrupt the mechanism that made it all work in the first place.”

Effects Of Chemical Fertilizers On The Environment

Fertilizers have become an indispensable part of agriculture and farming. These synthetic and organic substances are added to the soil to increase the supply of essential nutrients that enhance plant and plant growth. Along with the rapid growth of the world’s population, the demand for food has also increased dramatically. According to statistics, about 40-60 percent of agricultural crops are grown using various fertilizers. Not only this, more than 50 percent of the population is fed with crops grown as a result of the use of synthetic fertilizers.

The Impact Of Fertilizers On The Environment: Inorganic Vs. Organic

With food secured and our own lawns looking as lush and green as possible, we tend to ignore the long-term harmful effects of using so much fertilizer. Agreed, authorities have taken some steps to reduce their harmful effects and encourage people to use organic fertilizers instead of synthetic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are always a good option, but they are not the ultimate solution. According to National Geographic, “Organic fertilizers also contain nitrogen and phosphorus that can leach into waterways. Like conventional fertilizers fortified with synthetic ammonia, both manure and guano (bird droppings) contain high levels of natural ammonia, which can “burn” plants.

Mother Nature has always taught us balance and still does. If we eat too much, our body will go out of shape and tell us to exercise and get back to our ideal circle. When we exercise too much, our bodies tell us to slow down and rest. The warmth of the sun always opposes the cold of winter. Nature is always working until it reaches equilibrium, but it’s not human nature, it’s just Mother Nature!

We all live with the consequences of ecological imbalance. A classic example of this would be global warming. The causes attributed to these global threats are nothing but the mindless actions of human civilization – deforestation, greenhouse effect, soil erosion, all the results. When it comes to the use of fertilizers, these chemicals and minerals certainly help to increase plant growth, but our environment pays a heavy price, the burden of which is shared by all in the long run. Below are some key points that show the negative impact of fertilizers on the environment.

As funny as it may seem to you, excessive use of fertilizers can change the soil’s fertility by increasing its acid levels. A soil test is recommended at least once every 3 years to detect this hazard. This will help you determine if you are using the right amount of fertilizers or not. Soil pH ranges from 0-14, where 0 is the most acidic and 14 is the most basic. 7 is considered neutral. The ideal soil pH varies from plant to plant and can be altered by making some changes in tillage. Without determining the pH levels, you may not be able to use this soil for long-term plant productivity.

New Unep Report Provides Actions To Minimize Adverse Impacts On Health And Environment From Pesticides And Fertilizers

In addition to changing pH levels, synthetic fertilizers tend to kill beneficial microorganisms in the soil that are essential for plant growth and overall soil health. This makes agricultural growth very dependent on fertilizers, because the natural capacity of the soil has been destroyed by these substances, and without additional treatment, the soil lacks the necessary nutrients for plants.

Excessive use of fertilizers leads to eutrophication. Fertilizers contain nitrates and phosphorous substances that enter lakes and oceans through rain and runoff. These substances promote excessive algae growth in water bodies, thereby reducing oxygen levels for aquatic life. The difference results in the death of fish and other aquatic fauna and flora. Indirectly, this contributes to an imbalance in the food chain, since the various fish species in the reservoirs are the main food source for various birds and animals in the environment, including us.

You will be surprised to know that about 50% of the lakes in the United States are eutrophic! Fertilizer application to individual lawns is a major contributing factor. Nitrogen contained in fertilizers decomposes into nitrates and reaches the ground water. This contaminated groundwater can reach nearby lakes and rivers and can also contaminate domestic water supplies. Its negative effects on humans are discussed further in this article.

Fertilizers contain substances and chemicals such as methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and nitrogen, which increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the environment. In fact, nitrous oxide, a byproduct of nitrogen, is the third most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and methane. It also destroys the ozone layer that protects the earth from the sun’s harmful UV rays. This, in turn, increases the risk of global warming and subsequent climate change.

Synthetic Fertilizer Ammonium Nitrate Makes Climate Change Worse

Many fertilizers use peat moss as a key ingredient. Peat bogs store more carbon dioxide than tropical rainforests worldwide. Collecting them can worsen the situation by worsening the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

It’s not uncommon for organic fertilizers to contain sewage sludge, yes, sludge from chemical industries that contains heavy metals and other harmful substances. A February 2008 study in Environmental Science and Technology found that earthworms living in soil treated with such fertilizers absorb these harmful chemicals. This discovery led scientists to doubt that these substances are also present in plants growing in this soil. Fertilizer use has also been associated with a decline in the nutritional value of many foods over the past 50-60 years.

Applying too much nitrogen to the soil causes the loss of some plant species, especially plants with low nitrogen requirements. It also encourages the growth of weeds and non-native plants. According to the Ecological Society of America, non-native grasses are highly flammable and pose a risk to wildfires, thus endangering the environment.

As mentioned above, the presence of nitrogen and other chemicals in fertilizers can affect groundwater and contaminate domestic water sources! One of the most common results of drinking this contaminated water is the development of blue baby syndrome. As the name suggests, this syndrome affects babies and reduces the oxygen levels in their blood, causing their skin to turn blue-green. This condition can lead to coma and even death.

Over Fertilization In The Garden

Other health risks associated with contact with or consumption of contaminated air, water, or food include goiter, hypertension, respiratory disease, heart disease, and more. belongs to. Interestingly, nitrogen pollution from fertilizers has been identified as an important cause of some cancers, such as stomach cancer, testicular cancer, and stomach cancer.

The use of fertilizers to grow and cultivate agriculture will fill our stomachs for now, but then, if everything continues to progress, it won’t be long before everything – food, water and health – is gone. Ironically, as harmful as the use of fertilizers is, we have reached a point where we cannot use them at all. Because the absence of these leads not only to the reduction of crops, but also to soil erosion due to the low growth of plants. The only option we have is to use organic fertilizers in moderation and take the necessary steps to allow the soil to replenish lost nutrients naturally.

Due to the current situation, it is imperative to take all legal steps to address the need of time and control the damage done so far. The more we educate ourselves on this topic and analyze our options, the better it will be for our environment. For now, let’s start with small and simple steps like not using too much fertilizer, not applying during the rainy season, and avoiding excessive watering. It will take decades to reverse the damage done, but the least we can do is start the healing process – now!

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Pdf) Effect Of Chemical Fertilizers On Soil Compaction And Degradation

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