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| Fertilizer typically adds to the soil major elements (], ], or ]) secondary elements (], ], ], and ]) and sometimes trace elements. Fertilizer can be | Fertilizer typically adds to the soil major elements (], ], or ]) secondary elements (], ], ], and ]) and sometimes trace elements. Fertilizer can be | ||
| created either from natural organic material such as ] or ], or artificially as through the ] which creates ]. | created either from natural ] material such as ] or ] (see also ]), or artificially as through the ] which creates ]. | ||
| The Haber-Bosch process uses about one percent of the Earth's total energy supply, in order to provide half of the nitrogen used in agriculture. | The Haber-Bosch process uses about one percent of the Earth's total energy supply, in order to provide half of the nitrogen used in agriculture. | ||
Revision as of 11:37, 12 April 2003
Fertilizers are substances added to soil with the intention of promoting plant growth.
Fertilizer typically adds to the soil major elements (nitrogen, potassium, or phosphorus) secondary elements (calcium, sulfur, magnesium, and sodium) and sometimes trace elements. Fertilizer can be created either from natural organic material such as manure or compost (see also organic gardening), or artificially as through the Haber-Bosch process which creates ammonia.
The Haber-Bosch process uses about one percent of the Earth's total energy supply, in order to provide half of the nitrogen used in agriculture.
Excessive use of fertilizer can lead to algal blooms in streams that receive the run-off from the land being fertilized, and leads to long-term degradation of the soil.