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Revision as of 17:02, 3 May 2004 by 129.137.171.70 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Fertilizers are chemicals given to plants with the intention of promoting growth; they are usually applied either via the soil or by foliar spraying.
The three primary ingredients of fertilizers are listed on the fertilizer bags as nitrogen, phosphate and potash as three numbers, indicating the ratios in that order. Thus a 5-10-5 fertilizer would have 10 per cent phosphate in its ingredients.
Fertilizer can be created either from natural organic material or artificially as through the Haber-Bosch process which produces ammonia. The Haber-Bosch process uses about one percent of the Earth's total energy supply in order to provide half of the nitrogen needed in agriculture. Organic material has the advantage of adding carbon compounds to the soil.
Over-use of fertilizer can lead to algal blooms in lakes and streams that receive run-off from crop lands, and lead to long-term degradation of the soil; see in this regard eutrophication and nutrients. For these reasons, it is recommended that knowledge of the nutrient requirements of the soil vis-a-vis the crop precede applications of commercial fertilizer. In short, excess nutrient elements can cause local soil and off-site damage, as well as waste money.