Fertilizers are essential for every farmer. They help to increase production yields. However, some types of fertilizers can be harmful to the environment. Find out in this article about the pollution risks of fertilizers.
Nitrogen fertilizers
Nitrogen fertilizer is a chemical fertilizer, manufactured mainly from nitrogen. Indeed, for more than a century, human research has led to a chemical synthesis that closely mimics the nitrogen formula, namely ammonium and nitrate. The use of these fertilizers was then spread throughout the world for the simple reason that they have an extraordinary effect on the result of the harvest. Nitrogen is indeed essential for plant development. Therefore, not only does this product increase agricultural yield, it also affects the quality of the harvest. However, excessive use of these types of fertilizers is the main source of disruption of the nitrogen cycle in the atmosphere. In short, nitrogen fertilizer is one of the main causes of fertilizer pollution.
The effects of chemical fertilizers on the environment
Chemical fertilizers are the main cause of soil pollution. In fact, the soil already contains nitrogen naturally. This means that the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers will result in an excess of this component in the soil. In the long term, this phenomenon is at the origin of soil sterilization and in particular the dependence of the soil on chemical fertilizers. Water is also a victim of fertilizer pollution. Moreover, thousands of people around the world are exposed to diseases due to this excess nitrogen. That is not all, fertilizer pollution is one of the main factors in the pollution of the sea, especially the biological dead zones in the open sea. On the other hand, being a volatile substance, it is relatively difficult to control the spread and pollution of fertilizers. When nitrogen from chemical fertilizers is combined with other particles from the already polluted air, they become harmful to human lungs. This causes respiratory diseases, breathing difficulties and heart disease.
Organic fertilizers: how does it work?
The use of organic fertilizers is a very good way to prevent and thus avoid these environmental disasters linked to fertilizer pollution. These organic fertilizers do not contain any and produce the same effects on the plants, i.e. feed the plants for a better yield. They therefore do not pose a threat to the environment. Another advantage is that the use of organic fertilizers does not generate any additional costs. You can make your own organic fertilizer using what you already have. For example, you can make it from leaves, feathers or compost. Why not use this type of fertiliser to improve your production and protect the environment at the same time? In short, opting for natural fertilizers will reduce the risk of fertilizer pollution.
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