Biological Sciences
Fertilisers
Fertilisers are substances added to soil or plants to provide essential nutrients for growth. They can be natural or synthetic and are commonly used in agriculture to improve crop yield and quality. Fertilisers typically contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as other micronutrients necessary for plant development.
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11 Key excerpts on "Fertilisers"
eBook - PDF- Panda, Himadri(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- Genetech(Publisher)
In addition, a fertilizer (plant food-carrier), just like any food item should not contain or any substance which is toxic to the soils, plants or humans above permissible limits. Many countries including India have laws as to what can or cannot be labelled as a fertilizer. Fertilizers are used with the sole purpose of improving soil fertility so that it can support larger harvests. Fertilizers represent the most common currency used by farmers to deposit plant nutrients into their soils to ensure that adequate nutrients are available to feed the crop. Plant roots do not absorb fertilizer granules as they come out of the bag or dung particles as they are in a manure heap. Plants absorb nutrients in specific ionic forms ( Table 11.1 ) which either a fertilizer furnishes when it dissolves in soil water or various chemical and biological agents in the soil convert fertiliser currency into local currency acceptable to roots. Since fertilizer use is determined primarily by soil fertility status and nutrient requirement of crops, a brief discussion of these two aspects is considered necessary. Figure 11.1: A Simplified Presentation of the Nitrogen Dynamics through Organic and Mineral Inputs in Agriculture Nutrient Uptake and Removal by Crops To produce each tonne or grain, a cereal crop absorbs 50–65 kg of N + P 2 O 5 + K 2 O plus lesser amounts or other nutrients. Absorbed nutrients are This ebook is exclusively for this university only. Cannot be resold/distributed. differentially distributed in different plant parts. While 70–80 per cent or absorbed N and P, and 40–60 per cent or S end up in the grains, 70–80 per cent or potash remains in the straw/stover. The destination or absorbed nutrients varies largely with the nutrient in question and crop species and to a lesser extent with growth conditions. Such distribution has important implications for nutrient gains from residue recycling which would be maximum in case or K and least for N and P.
eBook - PDF- Sharma, Ramniwas(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- Biotech(Publisher)
Fertilisers are not plant food! Although it is common for many Fertilisers to be called plant food, it is a misnomer. Plants produce their own food using water, carbon dioxide and energy from the sun. This food (sugars and carbohydrates) is combined with the plant nutrients to produce protein, enzymes, vitamins and other elements essential to plant growth. D IFFERENT T YPES OF F ERTILISERS Of the 16 essential elements for plant growth, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are considered fertiliser macronutrients because plants require them in larger quantities for maximum growth. Common incomplete Fertilisers or farm type Fertilisers. % Nitrogen % Phosphorus % Potassium Ammonium nitrate 33 0 0 Ammonium sulfate 21 0 0 Mono-ammonium phosph 11 52 0 Muriate of potash 0 0 60 (potassium chloride) Potassium sulfate 0 0 52 Super phosphate 0 20 0 Triple super phosphate 0 46 0 Urea 42-45 0 0 Diamonium phosphate 18 46 0 Slow Release Urea-formaldehyde 38 0 0 Sulfur-coated urea 22-17 0 0 IIBDU 31 0 0 Calcium, magnesium and sulfur are secondary macronutrients, but they are usually either present in sufficient quantities, or they are added coincidentally with other materials. The other essential elements, called micronutrients, are just as important This ebook is exclusively for this university only. Cannot be resold/distributed. 26 M ECHANISMS OF P LANT F ERTILISATION but are required in smaller amounts. If plants lack any of these elements, they exhibit signs of nutrient deficiency. F ERTILISER A NALYSIS The fertiliser analysis on the bag refers to how much of an element there is in a formulation based on percentage of weight. All Fertilisers are labeled with three numbers that give the percentage by weight of nitrogen (N), phosphate (P 2 O 5 ) and potash (K 2 O). Often, to simplify matters, these numbers are said to represent nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, or N-P-K. We should remember that it is not N-P-K but N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O.
- Chhatarpal Singh, Shashank Tiwari, Jay Shankar Singh, Ajar Nath Yadav, Chhatarpal Singh, Shashank Tiwari, Jay Shankar Singh, Ajar Nath Yadav(Authors)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
Figure 4.2 . In the late 19th century, the first license for producing a biological fertilizer known as Nitragin was issued for the production of Rhizobium inoculants and after that, the inoculation of legumes started to be practiced in many countries using rhizobium fertilizers (Bagnasco et al. 1998). Liquid bio-fertilizers are special liquid formulations containing not only the desired microorganisms and their nutrients but also special cell protectants or chemicals that promote the formation of resting spores or cysts for longer shelf life and tolerance to adverse conditions.FIGURE 4.2 Multi-benefits of bio-fertilizers considered as nature’s greatest gift.4.2 Effects of Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides on Soil and Human Health
In modern agriculture, due to the heavy usage of chemical fertilizers and harmful pesticides on the crops, the sustainability of the agriculture systems collapsed, so the cost of cultivation soared at a high rate, resulting in a stagnant income for farmers stagnated. Thus, food security and safety have become a daunting challenge. The indiscriminate and imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers, especially urea, along with chemical pesticides and the unavailability of organic manures, has led to a considerable reduction in soil health. This has a heavy impact on the natural environment, as well as on human health, through the pollution of soils, waters and the whole food supply chain (Mazid and Khan 2014). Agricultural chemical inputs gain access into human body systems through three major means: (i) oral ingestion, (ii) infiltration through the skin and (iii) breathing (Roychowdhury et al. 2014). Pesticides have shown long-term resistance in food including vegetables, meat and fruits and in the human body (Battu et al. 2005). Quite a number of people are negatively affected by long-term exposure to agrochemicals, even at low levels (Kirkhorn and Schenker 2001). The illnesses range from respiratory disorders and musculoskeletal illnesses to dermal and cardiac-related diseases. These illnesses are encountered by farm owners, operators, family members and employees (Magauzi et al. 2011). In developing countries where less than 20% of the world agrochemical production is consumed, agrochemicals have been reported to account for 70% of acute poisoning among the working population (United States Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA] 2016). For example, in Nigeria, Ojo (2016) observed the factors that intensify health hazards from pesticide use; the use of low-cost pesticides but which proved to be the deadliest types (in terms of persistence and toxicity); poor pesticide education leading to extensive misuse; pesticide residue on locally consumed products; poor legislation and lack of enforcement of available legislation; inadequate information, awareness and knowledge of the inherent dangers of pesticides and inadequacies in medical recognition; responses to pesticide poisoning and the failure of regulatory systems (Alori and Babalola 2018).
eBook - ePub- Shah Fahad, Shah Saud, Fazli Wahid, Muhammad Adnan, Shah Fahad, Shah Saud, Fazli Wahid, Muhammad Adnan(Authors)
- 2023(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
8.6.5 Extension and Market Constraints8.6.6 Farmer Awareness8.7 Future Prospects for Biofertilizers- References
8.1 Introduction
The agriculture sector plays an important role in improving the standard of living in a country. Hence, it is necessary to ensure food security and access for the global population. The agriculture sector has experienced a massive change (Ajmal et al. 2016). Today, the agriculture sector not only improves food supply but also improves the living standard of all. To fulfil this demand, farmers have used an excessive amount of agrochemicals to enhance crop growth and productivity (Aktar et al. 2009 ; Santos et al. 2012 ). Agrochemicals are synthetic products that contain essential elements, e.g. nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Nowadays, to increase soil fertility, farmers mostly use synthetic fertilizers, which cause numerous environmental issues, e.g. health problems, air, soil, and water pollution, climate change, loss of beneficial biodiversity, etc. In long term, they may destroy soil fertility (Bhardwaj et al. 2014 ; Khan et al. 2016 ). According to Chun-Li (2014) , agrochemical applications increase soil acidity and result in environmental pollution, with plants also becoming susceptible to many diseases (Khosro and Yousef 2012 ). Researchers have developed a new approach in the formulation of biofertilizers, which keep the soil rich in all nutrients and protect the soil from pollution.Biofertilizers are the most essential part of integrated nutrients management that play a vital role in productivity and soil sustainability when added to soil. Biofertilizers do not supply nutrients directly to the plant, they use strains of efficient beneficial microbes added to soil, seeds, and compost to accelerate the process and to enhance nutrient availability to plants that help in plant growth (Yadav and Sarkar 2019 ). Biofertilizers include nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobium, Azospirillum, cyanobacteria, Clostridium, azotobacter, and Bacillus polymyxin), phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (Aspergillus, Bacillus, Fusarium, etc.), potassium-solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus edaphicus, Bacillus mucilagenosus), sulphur-solubilizing bacteria (chemolithotrophs, Thiobacillus denitrificans, etc.) and arbuscular mycorrhiza (Gautam et al. 2021 ). These microbes are used in different combinations for the preparation of biofertilizer formulations for enhancing crop productivity. Biofertilizers are an eco-friendly approach that help to enhance soil fertility, sustainability, and plant growth and productivity (Mohapatra et al. 2013). The above-mentioned aspects aid farmer incomes through a noticeable reduction in the cost of agrochemicals (Fundases 2005 ). Biofertilizer application can be a feasible option with many social, economic, and environmental benefits (Carvajal-Munoz and Carmona-García 2012). However, biofertilizer implementation needs more practice, studies of environmental variables, assets, and time in research (Vanegas 2003 ; Fresco 2003
eBook - PDF- Panda, Himadri(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- Genetech(Publisher)
Meanwhile the contribution of biologically fixed nitrogen has not changed. The estimate of chemically fixed nitrogen for 1976 is 42 million metric tonnes. It is projected that by 2000, if we continue to rely entirely on increased use of chemical fertilizers to achieve the food production level This ebook is exclusively for this university only. Cannot be resold/distributed. more demand for fertilizer nitrogen to results and around 100–200 million metric tonnes would be needed to produce at an average cost of rupees. Materials of Biological Origin Indian soils are usually poor in organic matter as well as in nitrogen. The materials of biological origin which are commonly used to maintain and improve soil fertility may be grouped into two main categories: 1. Biofertilizers and 2. Green manures Biofertilizers The term biofertilizers or which can be more appropriately called ‘microbial inoculants’ can be generally defined as a preparation containing live or latent cells of efficient strains of nitrogen fixing, phosphate solubilising or cellulytic microorganisms used for application of seed, soil or composting areas with the objective of increasing the numbers of such microorganisms and accelerate certain microbial process to augument the extent of the availability of nutrients in a form which can be easily assimilated by plant. In large sense, the term may be used to include all organic resources (manure) for plant growth which are rendered in an available form for plant absorption through microorganisms or plant associations or interactions. Classification Biofertilizers can be broadly classified into three categories ( Table 3.1 ) Table 3.1: Classification This ebook is exclusively for this university only. Cannot be resold/distributed. Potential of Biofertilizers in Crop Production in Indian Agriculture Soil harbours a range of microorganisms which bring about a number of biochemical reactions in soil. The soil organisms are classified into two broad groups i.e.
eBook - PDF- E. Burcu Ozkaraova Gungor(Author)
- 2008(Publication Date)
- IntechOpen(Publisher)
2 Ecological, Economic and Marketing Aspects of the Application of BioFertilisers in the Production of Organic Food Drago Cvijanovi ć 1 , Gorica Cvijanovi ć 2 and Jonel Subi ć 3 3 Institute of Agricultural Economics, Belgrad 2 Maize Research Institute, Zemun Polje, Belgrade-Zemun 3 Institute of Agricultural Economics, Belgrad Serbia 1. Introduction Having ability to produce on his own necessary products, man has become independent of nature and its generosity. By this ability man provided for instance his independent development within nature. Due to the further development of his knowledge he managed to elevate the production to the level of the science and therefore to aim many processes towards the desirable direction. Today, there are no more or less important plant species, but only more or less important technology of their production. Crop yield expressed through the gain/profit, which is anyway an ultimate objective of the production, depends, first of all, on the investments into the production. Fertilisation is one of very important cultivation measures. The application rate of mineral Fertilisers can be distributed in the soil in the determined concentrations, which is their advantage over biological nitrogen. Nitrogen mineral Fertilisers are more soluble and due to their greater solubility they are more accessible to plants as plants consume much less energy when they absorb easy available nitrogen forms. However, in order to obtain high yields, mineral Fertilisers, especially of nitrogen ones, are often applied in the agricultural production. It is considered that the application of mineral Fertilisers is the most advantageous and the fastest way to increase crop yields.
eBook - PDF- Rattan Lal, B.A. Stewart(Authors)
- 2010(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
In addition, plants also need other nutrients in much smaller amounts, and they are referred to as micronutrients (boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybde-num, and zinc). To maintain soil fertility and productivity and prevent land degradation, nutrients taken up by crops must be replenished through the application of fertilizers. The use of fertilizer results in many benefits to producers, consumers, and the environment, starting with increased agricultural outputs (mainly food and fiber) to contributing to soil organic matter maintenance, water-holding capacity, biological nitrogen fixa-tion, soil erosion control, other physical and chemical properties, and less extensive land use. These benefits contribute to increased agricultural growth and agribusiness activities, which are catalysts for broadly based economic growth and development in most developed and developing economies; agriculture’s links to the nonfarm economy generate considerable employment, income, and growth in the rest of the economy. 6.2 w o r l d f o o d -Po Pu l at Io n I ssu es 6.2.1 G ROWING P OPULATION From the origin of man, the world’s population slowly grew to a total of 200–300 mil-lion people at the beginning of the nineteenth century. More than 16 centuries passed before this number had doubled (Figure 6.1). By contrast, the population in 1960 was almost double that of 1900, having grown from 1.6 billion in 1900 to almost 3 billion in 1960. This figure again doubled in about 40 years, reaching 6 billion in 2000. In 12 2020 1975 1935 1850 1650 10 8 6 Billions 4 0 10000 BC BC BC BC AC Beginning of Christian Era Beginning of Agriculture AC 8000 6000 1000 1000 2000 2050 2100 2150 2 Discovery of Modern Drugs (Sulfa and Antibiotics) Beginning of Modern Medicine Developing Countries Developed Countries f IGu r e 6.1 World population growth.
eBook - ePub- Bhu pinder Dhir(Author)
- 2000(Publication Date)
- Bentham Science Publishers(Publisher)
Utility of Biofertilizers for Soil SustainabilitySekar Hamsa1,Ruby Tiwari,1 , *Chanderkant Chaudhary21 Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi, 110021, India2 Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi, 110021, IndiaAbstract
Modern agriculture is almost entirely reliant on the supply and utilization of agrochemicals, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides, to maintain and boost agriculture productivity. Heavy use of chemical fertilizers has resulted in numerous adverse effects on the environment and human health. Biofertilizers have emerged as an eco-friendly, inexpensive, and renewable alternative to restore, enhance, and maintain soil fertility, soil health, and crop yield. Biofertilizers are beneficial microbes, including plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, cyanobacteria, and their symbionts. Hence, the importance of biofertilizers in soil management practices for soil and crop sustainability needs to be highlighted in light of their multiple benefits, including augmenting nutrient availability in the rhizosphere, increasing nutrient uptake and recycling, supplementing soil water holding capacity, production of plant growth regulators, and soil reclamation. The challenges regarding the large-scale utilization of biofertilizers need to be emphasized to achieve sustainability in agricultural soils.
- Bhale, U N(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- Daya Publishing House(Publisher)
Chapter 8 Role of Biofertilizers in Plant Nutrient Management under Present Scenario M.D. Khunt, V.A. Solanki, A.N. Sabalpara and Lalit Mahatma* Department of Plant Pathology, N.M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari – 396 450, Gujarat, India Introduction Scientific intervention including improvement of genetic architecture, precise crop production technologies, accurate protection technologies and need based nutrients management in the crop production has changed the phenology and productivity of domesticated plant species. Significance of the improved genetic architecture of the wheat and nutrient management ushered green revolution in the late sixties of the last century. Success of the green revolution led farmers to use more and more chemical fertilizers in the agriculture. Injudicious use of chemical fertilizers in soil nutrient management has caused irreversible damage to the soil, water and environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to device a technology which can minimize the use of chemical fertilizers and overcome hazardous effect of chemicals without compromising production. Organic amendments like farm yard manure, composted urban waste, vermicompost etc. are conventional and excellent source of nutrients; however, all these are in short supply. Biofertilizers offers alternatives of conventional as well as chemical source of nutrients. However, there is a wide gap in the prosperity and This ebook is exclusively for this university only. Cannot be resold/distributed. popularity of biofertilizers which need to address properly. * Corresponding Author : E-mail: [email protected] Methodological Approach of the Development of Chemicals Different organic substances are being used for the supply of nutrients for the crop production since prehistoric period. Justus von Liebig (1840) recognized the significance of nitrogen and formulated the law of the minimum.
eBook - PDF- Davis, Eric(Authors)
- 2018(Publication Date)
- Agri Horti Press(Publisher)
Potassium and phosphorus come from mines and such resources are limited. Atmospheric nitrogen is effectively unlimited, but this is not in a form useful to plants. To make nitrogen accessible to plants requires nitrogen fixation. Artificial nitrogen fertilizers are typically synthesized using fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal, which are limited resources. In lieu of converting natural gas to syngas for use in the Haber process, it is also possible to convert renewable biomass to syngas to supply the necessary energy for the process, though the amount of land and resources necessary for such a project may be prohibitive. Organic Fertilizer Organic fertilizers include naturally-occurring organic materials, or naturally occurring mineral deposits. Benefits of Organic Fertilizer In addition to increasing yield and fertilizing plants directly, organic fertilizers can improve the biodiversity and long-term productivity of soil, and may prove a large depository for excess carbon dioxide. Organic nutrients increase the abundance of soil organisms by providing organic matter and micronutrients for organisms such as fungal mycorrhiza, and can drastically reduce external inputs of pesticides, energy and fertilizer, at the cost of decreased yield. Comparison with Inorganic Fertilizer Organic fertilizer nutrient content, solubility, and nutrient release rates are typically all lower than inorganic fertilizers. This ebook is exclusively for this university only. Cannot be resold/distributed. 126 One study found that over a 140-day period, after 7 leachings : • Organic fertilizers had released between 25% and 60% of their nitrogen content • Controlled release fertilizers had a relatively constant rate of release • Soluble fertilizer released most of its nitrogen content at the first leaching In general, the nutrients in organic fertilizer are both more dilute and also much less readily available to plants.
eBook - PDFIntroduction to Crop Husbandry
(Including Grassland)
- J. A. R. Lockhart, A. J. L. Wiseman(Authors)
- 2014(Publication Date)
- Pergamon(Publisher)
FERTILIZERS AND MANURES 49 Nitrogen is supplied by fertilizers, organic matter (e.g. FYM), nodule bacteria on legumes (e.g. clovers, peas, beans, lucerne), and nitrogen-fixing micro-organisms in the soil. It is difficult to estimate how much nitrogen is produced by legumes and micro-organisms; clovers in grass-land may supply up to 250 kg/ha and micro-organisms about 60 kg/ha per annum. Phosphates and potash are supplied by the soil minerals, organic manures and fertilizers. The farmer has to decide each year what fertilizers to put on each crop. This is partly a haphazard choice and partly based on the results of experiments and his previous experience on his farm. Soil analysis, as now carried out, gives a poor indication of nitrogen requirements, and is only a very rough guide to the need for phosphates and potash. Trace elements The need for trace elements is likely to be greatest on very poor soils, where soil conditions such as a high pH make them unavailable, where intensive farming (with high yields) is practised, and on farms where organic manures such as FYM and slurry, and fertilizers such as basic slag, are not used. The importance of trace elements in plant nutrition is most appreciated when plants are grown in culture solutions circulated past their root systems (hydroponics). This is a form of horticultural crop production which is rapidly increasing especially where the solutions can be automatically replenished with nutrients. Supplying trace elements to plants can be troublesome and care is required to prevent over-dosing which may damage or kill the crop. To facilitate their application and availability to the plants, trace elements such as calcium, cop-per, iron, manganese and zinc are now obtaina-ble in a chelated form. These chelates are pro-tected water-soluble complexes of the trace elements with organic substances such as EDTA.
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