Lecture 37

Impact of Fertilizers on the environment

1. Nitrogenous Fertilizer Use and the Environment
Nitrogen mineral and organic fertilizers are converted by soil microorganisms to ammonium
and nitrate since these are almost the only forms of N that can be used by crops. They are highly
soluble in water and are readily available for plant uptake. The ammonium form is attracted to
and held by soil particles. If the ammonium form is not used by the plant, it is converted to
nitrate. The unused nitrates move with the soil water and can lead to accumulation in the
groundwater. Heavy rains may remove nitrogen, especially that originating from mineralization
of the organic matter, is the main source of N loss into the water. Leaching of the nitrogen leads
to eutrophication of the surface3 water and the contamination of drinking water.
Increasing biological production in the surface waters consumes dissolved oxygen and
causes eutrophication. Algae present in the waters with excess nutrients (mainly leached nitrogen
and phosphorus from soil erosion) grow rapidly and consume most of the oxygen preventing
development of other forms of life, e.g., fishes. In some cases eutrophication can lead to the total
extinction of life in the waters and can make surface waters unusable.
Nitrate leached from the soil may be present in the drinking water supplies since the standard
treatment processes do not remove nitrates from water. Nitrates in the human alimentary system
are reduced to nitrates, which transform blood hemoglobin into an inactive form that is unable to
participate in the oxygen-exchange process. This is particularly dangerous for bottle-fed babies.
Therefore, the amount of nitrates in drinking water is limited by the European Union to the
amount of 50mg of NO
3
/l. The WHO advisable limit is 45 mg of NO
3
/l. However, water is not
the only source of nitrates in the human diet, and the daily dose of nitrate may amount to 200mg
of NO
3
per day. Fruits and vegetables transform nitrates into harmless compounds. The leaching
do nitrogen by coincidence is minimal at the economic optimum of the fertilizer application as
shown in figure.
Use of fertilizers also causes emission of gases to the atmosphere. Nitrous oxide and other
oxides of nitrogen in the atmosphere are transformed into NO
2
which reacts with ozone in the
upper zones. However, the impact of nitrogen oxides on the ozone layer is insignificant in
comparison with that of other gases.
Use of urea may cause emission of ammonia into the atmosphere. In some cases emission of
50% of the dose applied has been reported. Ammonia emissions (estimated total of 4.5 million
tone /year) do not contribute significantly to the greenhouse effect. Ammonia is quickly removed
from the atmosphere by wet and dry surfaces and by dissolution in precipitation. It is estimated
that only 10%-20% of ammonia emissions reach the atmosphere and are oxidized to te various
nitrogen gases.
2. Phosphorus Fertilizer Use and the Environment
Phosphorus fertilizers may contain impurities; among those are some heavy metals that are of
concern. In particular, cadmium (Cd) has received attention during the past few years. The level
of cadmium content in fertilizers has been more or less arbitrarily limited to the concentration of
50mg Cd/kg of P
2
O
5
.
Research has not yet solved the problems of origin and transformation of cadmium in the soil
and crops. It has been observed that deposition of the Cd from air is higher than that from
mineral fertilizers. Where FYM has been used the total deposition of Cd has been higher than the
combined atmospheric deposition and the contribution of mineral fertilizers. However, the
behavior of Cd of different origins in the soil has not been investigated. Soil organic matter
increases the retention of Cd in the soil. The content of cadmium in grain (wheat and barley) has
been of the same magnitude (about 40 micrograms/kg) when mineral fertilizers or FYM has been
used. In the case of herbage, NPK contributed a cadmium concentration of 81 micrograms/kg.
Phosphorus also contributes to the eutrophication process of the surface waters. The
eutrophic threshold value is considered to be in the range of 0.020-0.050 ppmw of P; most
surface waters exceed this value. The P content in sewage waters containing detergents, animal
wastes, and plant residues contributes to the high phosphorus content of surface waters.
Phosphorus from fertilizers could reach the surface waters only by erosion since P does not leach
through the soils in a significant amount. To prevent phosphorus losses in agriculture, soil
erosion control measures should be employed.
The potential negative environmental aspects of fertilizers as presented in previous
paragraphs are minor when fertilizers are used in the proper quality, at the proper time of the
cropping season, and in the adequate quantity. The misuse and overuse of fertilizers could not be
an argument against their application. The proper use of fertilizers requires the active
participation of governments in broad-based education and advertising programs.
Fertilizers make significant positive contributions to the human environment such as:
Improvement of Farming Efficiency
Farmers incomes can be increased by the use of adequate land management
procedures. Application of fertilizers is one of the leading parameters of successful land
management. Use of the economic optimum levels of fertilizer is consistent with a
minimum of nitrate leaching.

Improvement of Soil Quality
Long-term experiments have shown that adequate fertilization improves soil quality.
The soils that are tested are more productive after many years of fertilizer application than at any
time before. The aggregating action from enhanced root proliferation and the greater amount of
decaying residues have been reoorted to help make soils more friable, tillable, and water
retentive.
Improvement of Crop Quality
The mineral, protein, and vitamin contents of crops may be improved by judicious
fertilization.
Retardation of Soil Erosion
Densely growing crops on slopes are less erosion prone and have a more prolific root
system, which protects the soil against water and wind loss. The residual effect of greater organic
production improves soil aggregation.


Conservation of Water
Efficient cropping system using fertilizers require minimum amounts of water per
volume of product. Only well-nourished plants use water efficiently through the expanded root
system and decreased evaporation.
Air Purification
Plants absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Maize field yielding 6 tonnes/ha of
grain may produce about 15 tonnes of oxygen when adequate amounts of carbon dioxide are
used. This is approximately the amount of oxygen used annually by 30 people.
Issues of agricultural sustainability and minimal environmental hazards should be
addressed simultaneously.
Efficient fertilizer use can by the key to sustainable productivity. A well-fertilized soil supports a
dense canopy, which protects the soil from erosion, absorbs more carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere, and releases more oxygen. Minimizing leaching, erosion, and volatilization losses of
mineral and organic fertilizers and preventing over fertilization should be future agricultural
strategies.