Fertilizers: Enhancing the Quality of Plants and Soil

Like humans, plants also need essential nutrients and minerals for their effective and healthy growth. Fertilizers are used to replace the nutrients that are taken from the soil by the previously yielded crops. Fertile soil is capable to deliver the necessary compounds with adequate amounts to promote the growth of the plant in favorable atmospheric conditions. To maintain the quality of soil, fertilizers are developed that act as a catalyst in the uninterrupted production of crops on large scale.

Primarily, two types of fertilizers are available in the market. One is organic and another one is inorganic fertilizer. Organic fertilizers are obtained naturally from plants and animals. These are used to increase the organic content of the soil by causing the reproduction of micro-organisms. Organic fertilizers are prepared from the products which are listed below:

• Agricultural Waste
• Industrial Waste
• Livestock Manure
• Municipal Sludge

On the other hand, inorganic fertilizers are prepared artificially by chemical means. Further, the inorganic fertilizers are classified into two types namely, nitrogen fertilizers and phosphorus fertilizers. These fertilizers are broadly used for the growth of the roots of the plants and also improves the production rate of agricultural products.

Why Are Fertilizers Important?

With the rapidly increasing population, it becomes challenging to fulfill all the nutritional requirements of millennials worldwide. Without using fertilizers it would be difficult to scale up the crop yields and agricultural productivity. Therefore, balancing the levels of nutrients in the soil for enhanced productivity is the prime factor why fertilizers are so important. Some of the basic reasons for using fertilizers are listed below:

• Replacing the essential nutrients removed during the harvest period.
• Enriching soil with greater nutritional levels.
• Improving the rate and quality of crop productivity by balancing out nutrients need in the soil.

What are the Key Advantages of Fertilizers?

Fertilizers are broadly used by the farmers and families to make a healthy growth of the crops yielding plants or flower plants. There is a wide variety of fertilizers available in the market which have been produced to uplift the growth of the plant in different soil and different weather conditions. Some of the major advantages of fertilizers are listed below:

• Fertilizers are water-soluble, hence, they are easily absorbed by the plants.
• They have an immediate impact on the growth of the crops.
• Due to its nutrient-specific nature, farmers can provide specific fertilizer to the plants depending on the specific nutrient need.
• Fertilizers are easy to store, transport, and apply, therefore, these are used by common people for their kitchen or small gardens and by farmers for large-scale crop production.
• Food production can be enhanced in a short interval with proper use of fertilizers which is quite beneficial in some emergency circumstances.

What are Various Uses and Applications of Fertilizers?

Overall, a plant needs almost sixteen elements for its healthy growth. Some of the most important elements are nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, sulfur, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Not every fertile land or yielded crop need the same type of fertilizers. Fertilizers are applied to the plants depending on the nutrient need of the soil or crops and this is why fertilizers have a wide range of uses. Some of them are discussed below:

• For individuals having an interest in roof-top gardening, fertilizers can be a great source of essential nutrients for their potted plants.
• Many gardeners use nitrogen-rich fertilizers for greening the lawns. These fertilizers are widely used for commercial purposes such as play areas for kids, corporate premises, public gardens, and many more.
• Some crops can deplete the nutrients of the soil just after a few seasons, in such cases, farmers use some specific fertilizers to improve the productivity of the crops within a short period.
• Organic fertilizers are mainly used to improve the texture and fertility of the soil for the growth of some specific kind of crops. 
• Some fertilizers that are also known as micronutrient fertilizers are specifically engineered to produce crops with vital nutrients which can support human health conditions, especially in the case of some children.

Fertilizers: The Effective Solution to Get the Best Harvest

The growing demand for food production with precision farming to satisfy human demands with nutritional values is expected to increase the usage of fertilizers in the upcoming agricultural productivity. Furthermore, the growing importance of organic fertilizer because of improving water retention capability, providing soil nutrients, and enhancing soil nutrients are the factors expected to drive the growth of the global fertilizer market in the ahead years.

About the Author(s)

     

Rosy Behera

Rosy Behera holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and is currently working as a content writing professional. She loves to portray her thoughts and ideas via her command on words. Grabbing her audience’s attention with her creative write ups is one of her biggest assets. Apart from writing, she is a certified “Odisi” dancer and has done Gardharva in Drawing, Painting and Arts. She always explores new things through travel and is a big foodie.