In the early days of farming, people did not understand how plants obtained
essential nutrients. It so happened that wood ash, fish remains and slaughterhouse
waste were thrown on vacant land just to get rid of them. Then, people started
to notice that the grass, bushes and shrubs on this vacant land began to grow
very well. They reasoned that if their farmland were similarly treated, the growth
of their crops would also improve. People gradually began to realize that the
nutrients required by plants came from the soil and that the amount of nutrients
could be increased by the application of such organic remains to the soil. Thus
started the manuring process in farming.
The practice of manuring has been practised as early since the seventeenth
century. However, the importance of manuring was not properly understood
until scientists began to study the nutritional needs of plants and gave birth to
fertilizers. Thus, gradually, the use of fertilizers became accepted by farmers.
There are many types of manure and fertilizer currently being used. Manure
is a substance derived from animals and plants. The most important advantage
of using manure is the fact that they not only supply a wide range of plant
nutrients, but also improve the structure of the soil. It cements together the soil
particles to form soil crumbs. The crumb structure is a desirable condition of
cultivated soil. The addition of manure to soil will increase the inorganic and
humus content which helps to prevent soil erosion and loss of plant nutrients
when it rains. The common manure used in farming consists of farmyard manure,
compost, blood meal, bone meal and fish meal.
Unlike manure, fertilizers are inorganic substances which do not improve the
structure of the soil. They only supply extra amounts of nutrients to the growing
plants when applied to the soil. The commercial fertilizers commonly used today
can be classified into three major categories; namely, nitrogen (N), phosphate
and potash fertilizers.
Besides knowing the type of fertilizer to use, a farmer also needs to know
when to apply the fertilizer and how to apply it. The fertilizer should be applied
at the time when the plants need a particular nutrient most. The time and method
of application will determine how profitably the fertilizers have been used in
farming. Fertilizers which have not been properly applied cannot be absorbed in
large quantities by plant roots. These fertilizers may be washed away by rain
or they may kill the plants. This would mean a definite financial loss for the
farmer
find out similar words from the passage
1 necessary 2 comprise 3 step by step 4 ascertain
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1.necessary-essential
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