Write about the advantages and disadvantages of using chemical fertilizers.
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Answer:
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Explanation:
Advantages Include :
Chemical fertilizers are predictable and reliable.
The Fertilizer can be used in poor soil to make it fertile immediately.
They add a sufficient amount of nutrients needed by the plant.
They contain the three essential nutrients (NPK) needed for plant growth.
They are cheaper than organic fertilizers and easy to use.
Disadvantages Include :
Chemical fertilizers affect micro-organisms living in the soil. ...
Chemical fertilizers are highly soluble in water hence they leach away into groundwater without fully benefiting the plant. ...
Chemical fertilizers encourage plant disease. ...
While the fertilizers help a plant to grow, they do not do much for the soil.
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Answer:
Advantages:
Chemical fertilizers are predictable and reliable.
The Fertilizer can be used in poor soil to make it fertile immediately.
They add a sufficient amount of nutrients needed by the plant.
They contain the three essential nutrients (NPK) needed for plant growth.
They are cheaper than organic fertilizers and easy to use.
They allow the growth of the same vegetable plants in the same area, eliminating the need for crop rotation.
The fertilizers can be custom made to fit the requirements of crop soils, making the perfect planting grounds.
Disadvantages:
Chemical fertilizers affect micro-organisms living in the soil. The acidity of chemical fertilizers also adversely affects the soil pH and makes it acidic, thereby changing the kinds of microorganisms that can live in the soil. Prolonged use of chemical fertilizers causes an increase in pests and kills the beneficial microbes present in the soil.
Chemical fertilizers are highly soluble in water hence they leach away into groundwater without fully benefiting the plant. Thus fewer nutrients are available for the plant. The leaching away of chemical fertilizers pollutes the water. These chemicals also seep into the subsoil, where they interact with clay, forming impermeable layers called hardpan. Thus cause compaction of the soil.
Chemical fertilizers encourage plant disease. Fast-release chemical fertilizers have a high nitrogen content compared to slow-release organic fertilizers. When there is an overabundance of nitrogen (N) in relation to phosphate (P), plants are more susceptible to mosaic infections. Too much use of these fertilizers tends to destroy the beneficial microbes present in the soil.
While the fertilizers help a plant to grow, they do not do much for the soil. When chemical fertilizers are used for a prolonged duration, the soil gets damaged as the trace nutrients are not replenished in the soil.
Excess nitrogen used in crop fertilization can contribute to the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. This effect is caused by using a greater amount of chemical fertilizer than the plants can readily absorb.
There is an increasing concern that continuous use of chemical fertilizers on soil depletes the soil of essential nutrients. As a result, the food produced in these soils has less vitamin and mineral content.