Plants require minerals and nutrients for them to grow and produce a harvest. These nutrients include primary salts and inorganic substances. Chemical products suppliers sell mineral fertilizers for use in soil that is deficient of vital nutrients.
When you combine soil with fertilizer purchased from chemical products suppliers, the reaction brings about changes that enhance the absorption of nutrients, their penetrability. The response also determines how accessible they are to the plants which require them for sustainable growth. The soil properties define the nature and how profound these changes will showcase themselves. Fertilizers have several advantages which include:
- They increase soil fertility by adding nutrients to the soil after reacting with soil
- They produce microbiological processes in the soil
- Plants flourish by proper growth, development, and produce a plentiful harvest
Mineral fertilizers are scientifically proven to be the best and most effective way of guaranteeing a high-quality yield in crops planted by a farmer correctly. The fertilizers help in developing technological characteristics for plants with fiber, sugar properties of beets, grain, and fruits — also, the oil contents in sunflower seeds. The common signs and signal of good and quality harvest in agricultural firms through crop cultivation is how much fertilizer will satisfy a hectare piece of agricultural land.
Fertilizers are products of the chemical industries in that all nutrients contained in them. The technique used for mineral extraction is called synthesis or agronomic ores. Small amounts of residual industrial waste like potassium are natural salts in agriculture.
Categories of Mineral Fertilizers
Direct Fertilizers
They contain nutrients that are essential for plant growth like Nitrogen, Potassium, Magnesium which fall under two categories:
Single Fertilizers
They only provide plants with a single nutrient. They may contain Nitrogen-based fertilizers like urea, sodium, ammonium, ammonium sulfate, and calcium nitrates. Phosphorus based fertilizers include dicalcium phosphate, superphosphate, and ground rock phosphate. Potassium based fertilizers include potassium sulfate, potassium chloride, potassium salt, and micronutrient fertilizers.
Mixed Fertilizers
They include two or more minerals like amorphous and nitrophenols.
Indirect Mineral Fertilizers
Their purpose is to increase the agro and physiochemical characteristics of soil and to make the nutrients active, e.g., gypsum and lime mineral fertilizer. Some fertilizers fall under both categories. Adding ground phosphate into the soil and mixing them both will produce phosphorus and also neutralize the soil PH. Mineral fertilizers can either be solid or fluids, and their impact on the ground is either
neutral, alkaline, or acidic.
Commercial fertilizer production started in the 19th century, working as a substitute product to ash, animal dung, and neutral fertilizer, which were common at that time. A German chemical engineer J.Von Liebig discovery that bones can work as fertilizer led to the widespread use of the bone meal. Russia also established a plant in Kovno to produce the compost called Superphosphate or bone meal. During the 20th century, industries that manufactured phosphorus minerals expanded. In a country called Chile, Sodium Nitrate was a natural element, and people began using it as a fertilizer. More Nitrogen got produced in industries through a technique called synthesis. Potassium is a natural mineral in Germany. The most significant source of potassium is Russia in Solikamsk.
The positive results of the mineral fertilizers continue growing through irrigation or the technique of advanced cultivation. Combining organic and mineral fertilizers at ranges that meet plant requirements and soil properties are the best-suited way. Superior farming will ensure a rise in the yield. Picking the right type of mineral for your soil will require agrochemical analysis of a soil sample. Method of mixing fertilizer with soil include:
- Broadcasting
- Plowing
- Using a cultivator
- Using a tractor
How Mineral Fertilizers Can be Used?
Irrigation and modern technology cultivation enhances the effectiveness of mineral fertilizers. Combining it with organic fertilizers adds more improvement, mainly when applied according to the requirements of the plants and soil properties and those of the fertilizers. There are fertilizer systems where mineral and organic fertilizers work in tandem. These systems depend on the frequency and application method. The fertilizer system choice depends on the soil agrochemical analysis and field experiment results. The application of mineral fertilizers takes place in the fall of spring, growing season, and planting time. The application methods include broadcasting done by distributors of compost from a plane inserting fertilizer into the soil using a cultivator, harrow, or a plow.
The other process is the local application that involves the drilling of holes or rows when planting the seeds. The farmers also treat seed before planting using mineral fertilizers by immersing them into the fertilizer solution. The use of mineral fertilizers incorrectly by using excess amounts and the unequal dressing may negatively alter the fertility of the soil, endanger the animals, destroy plants, and pollute water bodies such as rivers, oceans or lakes.
It is, therefore, advisable to use fertilizers in the appropriate ways to reap the benefits. The inappropriate use has long term adverse effects that may be costly both to the farmers and to the community consuming the polluted water. Always consult the experts when unsure of the appropriate procedure to use.
