Impact Of Fertilizer Use Research Articles

Impact of fertilizer use on the balance of essential nutrients and greenhouse gas emissions in Germany

The effect of fertilizers on the balance of traceelements and the sustainability of agriculture inGermany was studied.It has been established that the balance of basic nutrientsin the soil is maintained at a deficiency-free level dueto the systematic and balanced use of mineral and organicfertilizers.However, theGermanGovernment is currently actively implementing policiesaimed at reducing the use of traditional forms of organicand mineral fertilizers, introducing alternative ways to ensure soil fertilityand crop yields.The aim of such a policy isto reduce the negative impact of agrochemicals on the environmentand greenhouse gas emissions, in particular.

Hunger or Illness? a trade-off on fertilizer use

Although fertilizer can help alleviate hunger, it can also lead to disease. Using data from the National Fixed-Point Survey spanning from 1998 to 2017, we aimed to determine the impact of fertilizer use on healthcare costs. Our findings indicate that a ten percent increase in fertilizer use is responsible for a 0.63 percentage point rise in medical service fees, which translates to a staggering $678 million in medical expenses. Through an analysis of the various channels of pathogenic exposure, we discovered that food crops and drinking water are the primary sources of contamination. This implies that different rural environments, including fertilizer types, villages, terrain, and water sources, can exacerbate the negative effects of fertilizer use. Our research underscores the need for policymakers to consider compensating farmers who suffer from fertilizer pollution and incur health-related losses.

Shifts in the nitrogen cycle under different fertilizer management practices

Human population is dependent on agricultural production, but these activities pose multiple threats to soil health and indirectly to ecological sustainability. Synthesis of fertilizers proved to be a miraculous solution to enhance soil productivity, but this advancement came with many unseen risks. Long-term research stations that have decades long experiments with fertilizers additions are paramount in better understanding long-term impact of fertilizer use. Our study focused on ammonium and nitrate levels found in soils in an experiment of inorganic nitrogen addition than began in 1975. We further directed our attention to soil mineralization potential, nitrate reductase activities and densities of two major microbial functional groups: ammonifiers and denitrifiers. Our data suggests that ammonium has a stronger tendency of soil buildup than nitrate and that increased levels of inorganic nitrogen species also impacted molecular compartments and processes such as mineralization potential, soil microbiota and enzymatic activities. Another result indicates that analysed soils reached a storage limit for phosphorus which threatens to overburden other ecosystems.

CARBON EMISSIONS IN AGRICULTURAL GROWTH: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION IN KAZAKHSTAN

The article examines the problem of carbon emissions into the atmosphere caused by agricultural activities. She analyzes various aspects of the problem, including the impact of fertilizer use, tillage, and animal husbandry on carbon emissions. The article examines modern methods and technologies that can reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint and improve its environmental sustainability. The authors also discuss the role of renewable energy, effective waste management and sustainable practices in agriculture to reduce its contribution to climate change. This study is anticipated to make significant contributions to both recent literature and policymaking in Kazakhstan across several dimensions. Economic regression analysis was conducted using the panel data models such as Random Effects and Fixed Effects, and two econometric models were assessed. The findings of this study shed light on the intricate relationship between carbon emissions and key determinants within the agricultural sector of Kazakhstan. By employing a comprehensive regression model, incorporating various variables such as oilseed imports and exports, investments in the green economy, fertilizer usage, arable land, and economic indicators, this research delves into the nuanced dynamics influencing carbon emissions

Characterization of farmers and the effect of fertilization on maize yields in the Guinea Savannah, Sudan Savannah, and Transitional agroecological zones of Ghana

The aim of this study was to understand the impact of fertilizer use on maize yields in Ghana based on a survey among 1,363 farmers. Farmers were grouped into four typologies using Principal Component Analysis and stepwise regression to analyze the effects of fertilizer and other factors on yield and nutrient use efficiency (NUE). A partial factor productivity of 9.8–12.1 kg grain/kg fertilizer and an agronomic efficiency of 1.2–3.7 kg grain/kg N were found among the typologies. While use of NPK with sulfur and magnesium, are necessary for yield increase, the low NUE may hamper agricultural intensification. A targeted learning pathway for the farmers with most suitable characteristics for attaining highest maize productivity could serve as an example for less well performing farmers. Policies and programs in Ghana, such as Planting for Food and Jobs program that promote fertilizer application, must be redesigned to include measures that increase NUE.

Environmental Externalities from Agriculture: Evidence from Water Quality in the United States

Agricultural fertilizer use is widely acknowledged to be a leading cause of water pollution. Yet, no national estimates exist on the effect of fertilizer application on concentrations of agricultural pollutants in US watersheds. This paper employs a watershed‐level panel data on nitrogen and phosphorus pollution readings to examine the impact of fertilizer use on US water quality over a fifty‐five‐year time period from 1951 to 2005. Findings show that a 10% increase in the use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers leads to a 1.52% increase in the concentration of nitrogen and a 1.37% increase in the concentration of phosphorus across watersheds. Results also indicate that there exists heterogeneity in nutrient pollution elasticity estimates across eighteen US water resource regions, ranging from 0.082 to 0.733 in the case of nitrogen and from 0.036 to 0.475 in the case of phosphorus. Combining our results with prior hydrology‐based studies, we find that a 100% increase in the use of nitrogen fertilizers in the Lower Mississippi water resource region expands the size of the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico by roughly 3,389 square miles, equivalent to about two‐fifths of the estimated size of the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

Development of a Stereovision-Based Technique to Measure the Spread Patterns of Granular Fertilizer Spreaders.

Centrifugal fertilizer spreaders are by far the most commonly used granular fertilizer spreader type in Europe. Their spread pattern however is error-prone, potentially leading to an undesired distribution of particles in the field and losses out of the field, which is often caused by poor calibration of the spreader for the specific fertilizer used. Due to the large environmental impact of fertilizer use, it is important to optimize the spreading process and minimize these errors. Spreader calibrations can be performed by using collection trays to determine the (field) spread pattern, but this is very time-consuming and expensive for the farmer and hence not common practice. Therefore, we developed an innovative multi-camera system to predict the spread pattern in a fast and accurate way, independent of the spreader configuration. Using high-speed stereovision, ejection parameters of particles leaving the spreader vanes were determined relative to a coordinate system associated with the spreader. The landing positions and subsequent spread patterns were determined using a ballistic model incorporating the effect of tractor motion and wind. Experiments were conducted with a commercial spreader and showed a high repeatability. The results were transformed to one spatial dimension to enable comparison with transverse spread patterns determined in the field and showed similar results.

Environmental impact of fertilizer use and slow release of mineral nutrients as a response to this challenge

Abstract This paper presents the most important issues relating to the influence of mineral fertilizers on both the natural environment and human and animal health. The physiological, environmental and economic impact of fertilizer production and application, resulted from a low assimilation of mineral components by crops, has been described. The research on the development and production of a large and diverse group of materials with slow-release properties that can increase the effectiveness of nutrient uptake, alleviate the negative influence of fertilizers on the environment and reduce labor and energy consumption associated with the use of conventional fertilizers, has been reviewed.

Snap Bean Soil Fertility Program in Miami-Dade County

In terms of acreage, snap beans are the most commonly grown vegetable in Miami-Dade County. This 4-page fact sheet outlines the impact of fertilizer use and local weather and soil on snap bean production in this region. Written by Monica Ozores-Hampton, Qiang Zhu, and Yuncong Li, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, May 2015. HS1261/HS1261: Snap Bean Soil Fertility Program in Miami-Dade County (ufl.edu)

Corn Response to Long-Term Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization

Accurate fertilizer N recommendations for irrigated continuous corn (Zea mays L.) production in the Great Plains are important for maximizing productivity and profit, while minimizing environmental impact of fertilizer use. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of long-term N and P fertilization on grain yield and fertilizer recovery by irrigated continuous corn and to compare predicted N recommendations with actual N requirements. Six rates of N (0, 40, 80, 120, 160, and 200 lb/acre) and two rates of P (0 and 18 lb P/acre) in a factorial amangement were applied annually from 1961 to 1991 on a Ulysses silt loam (fine silty, mixed, mesic Aridic Haplustoll) near Tribune, KS. Grain yields were greater with a combination of N and P than with either applied alone. The optimal N rate was about 160 lb N/acre and was relatively constant over time. Averaged over the last 10 yr, application of 160 lb N/acre increased grain yields 46 % without P and 103 % with P. The yield benefit from applied P has increased over time. With adequate N, P increased grain yields by 29 % averaged over 31 yr and 48 % over the last 10 yr. Phosphorus fertilization reduced grain moisture from 28 to 23 %. Apparent fertilizer N recovery in the grain at 160 lb N/acre was twice as high with P as without P. A N recommendation model was used to compare estimated N requirements with actual N rates required to meet yield goals. Yields obtained with 160 lb N/acre were estimated to require 220 to 260 lb N/acre, or an overestimation of 30 to 60 %. These data suggest that the crop factor used in the model may need to be reduced to improve accuracy of N recommendations

Impact of fertilizer use on production and cash income of small-scale farmers in the highland areas of Ethiopia

Farmer's use of fertilizer in the highland areas of Ethiopia remains small, despite significant yield increases obtained in experimental stations and onfarm trials. Among the suscepted hindranes against the use of fertilizer at the rate recommended jointly by the MOA/IAR (Ministry of Agriculture/ Institute of Agricultural Research), are farmers' aversion for risk and shortage of credit to purchase fertilizer. This paper evaluates the impact of fertilizer use on incomes of small-scale farmers.in the highland areas of Ethiopia, and the risk associated with fertilizer use, using a MOTAD risk programming model. The result show that if farmers apply fertilizers at the recommended rate of 100 kg of DAP (Diamonium Phosphate) and 50 kg of urea their production, and hence cash income, will improve substantially. However, this improvement in cash income is at the expense of higher risk associated with cash income when fertilizer is used. This is true, particularly for one of the study areas, Ada Sub-district.

The Impact of Fertilizer Use and Crop Management on Nitrogen Content of Subsurface Water Draining from Upland Agricultural Watersheds

AbstractSpring flow and stream base flow sites were sampled weekly on and adjacent to a 123‐ha agricultural watershed in the Allegheny‐Cumberland Plateau physiographic region of east‐central Ohio. Nitrogen content of samples was used to determine the influence of various N fertilizer and crop management practices on the quality of subsurface water draining from defined contributing areas.Measured nitrogen contents of spring flow were related to fertilizer N regime of the different agricultural practices investigated. Changes in land management on the area contributing to spring flow were reflected in changes in nitrogen content of water from that spring. The amount of nitrogen which was transported into the stream channel was directly related to seasonal variation in subsurface flow rate in two ways. First, the concentration of N in spring flow increased with an increase in the amount of water percolating through the overlying soil and shale. Second, the extent to which downstream quality was affected, i.e., the distance from the area of fertilizer application at which an increase in nitrogen content could be detected, also increased with the volume of flow from the springs.