FERTILIZERS
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Fertilizers are commercially prepared chemical compounds that are used as plant nutrients to promote growth.
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They are used to ensure good vegetative growth (leaves, branches and flowers), giving rise to healthy plants.
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Fertilizers can be organic (composed of organic matter), or inorganic (made of simple, inorganic chemicals or minerals).
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They are usually applied either through the soil, for uptake by plant roots, or by foliar feeding, for uptake through leaves.
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Fertilizers should be applied carefully in terms of proper does, time, and observing pre and post- application precautions for their complete utilization.
Advantages of fertilizers:
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Fertilizers are a factor in the higher yields of high-cost farming.
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They provide the specific nutrient for plant growth and there by better yield.
Disadvantage of fertilizers:
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Fertilizers get washed away due to excessive irrigation and are not fully absorbed by the plants.
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Excessive use can lead to water pollution.
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Continuous use of fertilizers in an area can destroy soil fertility because the organic matter in the soil is not replenished.
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Micro-organisms in the soil are also harmed by the fertilizers used.
Biofertilizers:
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'Bio fertilizer' is a substance which contains different living microorganisms that are used to enrich soil with nutrients.
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Organisms that are commonly used as biofertilizers are bacteria like azetobactor, rhizobium, cyanobacteria etc.
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Biofertilisers help in increasing the soil fertility promotes plant growth and prevents pollution. Thus they are better than the chemical fertilizers.
Comparison of manure and fertilizers:
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S.No.
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Manure
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Fertilizers
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1
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Not nutrient specific
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nutrient specific
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2
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Bulky and voluminous
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Not voluminous
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3
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Provides long term benefit
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Provides short term benefit
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4
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Gives slow results
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Gives sudden results
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5
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Increases organic content of soil
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Has no effect on soil
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6
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Prepared in open spaces and fields
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Prepared in industries
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7
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Cheaper than fertilizers
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More expensive
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Organic Farming:
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Organic farming is a farming system that includes minimum or no use of chemicals like fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides etc.
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It relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pests, excluding or strictly limiting the use of synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides and plant growth regulators.
