Chemical fertilizers are prepared in factories.Many chemical changes take place during their preparation.Most fertilizers supply nitrogen(N),phosphorous(P) and potassium(K) elements to the soil.
The population of the world is increasing day by day. For this growing population, plenty of crops should be produced. So, to fulfill the needs of the growing population, the farmers use various fertilizers in agriculture for more production food crops. Various types of fertilizers are used in agriculture like Nitrogenous fertilizers, Phosphorous fertilizers, Potassium fertilizers, etc.
Fertilizers
Due to the constant use of land for the production of crops, the fertility of the soil goes on decreasing. This decrease in fertility of soil results in the less production or loss the plants due to fewer nutrients for the production of crops. In this case, the fertility of the soil can be increased by using various fertilizers. Fertilizers are those substance by use of which we can increase the fertility of the soil. It provides the essential nutrients for the proper growth and development of the plants. It also nourishes the micro- organisms that help to maintain the fertility of the soil. There are two types of fertilizers which are given below;
Organic Fertilizer:
Organic fertilizers are the natural fertilizers obtained from the decay and decomposition of animal remains, poultry droppings, and dead plants. They provide necessary nutrients for the growth of plants but in less amount than chemical fertilizers. They have very less amount of nitrogen. Some examples of organic fertilizers are ash, bone meal, green fertilizers, etc. Some of the mostly used types of organic fertilizers are given below,
They provide necessary nutrient for the plant. These plants are grown first and after its use, they are turned into the soil to increase the fertility of the soil. They increase crop yields, protect the plant from various pests and increase the overall fertility of the soil.
Compost manure: Compost manure is a natural fertilizer obtained from dead and decayed things or the mixture of cattle dung, poultry droppings, and crop residues. For the preparation of compost manure, at first all unnecessary or used decomposable things and wastes of animals are mixed and kept in a pit. They are left for some days. Lime is also added to make good fertilizers. They are decomposed by microorganisms and are converted to compost which can be used to increase the fertility of the soil.
Advantages of Organic Fertilizers
They supply nutrients slowly for the plants, so they last longer.
Food produced by using organic fertilizers is free from harmful chemicals.
They are bio- degradable and does not pollute the environment.
It can be produced by produced locally or by a single person him/herself.
It maintains the fertility of soil for hundred of years and does not affect the ecosystem of the soil.
Disadvantages of Organic Fertilizers
They are insoluble in water.
It does not contain necessary nutrients or enough nutrients necessary for the plants.
Incomplete composting can leave certain pathogens in the organic matter.
Chemical fertilizers:
Chemical fertilizers are the artificial fertilizers manufactured in industries. They are prepared from water soluble salts. They provide enough nutrients for the proper development of crops. Various examples of chemical fertilizers are sulphate, ammonium phosphate, potassium sulphate, etc. They provide various types of nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, etc. On the basis of nutrients, chemical fertilizers are divided into three common types which are given below with short description,
Nitrogenous fertilizers: Nitrogenous fertilizers are a type of chemical fertilizer which provides the salt of nitrogen for the proper growth and development of plants. By use of nitrogenous fertilizers, we can fulfill the lack of nitrogen in the soil. Various types of nitrogenous fertilizer that are commonly used in our field are ammonium sulphate (NH4)2SO4, ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), urea CO(NH2)2 and cyanamide Ca(CN)2.