Fertilizers are used to fertilize crops to ensure sufficient food production to meet the needs of the human population. Fertilizers are nutrients that provide nutrients to crops like potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. It is used for residential applications such as lawn care. This allows crops to grow faster and produce more food. Nitrogen is essential for every organism’s growth. The air we breathe contains 78% nitrogen. Nitrogen gas is not available to animals or plants. Plants need nitrogen compounds from their soil to grow. These can be obtained naturally or by fertilizers.
Any substance or material that is added to soil to promote plant growth is called fertilizer. There are many types of fertilizers, most of which contain nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Many fertilizers found in stores are labeled with an N-P-K ratio. Fertilizers can be used all over the world to maintain green lawns and increase crop yields in agricultural fields. There are three types of fertilizers:
- Mineral fertilizers (phosphorus, potash) are extracted from the earth and then crushed or chemically processed before they are applied.
- Organic fertilizers (manure, compost) are made of animal feces and plant or animal decomposed material.
- Humans can produce industrial fertilizers, such as ammonium phosphate, urea, and ammonium nitrate, by chemical reactions.
Industrial fertilizers are relatively new, whereas organic and mineral fertilizers have been used for years to increase crop yields in agriculture. Despite this, industrial fertilizers are still the most commonly used fertilizers.
Why do we need nitrogen-containing fertilizers?
All living organisms (microorganisms and plants as well as animals) require nitrogen to thrive. There is a lot of nitrogen in the air, approximately 78% of which is found in the atmosphere. However, most nitrogen is found as an odorless, colorless gas called nitrogen gas (N2). Animals and plants cannot use nitrogen gas directly. We get our nitrogen from what we eat as humans. High levels of nitrogen are found in high-protein foods such as meat, fish, and nuts. The soil is where plants get their nitrogen. This is why nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients to inhibit plant growth. There are two ways nitrogen gas can be naturally “fixed” to nitrogen-containing compounds. This is the reason why your lawn needs to be fertilized. Your plants don’t flourish on their own unless the conditions are right. Fertilizing services offer a more comprehensive approach to enhancing soil quality than DIY can.
Why do we use so much nitrogen-containing industrial fertilizer?
The short answer to this question is that nitrogen-containing fertilizers increase crop plant growth and help produce more crops. Fertile land yields more food, which allows farmers to use agricultural land more efficiently. The invention of industrial fertilizers is actually one of the reasons why the Earth’s population has grown so rapidly in the past 60-70 years. Residential use has also shot up over the years. Lawn care services in Myrtle Beach typically include weed control and fertilizing.
Where does the Nitrogen from Nitrogen-Containing fertilizers go?
It is taken up by the crops, of course. However, this is only half of the story. While fertilizers can make crops grow faster and better, half the nitrogen that we add to our soil is lost. It can either end up in the atmosphere, or it can get washed out from the soil and end up in waterways such as groundwater streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans.
Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service today for professional lawn care services.
Conner’s Lawn Care Service
Myrtle Beach, SC
843-504-4901
http://connerslawncare.com/