Eight Misconceptions About Fertilizer Application Techniques: Misunderstandings Lead to Poor Fertilization Results
The macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in soil usually cannot meet the needs of crop growth, so fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium need to be applied to make up the difference. But many farmer friends have many misconceptions about fertilizer application techniques, often leading to money spent and time spent without effectively bringing out the fertility of the fertilizer, and some wrong ideas can even harm the land. Take a look at the following eight misconceptions, do you have any of them too?
1. Chemical fertilizers are artificial chemical products, and applying them is harmful to the environment, wildlife, and humans
Fertilizers are actually substances that plants can absorb, also known as “plant nutrients.” The nutrient elements in fertilizers such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur are the same as those present in our bodies and in food, and fertilizers are also non-toxic. The nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium elements in fertilizers all come from the air or the soil and are natural substances that exist in nature. The fertilizer production process is the process of converting nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in nature into substances that crops can absorb.
2. Since nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other elements exist in nature, there is no need to apply fertilizers
The nutrient elements in nature are not comprehensive, nor are they entirely what plants need. Nature can only provide limited plant nutrition. If we relied only on natural soil, it would take decades of accumulation for the organic matter in the soil to be able to satisfy the nutrient elements plants need. If crops are grown on natural land, one season of cultivation may consume decades of nutrient accumulation in the land. Therefore, applying fertilizers is a necessary means of supplementing nutrients in the soil.
3. Organic agriculture does not use fertilizers, especially not chemical fertilizers
Organic agriculture currently still has no universally recognized, strict definition. Organic agriculture also uses fertilizers, mainly natural and organic fertilizers. For example, European organic agriculture regulations stipulate that phosphate rock powder and potassium ore are allowed, while single superphosphate and triple superphosphate are not allowed. China's green food AA-grade standard stipulates that only natural and biological fertilizers are allowed, while the A-grade standard stipulates limited use of chemical fertilizers. In fact, the regulations on fertilizer use in organic agriculture are also puzzling. For example, the bodies that set organic agriculture standards in Europe believe that natural mineral fertilizers are purer and harmless to the environment, while China's AA-grade green food only allows natural fertilizers (such as phosphate rock and plant ash). In reality, after natural minerals undergo chemical processing, most impurities such as heavy metals have been discharged with the waste residue, and the content of harmful substances is greatly reduced. Chemical fertilizers are much purer than natural minerals and cause less harm to the environment. Organic agriculture and green food production should not arbitrarily control the use of a certain fertilizer, but should look at the impact of that fertilizer on the quality of agricultural products and the environment.
4. Chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers have the same nutrients, so organic fertilizers should be used entirely
If only organic fertilizers are used, it is difficult to meet the comprehensive and sufficient nutrient needs of crops, and it is therefore difficult to achieve high yield and high quality, or a large increase in cultivated land area is needed. In addition, the proportion of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in organic fertilizers varies greatly, and it is difficult to achieve the requirements of balanced fertilization using only organic fertilizers. For example, if only organic fertilizer is applied to corn, to meet the nitrogen requirement, the phosphorus nutrient would need to exceed the corn's demand by 4 to 5 times, while chemical fertilizers are the easiest supplementary nutrient measure for achieving balanced fertilization. The combined use of organic fertilizers and chemical fertilizers works better. Chinese farmers have always attached importance to the use of organic fertilizers, and the total amount of organic fertilizers has remained fairly stable. As the use of chemical fertilizers has risen, the proportion of organic fertilizers has declined somewhat, but it is still at a leading level internationally. According to Ministry of Agriculture data, organic fertilizers in China currently account for about 50% of total fertilizer use. The current fertilizer nutrient proportions in the EU are: chemical fertilizers 49%, organic fertilizers 49%, urban waste and refuse 2%; in the United States they are: chemical fertilizers 68%, organic fertilizers 32%.
5. Organic agriculture protects the environment and wildlife, while conventional agriculture has a large impact on the environment
Whether it is organic agriculture or conventional agriculture, the correct and effective use of fertilizers will not pose a threat to the environment. Moreover, the high yields of conventional agriculture allow us to obtain sufficient food from limited land. If we relied entirely on organic agriculture, the world's land could not feed the world's population, which would require large-scale reclamation of cultivated land and would have a greater impact on the environment and wildlife.
6. Organic food is safer, healthier, and of better quality
The publicity about organic food gives people the impression that “natural” and “organic” are good. In fact, there is currently no definite evidence in the world showing a quality difference between organic food and conventional food. Even the world organic food association and responsible organic food producers have never claimed that organic food quality is higher than conventional food. It is widely recognized that the correct application of chemical fertilizers can improve crop quality.
7. Fertilizer losses pollute rivers and oceans, causing eutrophication
Although fertilizer leaching can cause water pollution, there are many factors in water pollution, and fertilizer is not the main factor. According to relevant data, the discharge of urban sewage is generally far higher than fertilizer leaching. In addition, whether organic fertilizers or chemical fertilizers are applied, leaching can occur, and both can pollute water bodies. If, when applying chemical fertilizers, the timing of fertilization and the application amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are well controlled, and scientific fertilization methods are adopted, then fertilizer losses can be easily controlled.
8. Without chemical fertilizers, the world's population can still be fed
Without chemical fertilizers, the world would lose 1/3 of its grain production; all forests, wildlife reserves, grasslands, and so on would have to be used as cultivated land; food prices would rise, and living standards would fall. In short, the quality of human life would regress greatly. The fertilizer industry has played an important role in increasing agricultural yields, the quality of agricultural products, and people's living standards. Today, while people advocate green and environmentally friendly practices, there are also many misunderstandings about chemical fertilizers. China's fertilizer production and use departments have an obligation to actively promote the role of chemical fertilizers and eliminate people's negative impressions of them; at the same time, they should also vigorously carry out scientific fertilization and agrochemical services, guide farmers in scientific fertilization, and reduce the impact of chemical fertilizers on the environment to the lowest possible level.