Which Fertilizer Component Is Of Most Concern Environmentally - T-Tees - Your Answers Await, Life's Questions Unraveled

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How Do Fertilizers Affect the Environment

We all know that fertilizers are used for proper and healthy growth of plants… but are they really healthy? What exactly are fertilizers and how do fertilizers affect the environment? Well, a fertilizer is a substance, be it synthetic or organic, which is added to the soil in order to increase the supply of essential nutrients that boost the growth of plants and vegetation in that soil. With the rapid increase in population globally, the demand of food and agricultural yield has been rising tremendously. This is the reason why statistics show that almost 40-60% of agricultural crops are grown with the use of different types of fertilizers. Not only this, more than 50% people feed on crops that are grown as a result of using synthetic fertilizers. On the other hand, there are organic fertilizers that consist of manures and animal wastes. The following section discusses how fertilizers are affecting the nature and environment around us.

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Harmful Effects of Fertilizers on the Nature and Environment

Mother nature has always taught us to balance out everything, and still continues to do so! If you eat a lot, your body naturally bloats up and tells you to exercise and come back to shape. When you exercise too much, your body tells you to slow down and relax. If there is rain, you also get the Sun, each and everything works fine till a balance is maintained. And we all know the consequences of imbalance. A classic example for the same would be the rise in global warming due to various reasons, including deforestation! Same is the case with fertilizers. The problem is that humans tend to use too much of fertilizers in the soil because they have to cater to the global demand of food. As mentioned already, more than half of the total yield production is out of synthetic or inorganic fertilizers which contains components like nitrogen, potassium, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, and so on. These chemicals and minerals, although help in boosting the growth of plants, they also have their drastic side effects in the long run. Mentioned below are some key points defining the effects of using fertilizers on the environment. Have a look…

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Depletes the Quality of the Soil

Though this may sound ironic to you, the fact is that using too much of fertilizers in the soil can alter the fertility of the soil by increasing the acid levels in the soil. Which is why it is recommended to get a soil test done at least once in every 3 years so that you can keep a track whether or not you are using the right amount of fertilizers. The levels of soil pH varies from 0-14, wherein 0 is considered to be the most acidic and 14 being the most basic. 7 is considered to be neutral. The ideal soil pH varies from plant to plant and can be altered by bringing in some changes. Bottom line for using too much of fertilizers in the soil is that, though it may seem to work currently, there are high chances that you may not use it for plant yielding in the long run.Alters the

Biology of Water Bodies

When you use too much of fertilizers in the soil, it leads to eutrophication. Fertilizers contain substances like nitrates and phosphates that are flooded into lakes and oceans through rains and sewage. These substances prove to become toxic for the aquatic life, thereby, increasing the excessive growth of algae in the water bodies and decreasing the levels of oxygen. This leads to a toxic environment and leads to death of fish and other aquatic fauna and flora. Indirectly, it contributes to an imbalance in the food chain as the different kinds of fishes in the water bodies tend to be the main food source of various birds and animals in the environment. You would be surprised to know that more than 50% of the lakes in the United States are eutrophic!Affects on

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Human Health

The nitrogen and other chemicals present in the fertilizers can also affect the ground waters and waters that are used for the purpose of drinking! One of the most common result for this can be the development of blue baby syndrome which occurs in infants whose skin tissues are low in oxygen, which is why their skin appears to be blue or purplish in color. You would also be interested to know that studies reveal that the use of lawn fertilizers and pesticides can cause health risks like cancer and chronic diseases in humans, especially in children.

Climate Changes Across the Globe

Fertilizers consists of substances and chemicals like methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and nitrogen, the emission of which has contributed to a great extent in the quantity of greenhouse gases present in the environment. This in turn is leading to global warming and weather changes. In fact, nitrous oxide, which is a byproduct of nitrogen, is the third most significant greenhouse gas, after carbon dioxide and methane. Therefore, you can well imagine as to how harmful is the use of fertilizers for our environment… and the ongoing use of fertilizers across the world will only make matters worse!These facts are alarming and a serious step needs to be taken as soon as possible to avoid more severe consequences. The use of fertilizers for growth and cultivation is keeping our stomach filled for now, but then if things keep on progressing the way they are, it won’t take long to see the times where there is lack of food, water, and health. So make sure that you use fertilizers in moderation, allow your soil to replenish its nutrients naturally by giving it a break from crop production and avoid using fertilizers during the rains. A small step can also make a big difference. Lets hope for a healthy and safe tomorrow.

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