Nitrogen Fertilizer Case Study

Improved Essays
2. Introduction
Nitrogen fertilizer can aid increase crop production and provide more food for the growing population. Since earlier ages, people has shown preoccupation about soil fertility and soil exhaustion (Strawn, Bohn, & O'Connor, 2015). Some management practices such as manure application or crop rotation were known by Chinese 3000 years ago (Strawn, Bohn, & O'Connor, 2015). However, it was just in the last-century that the crop yield increased dramatically. Improvements of hybrids, soil conservation, and pest management contributed to rise crop yield, but the development of synthetic N fertilizers was in fact the crucial factor that boost the productivity (Havlin, Tisdale, Nelson, & Beaton, 2014). Considering the positive results achieved by N fertilizer application, farmers tend to over apply N fertilizer expecting to achieve greater grain yields, but usually the results are lower than the expected (Robertson & Vitousek, 2009). It is undeniable that the world population is still increasing, and for this reason, it is necessary to develop new strategies in order
…show more content…
Leaching occurs with mobile the form of N (NO3-) that cannot be strongly bond with negative particles of soil. Clay minerals are composed by silica tetrahedral and aluminum octahedral. Physical, chemical, and biological weathering process promote rearrangement of this crystals causing the formation of electronic charges. This important property allows nutrients to bond with soil and increase the ability to be uptake by plants. Rainfall, nutrient leaching and organic matter content intensify the appearance of negative charge on soil. Negatively charged nutrient are transported with water beyond the root zone because their weak bond with negative particles on clay. Nitrate is this case is washed through the soil profile under massive water application. The water supply can be either through rainfall or irrigation (Havlin, Tisdale, Nelson, & Beaton,

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Phosphorus Transition

    • 798 Words
    • 4 Pages

    That is why humans often apply phosphate fertilizers on farmland. Water circulation: Water circulation as induced by wind and rainfall affect the rate at which phosphorus is transported. Also, heat from solar radiation can also affect water circulation within lakes, this indirectly effecting the mixing of phosphorus contained in the water column. Shallow lakes, lakes less than few meters deep, do not stratify or form layers. As typical the case of the watershed nature centre, thereby resulting to stagnancy of phosphorus in the water column, especially deep down its sediment for periodic recharge to its…

    • 798 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This is a great increase that has helped feed all of China. If there was not the ability to irrigate the world would have trouble feeding everyone. Efficiency is also a big part of the Green Revolution. One thing that has helped China is the increase the amount of machinery being used in agriculture. Let’s take tractors for an example that have increased from .2 million in 1961 to 4.6 million in 1998 (Tilman, D. 1998).…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Calcium Research Paper

    • 1095 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Soil surfaces are created from isomophous substitution and the dissociation of H+/OH- (as explained above). A net negative charge can be created, which is the common charge amongst NZ soils. Opposite charges attract, therefore, cations will be attracted to the soil surface, not anions (like charges repel). This is electrostatic attraction, which will cause cation exchange. Cation exchange is the exchange between the cations held on the soil colloid surface and the soil solution.…

    • 1095 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    What Is AMD?

    • 958 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) and Control Options AMD comes from the oxidation of sulphide minerals. It has the negative impact on the environment. Since it could affect the surface water, ground water quality and land used. This condition due to the low pH contains by the water (could reach up to 2), sulphate content (SO4), and metals content (Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, As, Cd). The principles for AMD formation should be understood to be able to manage the water.…

    • 958 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Soil Pollution Essay

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Any unwanted change in physical, chemical or biological properties of the soil, which impacts humans and other organisms or the soil’s natural quality such as fertility and utility, is called soil pollution. Various factors, are considered to be responsible for soil pollution. According to scientists, soil pollution is identified as the damages done to the top soil of the land. Soil pollution is synonymous with the problem of disposal of solid waste. From a large perspective, it includes changes in the soil's basic properties as a result of and human and natural processes – soil degradation, chemical pollution from various sources, geological excavations, and volcanic eruptions.…

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Soil Degradation Essay

    • 1375 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The costs include heavy applications of synthetic fertilizers. Since the structure broke down the soil washes away easily during heavy rain, which removes nitrogen and other pollutants with it into nearby rivers contaminating the waters. To prevent a complete depletion of soil there needs to be an effort to provide carbon back into the soil. If carbon is back into the soil this will provide the microorganisms that live in the soil to be able to carry out their niche. There can also be a decrease in the use of farming practices such as tillage, overgrazing and removing stubble.…

    • 1375 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Crop Irrigation uses an area 's water resources to grow the particular commodity this has obvious consequences depending on the method they choose. Degradation of irrigated land includes salinization, alkalization, water logging, and soil acidification. Ecological degradation occurs as farmers will often pull from accessible sources of water like lakes, rivers, and streams. This will reduce the natural quantity of water systems or deprive the areas downstream. Finally, groundwater depletion leads to dry aquifers, saline intrusion, and reduced base flow (Dougherty & Hall,…

    • 1020 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Pesticides used by farmers have a negative effect on the soil. Fertilizer run offs and oil spills damage the waterways. Humans execute all these harmful activities. Humans can also impact the environment positively if they try to solve problems (Patterson). For example, humans can get involved in cleaning waterways, reforestation efforts, using technology to reduce pollution, etc.…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Soil moisture, surface porosity, vegetative growth, and covering rate affect the over ow from a soil surface (Thurow, 1991). Transpiration (T) is the loss of water vapor from plant surface. Together with the loss of water via evaporation (E) from surrounding soil surfaces, the total loss of water referred to as evapotranspiration (ET) represents the amount of water that the irrigator must supply to ensure that there is sufficient water to meet the needs of the plant (Sanford and Selnick, 2013). Lastly, percolation is the process of water movement into the soil through soil layers by gravity and capillary forces. When water moves down under root zone, the water cannot be taken by plants that is called as deep percolation (Vaccaro, 2007).…

    • 1210 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Taking A Look At Acid Rain

    • 1330 Words
    • 5 Pages

    1.5.2 Effects of acid rain on plant life The effects of acid rain on plant life is less subtle than in aquatic biomes. The direct effects of acid rain on plant life include dissolving leaves and leeching essential minerals and nutrients needed for healthy functioning. Trees and many other plants are affected by the presence of aluminum and other metals in groundwater. At stable pH levels, Aluminum hydroxide [Al(OH3)] present in soil, is insoluble. However, at lower levels of pH, Aluminum hydroxide dissolves by the following reaction: 1.5.2.1 Equation Al(OH)3(s) + 3H+(aq) → Al3+(aq) +…

    • 1330 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays