Living on air I 5 Why do we need to add fertilizers? To keep their soil fertile, farmers start by adding organic manure, including animal dung and compost. Recycling the valuable elements contained in dung and compost is both sensible and necessary, but they don’t provide enough nutrient nitrogen to compensate for unavoidable losses. Fertilizer can make up the difference. Every soil type requires a different approach to fertilization. Because mineral fertilizers can be tailored to the soil’s and plant’s specific nutrient requirements, loss to the environment – and thus environmental impact – is minimized. Mineral fertilizers also have an immediate and predictable effect. Combining different fertilizers improves soil productivity and maintains healthy soil. Recent research by Prof. Jaap Schröder at Wageningen University & Research Centre focused on smart fertilizer use. His advice: “Use it where and when necessary.” He explains how mineral fertilizers contribute to healthy farmland and allow us to grow a sufficient amount of nutritious food. Below are some of his conclusions: Fertilizers: • are necessary to meet the growing demand for food • improve the quality of farmland • are part of a sustainable food chain • provide a necessary and efficient supplement to organic fertilizers • are a responsible source of nutrient nitrogen “Living on air” is an easy-to-read essay describing the route that nitrogen takes from air, rain and soil to our breakfast table.
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