Fertilizer
hideFertilizers are chemical compounds applied to promote plant and fruit growth. Fertilizers are usually applied either through the soil (for uptake by plant roots) or, by foliar feeding (for uptake through leaves).
Fertilizers can be placed into the categories of organic fertilizers (composed of decayed plant/animal matter), or inorganic fertilizers (composed of simple chemicals and minerals). Organic fertilizers are 'naturally' occurring compounds, such as peat, manufactured through natural processes (such as composting), or naturally occurring mineral deposits; inorganic fertilizers are manufactured through chemical processes (such as the Haber process), also using naturally occurring deposits, while chemically altering them (e.g. concentrated triple superphosphate).
Properly applied, organic fertilizers can improve the health and productivity of soil and plants, as they provide different essential nutrients to encourage plant growth. Organic nutrients increase the abundance of soil organisms by providing organic matter and micronutrients for organisms such as fungal mycorrhiza, which aid plants in absorbing nutrients. Chemical fertilizers may have long-term adverse impact on the organisms living in soil[citation needed] and a detrimental long term effect on soil productivity of the soil[citation needed].
For more information about Fertilizer, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with fertilizer
What she sees in you -- facial attractiveness explained
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
Aug 24, 2009 |
3.2 / 5 (19) |
10
(PhysOrg.com) -- When it comes to potential mates, women may be as complicated as men claim they are, according to psychologists.
Switchgrass produces biomass efficiently
Nov 23, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
A USDOE and USDA study concluded that 50 million U.S. acres of cropland, idle cropland, and cropland pasture could be converted from current uses to the production of perennial grasses, such as switchgrass, from which biomass ...
Ant has given up sex completely, researchers say
Aug 26, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (16) |
7
The complete asexuality of a widespread fungus-gardening ant, the only ant species in the world known to have dispensed with males entirely, has been confirmed by a team of Texas and Brazilian researchers.
Unnatural selection: Birth control pills may alter choice of partners
Oct 07, 2009 |
4.1 / 5 (14) |
21
There is no doubt that modern contraception has enabled women to have unprecedented control over their own fertility. However, is it possible that the use of oral contraceptives is interfering with a woman's ability to choose, ...
Studying Fertilizers to Cut Greenhouse Gases
Nov 18, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have found that using alternative types of fertilizers can cut back on greenhouse gas emissions, at least in one part of the country. They are ...
Water quality improves after lawn fertilizer ban, study shows
Aug 17, 2009 |
5 / 5 (6) |
2
(PhysOrg.com) -- In an effort to keep lakes and streams clean, municipalities around the country are banning or restricting the use of phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizers, which can kill fish and cause ...
Squeezing More Crop Out of Each Drop of Water
Oct 09, 2009 |
3.8 / 5 (4) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- Studies in China and Colorado by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators have revealed some interesting tactics on how to irrigate with limited water, based on a crop’s ...
In search of wildlife-friendly biofuels
Oct 01, 2009 |
1 / 5 (1) |
1
When society jumps on a bandwagon, even for a good cause, there may be unintended consequences. The unintended consequence of crop-based biofuels may be the loss of wildlife habitat, particularly that of ...
Daily sex helps to reduce sperm DNA damage and improve fertility
Jun 30, 2009 |
4.2 / 5 (5) |
3
Daily sex (or ejaculating daily) for seven days improves men’s sperm quality by reducing the amount of DNA damage, according to an Australian study presented today (Tuesday) to the 25th annual meeting of the European Society ...
Cancer's break-in tools possibly identified (w/ Video)
Aug 17, 2009 |
5 / 5 (2) |
0
A single cell in a 1-millimeter nematode worm is providing valuable new clues into cancer's deadliest behavior -- its ability to put down roots in new tissues after spreading throughout the body.
Semen quality depends upon antioxidants
Jun 02, 2009 |
4 / 5 (5) |
0
A possible relationship between men's diets and the quality of their semen has long been a discussion point. Spanish researchers have now confirmed that antioxidants, molecules which are found mainly in fruit and vegetables ...
Researchers to perform sex change operation on papaya
Nov 02, 2009 |
3 / 5 (2) |
0
The complicated sex life of the papaya is about to get even more interesting, thanks to a $3.1 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant will fund basic research on the papaya sex chromosomes ...
Male factor infertility associated with comorbidities
Nov 09, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
The December issue of European Urology, the official journal of the European Association of Urology, features an article entitled 'Are Infertile Men Less Healthy than Fertile Men? Results of a Prospective Case-Control Survey ...
Nile Delta fishery grows dramatically thanks to run-off of sewage, fertilizers
Jan 19, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (9) |
2
While many of the world's fisheries are in serious decline, the coastal Mediterranean fishery off the Nile Delta has expanded dramatically since the 1980s.
Nile Delta fishery grows dramatically thanks to run-off of sewage, fertilizers
Jan 20, 2009 |
not rated yet |
2
(PhysOrg.com) -- While many of the world’s fisheries are in serious decline, the coastal Mediterranean fishery off the Nile Delta has expanded dramatically since the 1980s.
