Fertilizers

1
Fertilizers the Environment

• Good fertilizer practices match inputs to crop
  requirements.
• Results
• High quality
• Economically sustainable yields.

2
Regulations

• Regulations control (Federal State)
• Production
• Transportation
• Storage
• Application

3
Fertilizers Feed the World

• World Population Continues to Grow. It is
  estimated that it will grow to 9.0 billion by
  2025.
• Seventy Five percent will be in developing
  countries.
• Arable land is decreasing. In 2002 cultivated
  land was estimated at .32 acres per person.
• Urban sprawl here and abroad continues to pave
  over prime land.

4
California Production

• Crops
• 350 crops grown.
• Produces 99 or more of 12 crops
• California is largest exporter in US. (50 years)
• 8 of the 10 top ag counties in US are in
  California.

5
Fertilizer Facts

• Fertilizers provide essential plant nutrients to
  supplement soil supplied nutrients, which often
  fall short of crop demand.
• Fertilizers have been used for centuries and will
  continue in importance.
• Increased production of food and fiber will
  require increased use of plant nutrients.

6
Environmental Issues

• Issues stem from
• Poor management
• Application method
• Rate
• Timing
• Nitrogen and Phosphorus are the nutrients most
  commonly associated with environmental concerns.
• Nitrate Nitrogen can enter water supplies.
• Phosphorus can cause algae growth in water
  supplies.

7
Environmental Cont.

• Naturally occurring soil derived nutrients may
  also appear in water sources.
• US EPA tests revealed 1.2 of public and 2.4 of
  wells contain nitrates of allowable containment
  level.
• In the West, irrigation has been shown to remove
  naturally occurring nitrogen from water.

8
Environment Cont.

• Research has shown more risk associated with
  manure and legume nitrogen than inorganic
  fertilizers.
• Organic sources are more difficult to manage
  because of unpredictable release rates and
  subsequent availability to plants.
• Unused nutrients are easily lost to the
  environment and may increase pollution.

9
Example

• Nitrate leaching potential
• Nitrogen Source Soil Content (ppm)
• None 8
• Commercial 10
• Manure 49
• Legume (plowed) 62

10
Long Term Soil Health

• Fertilizers contribute to sustainability of
  soils.
• Promotes increased organic matter.
• Proper use increases yield while improving
  overall fertility.

11
Positive Impacts of Fertilizer use on the
Environment

• Reduces soil erosion to maintain soil
  productivity and decrease pollution of surface
  waters.
• Is key to producing efficient root systems to
  help reduce pollution of ground water.
• Greatly improves land-use efficiency.
• Assists in the safe disposal of degradable wastes
  in land redemption/reclamation.
• Sustains green top growth, essential to gaseous
  exchange and carbon sequestration associated with
  energy conservation.

12
Reduced Soil Erosion

• Adequately fertilized crops will have extensive
  root systems and top growth.
• Good canopy reduces effect of pounding from rain
  and hail, which results in erosion, crusting.
• Extensive roots systems hold soil in place and
  decreases potential for erosion.
• Used with direct seeding and minimum tillage
  improves residue (OM) in soil.

13
Soil Erosion Cont.

• Phosphorus is lost with run off of sediments with
  soil.
• Can be lost with solute transport. (Irrigation)
• Concentrated applications of animal manure and
  bio-solids have contributed to soil P above the
  threshold that P movement is observed.
• USDA NRCS has guidelines for Nutrient Management.

14
Improved Root System

• Properly fertilized crops have extensive root
  systems.
• More efficient is absorbing nutrients and water.
• Crop rotations coupled with sound management will
  lead to sustaining fertility and water use
  efficiency.

15
Improved Land Use Efficiency

• From 2002 to 2010 it is estimated that 1-2
  million acres will be lost to urbanization.
• With this loss more marginal land will be used to
  offset this loss.
• Marginal lands are often less fertile and subject
  to erosion.
• Improved management is necessary to maintain
  productivity.

16
Non-Ag Use of Fertilizers

• Use in municipal and residential landscaping.
• Allows use of degradable wastes, but produces
  more.
• Concerned with build up of salts, heavy metals,
  phosphorus.
• Health risks from disease organisms is a concern.
  

17
Match Fertilizer Inputs to Crop Needs

• Sound fertilizer usage provides crops with the
  proper amount of nutrients at the right time and
  place.
• Vital management tools include soil, tissue and
  water analysis.
• Nutrient requirements of crops and yield
  histories and goals must be considered.
• Application and timing will have effect on
  efficiency of nutrient management program.

18
Best Management Practices

• Technology has allowed producers to use improved
  systems to achieve objectives using
  environmentally responsible methods.
• These production systems utilize Best Management
  Practices (BMPs)
• BMPs combine scientific research with practical
  knowledge to optimize yields and improve crop
  quality by increasing fertilizer efficiency and
  minimizing input loss.

19
BMPs Cont.

• Adopting BMPs provides the greatest economic
  return for producers while maintaining desirable
  environmental goals.
• BMPs are ever changing based upon research and
  experience.
• Production, financial feasibility and the
  environment must all be taken into consideration.
• Must be adapted to users specific needs.

20
Common Characteristics Goals of all BMPs

• Include soil and water conservation as well as
  sound agronomic practices.
• Technology is based on practical field research.
  Improved through use of current research.
• Lead to maximum economic yields.
• Encourages high input efficiency.
• Flexible to accommodate specific farm, soil and
  crop conditions.
• Provides opportunity to better manage
  environmentally sensitive areas.

21
Cont.

• Improves food safety
• Promotes good environmental stewardship
• Conserve energy and promote energy efficient
  systems.
• Can be broad spectrum or site specific.
• Can be for soil fertility, plant nutrition, pest
  management, variety selection, crop rotation and
  water management.

22
Broad Spectrum BMPs

• Soil, Plant and Water Tests are tools that must
  be used.
• Practices based on testing benefit the
  environment.
• Protect water quality by reducing excess
  nutrients.
• Conserve valuable resources by recommending
  nutrient and water applications only when
  necessary.

23
BMPs Cont.

• Reduce soil erosion by promoting early root
  growth and canopy cover.
• Enhance natural resistance to disease and pests
  through improved crop nutrition.
• Maintain sustainability of agricultural lands
  through selection of proper soil amendments.

24
Benefits of Nutrient Management Plan

• NMPs are designed to balance nutrient
  applications with crop needs in order to protect
  water quality and enhance farm profitability.
• Complex process affected by weather, production
  objectives, equipment availability and economics.

25
Benefits Cont.

• Reduced risk of polluting surface waters and
  groundwater as a result of improper nutrient
  application.
• Efficient integration of commercial fertilizers
  and other nutrient sources, such as manure or
  bio-solids, to reduce fertilizer costs.
• Improved recommendations that help achieve
  maximum economic yields.

26
Conservation Tillage BMPs

• Conserve soil and water resources.
• Improves the efficiency of production inputs such
  as fuel, fertilizer and labor.
• Environmental benefits stem from reducing soil
  surface disturbance and retaining crop residues.
• Water infiltrates better with less run-off
  (erosion).

27
Site Specific BMPs

• Rate of Nitrogen fertilizer applied will be the
  amount necessary to meet projected crop needs.
• Application should be timed to coincide with the
  periods of maximum crop uptake.
• Irrigation and nutrient application BMPs must be
  coordinated to minimize nutrient and water
  losses.
• Phosphorus BMPS should be included.