Fertiliser environment

A goal of controlled release fertiliser research since the 1940s has been the development of a product that deUvers its nutrients at a rate matching the demand rate of the plant to which it is appHed. Such a fertiliser would represent the ultimate in use efficiency agronomic performance, ie, crop yield, quahty, and appearance agronomic safety and labor savings, ie, reduced appHcation frequency. It also would minimise potential losses to the environment. 

Change the environment. We are used to solving environmental problems by relatively simple interventions adding fertilisers, pesticides and water. However, it is much more difficult to remove an excess than it is to supplement a deficiency. A technological solution to the salinity problem has many possibilities but all are costly. In the case of staple foods then either their market value (commercial) or the resources of their consumers (subsistence) precludes such a solution. 

Zaman M, Nguyen ML. Effect of lime or zeolite on NzO and N emissions from a pastoral soil treated with urine or nitrate-N fertiliser under field conditions. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment. 2010 136 254—261. 

Bouwman AF, Boumans LJM, Batjes NH (2002) Emissions of N20 and NO from fertilised fields summary of available measurement data. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 16 1058 Christensen S, Simkins S, Tiedje JM (1990) Spatial variation in denitrification dependency of activity centers on the soil environment. Soil Sci Soc Am J 54 1608-1613 CONCAWE (2006) Well-to-wheels analyses of future automotive fuels and powertrains in the European context. Study of European Council for Automotive R D, EUCAR, European Commission, Brussels... 

Shaw, G., 1993, Blockade by fertilisers of caesium and strontium uptake into crops effects on the root uptake process. 5ci. Total Environ. 137 119-133. 

Ryan, M.H. and Ash, J. 1999. Effects of phosphorus and nitrogen on growth of pasture plants and AM fungi in SE Australian soils with contrasting fertiliser histories (conventional and biodynamic). Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 73 51-62. 

Oudendag DA, Luesink HH (1998) The Manure Model manure, minerals (N, P and K), ammonia emission, heavy metals and the use of fertiliser in Dutch agriculture. Environ Pollut 102 241-246... 

Pollution The modification of the environment caused by human influence. It often renders the environment harmful and unpleasant to life. Atmospheric pollution is caused by gases such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides being released into the atmosphere by a variety of industries and also by the burning of fossil fuels. Water pollution is caused by many substances, such as those found in fertilisers and in industrial effluent. 

Vanadium leaches soil from a large number of diverse sources, including waste effluents from the iron and steel industries and chemical industries. Phosphate industries are also a major source of vanadium pollution because vanadium becomes soluble along with phosphoric acids when rock phosphates are leached with sulfuric acid. Vanadium is present in all subsequent phosphoric acid preparations, including ammonium phosphate fertilisers, and is released into the environment along with them. Other sources of vanadium pollution are fossil fuels, such as crude petroleum, coal and lignite. Burning these fuels releases vanadium into the air, which then settles in the soils. 

The presence of elements known to have adverse health effects in humans such as lead and arsenic is obviously undesirable in food. Environmental sources are the main contributors to contamination of food with most metals and other elements. Some elements (e.g. arsenic) are present naturally but the major sources of other elements (e.g. lead) in the environment are from pollution from industrial and other human activities. The presence of metals and other elements in food can also be the result of contamination from certain agricultural practices (e.g. cadmium from phosphate fertilisers) or manufacturing processes (e.g. tin in canned foods). 

Smith K.A. Thomson P.E. Clayton H. McTaggart I.P. and Conen F. (1998). Effects of temperature, water content and nitrogen fertilisation on emissions of nitrous oxide by soils. Atmospheric Environment, 32(19), 3301-3309. 

The results expected from the potassium fertiliser remediation strategy are consistent with international guidance on interventions to avoid dose in chronic exposure situations and, therefore, this strategy would provide a radiologically safe environment permitting early resettlement. 

The reduction of mono-co-ordinated molecular nitrogen to ammonia in a protic environment Fuel-saving way to make fertiliser Fuel break-through More progress in nitrogen fixation Cheaper nitrogen by 1990 Basic life process created in UK lab... 

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