Soil Fertility, Fertilizers, And Crop Nutrition: History And Roots In The Past
Over 50 percent of the world’s food supply can be attributed to the use of mineral fertilizers. As the demand in agriculture continues to grow, understanding the history of crop nutrition and the fertilizer industry is more important than ever. In this article from the March-April 2024 issue of Crops & Soils Magazine, Robert Mikkelsen, Director of Agronomic Services at Yara International, and Alan Blaylock, Senior Agronomist at Nutrien, analyze the history of the fertilizer industry, nutrient sources, and the emergence of soil testing. This is part one of a three-part series focused on the past, present, and future of the fertilizer industry.
Fertilizer is critical to crop productivity and nutrition and allows for improved crop quality, stress tolerance, pest resistance, and improved soil, human, and animal health. It allows us to create a stable food supply that can support both our society and the economy.
The earliest understanding of the need for plant nutrition came from the idea that each plant had a soul and absorbed the earth through their roots. For many centuries, modern practices of plant nutrition and soil fertility were unknown. There was only a basic understanding of the value of manure, animal and human composts, crop residues, crop rotation, green manures, limestone, ash, and coastal seaweed. By the early 1800s, it was widely understood that the proper use of soil amendments positively impacted plant growth.
As awareness about the obvious benefits of plant nutrients and nutrient additions increased, the search for practical nutrient sources rapidly expanded. In the mid-1800s, the agricultural use for phosphate was uncovered, and it marked the beginning of the modern fertilizer industry. The simultaneous discovery of other essential nutrients and minerals vital for balanced plant nutrition and increased crop yields included potash, nitrogen, and sulfur. Over time, many of these elements became difficult to source and modern practices were implemented for both extraction and use in fertilizer.
Read the full article to learn more and take a closer look at the history of phosphate, potash, nitrogen, and sulfur in the fertilizer industry, as well as the emergence of micronutrient use, soil testing, and plant nutrition science.
*This article is also available for 1.5 CEU credits if read via ASA’s classroom subscription.
