There are environmental concerns that need to be taken into consideration when using fertilizer. Elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus can get washed into our surface waters and cause algae blooms and excess plant growth. This excess growth in plant material can cause numerous problems, namely the reduction of oxygen which can lead to fish kills. Nitrogen leaching into our ground waters and drinking water supplies is a concern because excess nitrogen in drinking water can contribute to the "blue baby" syndrom in infants under one year of age. Excesses of minor elements in the soil, such as copper and zinc, can cause problems in crop production.
Any fertilizer in any form, whether it is organic or synthetic, can harm the environment if misused. Whether you're using cow manure or commercial fertilizer, you need to take precautions to protect the environment.
How can fertilizer be used properly and still protect the environment?
There are several things to keep in mind to protect the environment when using fertilizer:
1) Get your soil tested regularly - Soil testing is the only way that you will know what nutrients are in the soil. If you have sufficient amounts of elements such as phosphorus, then there is no need in applying extra phosphorus. The only way that you will know this is by testing the soil.
2) Know the nutrient needs of your crop - If your crop only needs 1/2 pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet, then only apply 1/2 pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet. Any more than this will not do any good and will most likely not be used. Unused fertilizer can be washed away into lakes, rivers and streams or leached into ground water. Study the crop you're growing and learn about it's nutrient needs. Use this knowledge plus information from your soil test to determine the amount of fertilizer to apply.
3) Apply at the proper time - Know when your crop needs to be ferilized. There is no need to apply fertilizer when the crop will not use it. Again, this unused fertilizer can be washed away or leached before the plant can use it.
4) Take extra precautions on slopes - Applying fertilizers on slopes can lead to the washing away of nutrients. This is how most of these nutrients wind up into our surface waters. Take precautions to control your runoff from your property. Do not allow your fertilizer to drift onto the streets because this fertilizer will certainly make its way into the storm drains. Above all, control soil erosion. Elements that are tightly held by the soil, make there way into the surface waters on soil that is washed away. Phosphorus is an example of this type of element.
5) If you use organic fertilizer sources, have them tested - Like the soil, the only way that you can know what is in your organic fertilizer source is to have it tested and the only way to know how much organic fertilizer to apply is to know what is in it. The nutrient contents of organic materials vary considerably from lot to lot, therefore information on average contents of individual materials are not always reliable. Be sure of what you are applying, have your organic materials tested.
6) Apply fertilizers only to healthy plants or reduce the amount to unhealthy plants - An unhealthy plant or in the case of a crop, poor plant stand, is not going to use as much nutrient as a healthy crop. Applying the same amount of fertilizer to an unhealthy plant can lead to unsused fertilizer and can also harm the plant. Find out what is causing the problem. Fertilizer may not be the solution and if applied, could lead to polluting the environment.
7) Store your fertilizer materials properly - Keep your fertilizer sources from being washed away by rains. Keep them under a shelter and off of the ground so the nutrients want get caught in rain water runoff.
8) Plant debris and compost is a source of nutrients - Remember that your crop residue left over from last year, mulch and compost contain plant nutrients. These nutrients can also get into the environment as well. When deciding the amount of fertilizer to apply, take into consideration the nutrients from these sources and reduce the amount of fertilizer that you apply.
9) Break up fertilizer applications on sandy soils - Nutrients leach very readily on sandy soils. If you apply more than the plant can use at the time, one good rain or irrigation can leach the nutrients down below the plant roots before it can use them. On sandy soils, break up fertilizer applications into several smaller applications instead of a few larger applications.
10) Follow up fertilizer applications with a light irrigation - A light irrigation is good to activate the fertilizer, but a heavy rain or irrigation can leach or wash away nutrients. Keep this in mind when applying fertilizer.
Protecting the environment concerns all of us. Don't contribute to the problem by misusing fertilizer. Follow the above steps to keep your fertilizer where it belongs, in the plant, not in our surface and ground waters.
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Date Created 3/25/99.