Share this
In plant production, materials applied to the growing medium or directly to the plant to enhance yield and quality are called fertilizers. Fertilizers are generally classified into two main categories: organic fertilizers and chemical fertilizers. However, agricultural producers frequently encounter a wide range of fertilizing materials with various characteristics. These include organic fertilizers produced from organic waste and raw materials through different methods, organomineral fertilizers that are similarly processed and enriched with chemical substances, chemical fertilizers formulated with various contents, and microorganisms that promote plant growth.
There is a common belief, particularly among those unfamiliar with plant production, that chemical fertilizers degrade agricultural soils, cause barren land (reduced productivity), and negatively affect the taste and aroma of crops. In reality, these beliefs are entirely unfounded. Plants absorb numerous elements from their growing environment (soil and air), but the elements essential for their growth can be categorized into two groups: macro and micro elements.
Macro plant nutrients include carbon (C), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S).
Micro plant nutrients include iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), boron (B), zinc (Zn), chlorine (Cl), nickel (Ni), sodium (Na), cobalt (Co), vanadium (V), and silicon (Si).
As seen, plants take up these essential mineral nutrients through their roots and leaves. In plant production, while carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen are not applied directly as fertilizers, macro nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, as well as micro nutrients such as iron, copper, zinc, manganese, boron, chlorine, and molybdenum, are present in chemical fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers contain these nutrients in forms that plants can readily absorb from the soil. When applied at appropriate rates and with proper methods, chemical fertilizers do not leave residues in the soil, do not poison plants, and do not pose any threats to human or animal health.
Prof. Dr. Murat Ali TURAN