The role of the fertilizer industry

The fertilizer industry helps ensure that farmers have the nutrients they need to grow enough crops to meet the world's requirements for food, feed, fibre and energy. The n utrients supplied by the industry supplement on-farm sources of nutrients such as manure and legumes. Nutrients in manufactured fertilizers are in forms that can be absorbed by plants. All of these nutrients exist in nature, but the quantities are not sufficient to meet the needs of our growing, urbanized population.

Soil, nutrients and good agricultural practices

The fertilizer industry encourages the adoption of Fertilizer Best Management Practices (FBMPs) as part of good agricultural practices.

For efficient soil management, a farmer must improve desirable soil characteristics using good agricultural practices. To ensure sustainability and high productivity, these practices should be:

• technically sound
• economically attractive
• environmentally safe
• feasible in practice
• socially acceptable

The most important components of good agricultural practices are:

• choosing high-quality, high-yield seed
• choosing the best time to sow and appropriate methods, with optimum seed rate and plant population
• choosing appropriate fertilizers with balanced rates, methods and times of application
• replenishing organic matter
• maintaining appropriate soil reaction (pH)
• controling insect pests and diseases with appropriate measures
• controling weeds and soil erosion
• providing irrigation and drainage
• adopting appropriate management practices