Fertilizer is a substance added to soil to improve plant growth and yield. First used by ancient farmers, fertilizer technology developed significantly as the chemical needs of growing plants found. Modern synthetic fertilizers mainly consists of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compounds with secondary nutrients added. The
use of artificial fertilizers has increased the quality and quantity of
food available at this time, although their long-term use by the
environmental debate.Like all living organisms, plants are composed of cells. In these cells the metabolism of many chemical reactions occur that are responsible for growth and reproduction. Because
plants do not eat food like animals, they depend on the nutrients in
the soil to provide a chemical basis for metabolic reactions. Supply
of components in the soil is limited, however, and as the crop is
harvested, it dwindles, causing a decline in the quality and yield.Replace chemical fertilizers are taken from the soil by growing plants. However,
they are also designed to enhance the growth potential of the soil, and
fertilizer can create a better growing environment than natural soil. They can also be tailored to the type of crop being grown. Typically, fertilizer consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compounds. They also contain elements that enhance plant growth.The main component in fertilizers are nutrients essential for plant growth. Plants use nitrogen in the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids, and hormones. When plants lack nitrogen, they are characterized by reduced growth and yellowing of leaves. Plants also need phosphorus, a component of nucleic acids, phospholipids, and some protein. It is also necessary to provide the energy to drive the chemical reactions of metabolism. Without enough phosphorus, plant growth is reduced. Potassium is another major substances that get plants off the ground. It is used in the synthesis of proteins and key plant processes. Yellowing, spotting dead tissue, and weak stems and roots are all indications of the plants that do not have enough potassium.Calcium, magnesium, and sulfur are also an important ingredient in the growth of plants. They are only included in the fertilizer in small amounts, however, because most soils naturally contain enough components. Other materials needed in relatively small amounts for plant growth. These
micronutrients include iron, chlorine, copper, manganese, zinc,
molybdenum, and boron, which primarily functions as a cofactor in the
enzymatic reaction. Although
they may be present in small amounts, these compounds are no less
important for growth, and without them the plant would die.Many different substances are used to provide the essential nutrients needed for effective fertilizer. These compounds can be mined or isolated from natural sources. Examples include sodium nitrate, seaweed, bones, guano, potassium, and phosphate rock. These compounds can also be synthesized chemically from basic raw materials. This will include things such as ammonia, urea, nitric acid, ammonium and phosphate. Because these compounds exist in several physical states, fertilizer can be sold as a solid, liquid, or slurry.HistoryThe process of adding a substance to enhance the capacity of soil to grow its development in the early days of agriculture. Ancient farmers knew that the first result on a piece of land much better than in subsequent years. This
causes them to move to a new area under cultivation, which again showed
the same pattern of results was reduced from time to time. Finally, it was found that the growth of plants on a plot of land can be improved by spreading manure all over the ground.Over time, the technology becomes more refined fertilizer. New substances which enhance plant growth found. The Egyptians are known to have been added to the ashes of weeds burned to the ground. The
writings of Ancient Greece and Rome showed that a variety of animal
manure is used, depending on the type of soil or the plants grow. It is also unknown at this point leguminous plants growing in the soil before planting wheat is profitable. Other
types of materials added include sea-shells, clay, vegetable waste,
waste from different manufacturing processes, and various other junk.The research compiled in fertilizer technology began in the early seventeenth century. Early
scientists such as Francis Bacon and Johann Glauber explain the
beneficial effect of the addition of saltpeter to the ground. Glauber
developed the first complete mineral fertilizer, which is a mixture of
saltpeter, lime, phosphoric acid, nitrogen, and potassium. As a scientific theory developed chemistry, chemical plant needs was found, leading to improved fertilizer composition. Organic chemist Justus von Liebig demonstrated that plants need mineral elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus to grow. Chemical
fertilizer industry can be said to have its beginnings with a patent
issued to Sir John Lawes, which outlines a method for producing a form
of phosphate is an effective fertilizer. Synthetic
fertilizer industry experienced significant growth after the First
World War, when the facility has been producing synthetic ammonia and
nitrate for explosives has been converted for the production of
nitrogen-based fertilizers.Raw MaterialsFertilizers described here is fertilizer compound fertilizer consisting of primary and secondary nutrients. This represents only one type of fertilizer, and other single nutrient types are also made. Raw
material, in solid form, can be given to fertilizer manufacturers in
bulk quantities thousand tons, the number of drums, or in a metal drum
and container bags.Primary fertilizers include substances derived from nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. A variety of raw materials used to produce these compounds. When
ammonia is used as a source of nitrogen in fertilizers, one of the
synthetic production methods require the use of natural gas and air. Phosphorus component is made using sulfur, coal, and rock phosphate. Sources of potassium from potassium chloride, a major component of potash.Secondary nutrients added to some fertilizers to help make them more effective. Calcium is derived from limestone, that contain calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate and magnesium. Sources of magnesium in fertilizer derived from dolomite. Sulfur is a material mined and added to the fertilizer. Other minerals include iron from ferrous sulfate, copper, and molybdenum oxides of molybdenum.ManufacturingProcessIntegrated plant has been designed to produce compound fertilizer. Depending on the actual composition of the final product, the production process will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.Nitrogen fertilizer component* 1 Ammonia is one of the components of fertilizer N can be synthesized from in-expensive raw materials. Since nitrogen is a significant portion of Earth's atmosphere, a process was developed to produce ammonia from the air. In this process,Fertilizer
natural gas and steam are pumped into the vessel. Furthermore, air is pumped into the system, and the oxygen is removed by burning natural gas and steam. This leaves primarily nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is removed and the ammonia produced by introducing an electric current into the system. Catalysts such as magnetite (Fe 3 O 4) has been used to improve the speed and efficiency of the synthesis of ammonia. Any dirt removed from the ammonia, and will be stored in tanks until further processing.
* 2 The ammonia itself is sometimes used as a fertilizer, is often converted into other substances for ease of handling. Nitric acid is produced by first mixing ammonia and air in the tank. With the catalyst, a reaction occurs that converts ammonia into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide then reacts with the water to produce nitric acid.
*
3 nitric acid and ammonia used to make ammonium nitrate. This material is a component of a good fertilizer because it has a high concentration of nitrogen. Both ingredients are mixed in a tank and neutralization reactions occur, producing ammonium nitrate. This material can then be stored until it is ready to sand and mixed with other fertilizer components.
FertilizerPhosphorus fertilizer component* 4 To isolate phosphorus from phosphate rock, is treated with sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid produced. Some
of this material reacts further with sulfuric acid and nitric acid to
produce triple superphosphate, an excellent source of phosphorus in
solid form.* 5 Some phosphoric acid also reacts with ammonia in a separate tank. This reaction produces ammonium phosphate, other fertilizers good primer.Potassium fertilizer component* 6 Potassium chloride is usually supplied to fertilizer manufacturers in bulk. Factory transform it into a more usable form by granulating it. This makes it easier to mix the fertilizer with the other components in the next step.Granulation and blending*
7 To produce fertilizer in the form of the most useful, each different
compounds, ammonium nitrate, potassium chloride, ammonium phosphate and
triple superphosphate and sand mixed together. One of the granulation method involves placing a solid material into a rotating drum that has tilted axis. As the drum rotates, pieces of solid fertilizer take the form of small balls. They passed through a screen that separates the adequate sized particles. A layer of inert dust which is then applied to the particles, keeping any moisture retention of the discrete and inhibiting. Finally, the particles are dried, completing the process of granulation.* 8 Different types of particles are mixed together in appropriate proportions to produce composite fertilizer. Mixing was done in a large mixing drum that rotates a certain number of turns to produce the best mix. After mixing, fertilizer emptied onto a conveyor belt, which transports the packing machine.Bagging* 9 Fertilizer is usually supplied to the farmers in a big bag. To fill the bag of fertilizer was first delivered to the large hopper. The exact amount released from the hopper into the bag held open with a clamping device. Bags are on a vibrating surface, which allows better packing. When filling is complete, the bag is transported upright for a machine that seals closed. Bags
are then conveyored to the palletizer, which stacks multiple bags,
preparing them for shipment to distributors and eventually to farmers.Quality ControlTo ensure the quality of manure produced, monitor manufacturers products at every stage of production. Raw
materials and finished products all undergo physical and chemical tests
to demonstrate that they meet the specifications that have been
developed previously. Some of the characteristics tested include pH, appearance, density, and melting point. Since
the production of fertilizer governmentally regulated, composition
analysis tests run on samples to determine the total nitrogen content,
phosphate levels, and other elements that affect the chemical
composition. Various other tests were also carried out, depending on the specific nature of the composition of the fertilizer.Byproducts / wasteA relatively small amount of nitrogen contained in the fertilizer applied to the soil is actually assimilated by plants. Many washed into nearby bodies of water or a water filter into the ground. It has added a large amount of nitrate in the water consumed by the public. Several
medical studies show that certain disorders of the urinary system and
the kidneys are the result of excessive nitrate in drinking water. It is also thought that it is very dangerous for the baby and can even be potentially carcinogenic.Nitrate contained in fertilizers are not considered harmful in themselves. However, certain bacteria in the soil convert nitrate into nitrite ions. Research has shown that when nitrite ions are ingested, they can enter the bloodstream. There, they bond with hemoglobin, a protein which is responsible for storing oxygen. When the nitrite ion binds with hemoglobin, it loses its ability to store oxygen resulting in serious health problems.Nitrosamines Another potential byproduct of nitrate in fertilizers. They are the result of natural chemical reactions nitrate. Nitrosamines have been shown to cause tumors in laboratory animals, feeding a fear that the same thing could happen in humans. There is, however, no studies that show an association between the use of fertilizers and human tumors.FutureFertilizer
research currently focuses on reducing the environmental impact harnful
fertilizer use and find new, cheaper sources of fertilizer. Things
like that are being investigated for making more environmentally
friendly fertilizer improved application methods, provision of
fertilizer in a form that is less susceptible to runoff, and create a
more concentrated mixture. New sources of fertilizer are also being investigated. It has been found that sewage sludge contains many nutrients needed for good fertilizer. Unfortunately,
it also contains certain substances such as lead, cadmium, and mercury
in concentrations that would harm the plants. Efforts are underway to remove unwanted elements, making this material a viable fertilizer. Another source that is being developed is a fertilizer. The
first is the manure fertilizer, but they are not used on a large scale
due to their treatment has been proved to be too expensive. As technology improves and costs decrease, this material will become a viable new fertilizer.
