Chem Form 4, Fertilisers and Nitrogen

What are fertilisers and why are they important?
Fertilizers are simply plant nutrients applied to agricultural fields to supplement

required elements found naturally in the soil. They are important because
Fertilisers make crops grow faster and bigger so that crop yields are increased.
They're minerals, which must first dissolve in water so that plants can absorb them
through their roots. Fertilisers provide plants with the essential chemical elements
needed for growth particularly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
What are the essential elements that need to be present in fertilisers and explain why
they are essential?
Nitrogen
Of the three primary nutrients, nitrogen is the one that plants need in the greatest
quantities. It is crucial for protein. Nitrogen occurs in plant fertilizers in the chemical
forms calcium nitrate, di-ammonium phosphate, sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate,
potassium nitrate, urea, liquid nitrogen and mono-ammonium phosphate. Nitrogen
deficiency in plants generally shows up as pale green or yellow leaves, usually
starting with the lowest leaves.
Phosphorus
Phosphorous most often originates from naturally occurring rock phosphate, or
phosphorite, in fertilizer production. Two different treatment processes -- one wet and
one dry -- serve to convert the rock phosphate into a form that plants can use more
readily. That chemical form is termed orthophosphate. Animal manures provide an
organic source of phosphorous. Though not all of the phosphorous in manures is in
the available orthophosphate form, it will generally convert to that form as the manure
decomposes.
Potassium
Potassium occurs in fertilizers in the chemical compound forms potassium hydroxide,
potassium sulfate, potassium chloride and potassium nitrate. Perhaps the most
common chemical form of potassium in soils is potassium chloride. Since potassium
chloride is a salt, if soil concentrations become too high, plants may show signs of salt
damage. Among other functions, the element potassium serves to help plants resist
disease, develop strong stems and improve drought tolerance.
Describe the problems related to excess use of fertilisers?

The main environmental problem associated with fertilizer use is contamination of
water with nitrates and phosphates.
The nitrogen from fertilizers and manures are eventually converted by bacteria in the
soil to nitrates. These nitrates can be leached into the groundwater or be washed out of
the soil surface into streams and rivers. High nitrate levels in drinking water are
considered to be dangerous to human health.
Phosphorus cannot be readily washed out of the soil, but is bound to soil particles and
moves together with them. Phosphorus can therefore be washed into surface waters
together with the soil that is being eroded. The phosphorus is not considered to be
dangerous, but it stimulates the growth of algae in slow moving water. These algae
eventually die and decompose, removing the oxygen from the water causing fish kills.
This process is called eutrophication.
Ammonia gas is usually prepared in the laboratory by gently heating ammonium
chloride (NH4Cl) and slaked lime [Ca(OH)2].
The Haber Process combines nitrogen from the air with hydrogen derived mainly
from natural gas (methane) into ammonia. The reaction is reversible and the
production of ammonia is exothermic
.
The raw materials for this process are hydrogen and nitrogen. Hydrogen is obtained
by reacting natural gas - methane - with steam, or through the cracking of oil.
Nitrogen is obtained by burning hydrogen in air. Air is 80 per cent nitrogen; nearly all
the rest is oxygen. When hydrogen is burned in air, the oxygen combines with the
hydrogen, leaving nitrogen behind.
In general, the nitrogen cycle has five steps:
Nitrogen fixation (N2 to NH3/ NH4+ or NO3-)
In general, the nitrogen cycle has five steps:
Nitrogen fixation (N2 to NH3/ NH4+ or NO3-)

Nitrogen fixation is the process by which gaseous nitrogen (N2) is converted to
ammonia (NH3 or NH4+) via biological fixation or nitrate (NO3-) through high-
energy physical processes
Nitrification (NH3 to NO3-)
Nitrification is a two-step process in which NH3/ NH4+ is converted to NO3-. First,
the soil bacteria Nitrosomonas and Nitrococcus convert NH3 to NO2-, and then
another soil bacterium, Nitrobacter, oxidizes NO2- to NO3-. These bacteria gain
energy through these conversions, both of which require oxygen to occur.
Assimilation (Incorporation of NH3 and NO3- into biological tissues)

Assimilation is the process by which plants and animals incorporate the NO3- and
ammonia formed through nitrogen fixation and nitrification. Plants take up these
forms of nitrogen through their roots, and incorporate them into plant proteins and
nucleic acids. Animals are then able to utilize nitrogen from the plant tissues.
Ammonification (organic nitrogen compounds to NH3)

Assimilation produces large quantities of organic nitrogen, including proteins, amino
acids, and nucleic acids. Ammonification is the conversion of organic nitrogen into
ammonia. The ammonia produced by this process is excreted into the environment
and is then available for either nitrification or assimilation.
Denitrification(NO3- to N2)
Denitrification is the reduction of NO3- to gaseous N2 by anaerobic bacteria. This
process only occurs where there is little to no oxygen, such as deep in the soil near the
water table. Hence, areas such as wetlands provide a valuable place for reducing
excess nitrogen levels via denitrification processes.
References
Agroservicesinternational.com. (2017). Problems with fertilizers. [online]
Available at:
http://www.agroservicesinternational.com/Environment/Problems.html
[Accessed 24 Oct. 2017].
Bbc.co.uk. (2017). BBC - GCSE Bitesize: Fertilisers. [online] Available at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_gateway_pre_2
011/chemical/fertilisersrev1.shtml [Accessed 24 Oct. 2017].
Chemguide.co.uk. (2017). The Haber Process for the manufacture of
ammonia. [online] Available at:
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/equilibria/haber.html [Accessed
24 Oct. 2017].
DeJoia, A. (2015). Why do farmers use fertilizers?. [online] Soils Matter,
Get the Scoop!. Available at:
https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2015/03/18/why-do-farmers-use-
fertilizers/ [Accessed 24 Oct. 2017].
Miller, D. (2017). What Are the Elements Found in Fertilizers?. [online]
Homeguides.sfgate.com. Available at:
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/elements-found-fertilizers-76509.html
Staff, F. (2017). The Nitrogen Cycle. [online] Environmental Monitor.
Available at: http://www.fondriest.com/news/nitrogencycle.htm

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What are fertilisers and why are they important?

Fertilizers are simply plant nutrients applied to agricultural fields to supplement

Describe the problems related to excess use of fertilisers?

In general, the nitrogen cycle has five steps:

Nitrogen fixation (N2 to NH3/ NH4+ or NO3-)

In general, the nitrogen cycle has five steps:

Nitrogen fixation (N2 to NH3/ NH4+ or NO3-)

Assimilation (Incorporation of NH3 and NO3- into biological tissues)

Ammonification (organic nitrogen compounds to NH3)

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