Sinister Impact of Chemical Fertilisers

In the last decade the production and consumption of organic food has increased steadily worldwide despite lower productivity of organic crops. Generally the population attributes healthier properties to organic food. The chemical fertiliser and pharmaceutical industry has not sponsored research on replacement of chemical fertilisers and pesticides by affordable and healthier organic fertilisers. Scientific literature remains scarce yet organic agriculture appears to contribute to maintaining an optimal health status and decreasing the risk of developing chronic diseases. This may be due to the higher content of bioactive compounds and lower content of unhealthy substances such as cadmium , lead and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in organic foods of plant origin compared to conventional agricultural products.

Hazardous Fertilizers Linkage to Diseases

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has shared that in Pakistan around 40 % of children below the age of 5 suffer from stunted growth , as compared to regional 30 % . This may be partly attributable to lower then recommended nutritional content and toxicity in the foodsupply chain , excessive use of pesticides which in turn demands increased application of chemical fertiliser , a source of carcenogenic elements.

Threats to the environment and the economy significantly worsens human health greatly outweighing any gains associated with increasing food production. Numerous heavily fertilized crops are used as animal feed, contributing to global food inequalities and unbalanced diets, even in wealthy countries. Hazardous fertilizers have been linked to an excessive burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, which significantly increase yields and pose considerable environmental and public health risks. The rate at which nitrogen fertilizers are applied is closely related to the buildup of toxins in the surrounding area, groundwater and edible leafy and root crops . Consumption of diets including these ingredients has contributed to a significant risk to public health and desease.

Chemical Fertiliser Manufacturers Discourage Research

Although the use of fertilizers in agriculture has increased over the years, information on their impact on public health and the environment is limited. Chemical fertilizers are an essential tool for soil management, but their use may result in an increase in contamination of soils, air and water either from the elements of the fertilizers or their contaminants, such as toxic trace elements for inorganic and pathogens for organic fertilizers. Along with the application of inorganic fertilizers, levels of nitrogen compounds in water, air and soil have significantly increased over time affecting plants, animals and human health .

Credit;Solo Abadi

Introducing Organic fertilisers

The use of organic fertilizers improve the composition and properties of soils, significantly increases the yield of agricultural crops, growing environmentally friendly crops, ensures food security , improves people’s health and quality of life and increases life expectancy. Organic fertilizers obtained from poultry farm waste significantly reduce the amount of noxious emissions into the environment, increase environmental safety, curb carbon emissions and adverse climate change and improves the quality of life of people living in the region. Organic fertilizers, commonly known as natural manures, are plant or animal material based fertilizers consisting of compost, cow dung, green manure, bone meal and vermicompost. Organic manures improve the structure of soil, increase microbial activity and provide slowly released nutrients over a period of time.

Chemical or synthetic fertilizers used indiscriminately for improved production pose a major threat to long-term soil fertility,soil environment and its components. The use of minerals that contain fertilizer nutrients in their native state is a promising approach to reducing harmful emissions associated with the processing chemical industries. Organic material from natural sources such as food waste, manure from livestock and agricultural biomass acts as a source of microbial culture and encourages the release of nutrients into the soil during mineral weathering. The combination of nutrient-bearing minerals and their biological weathering agents together with organic matter has the potential to remediate, restore and sustain depleted agricultural soils.

Hazards of Excessive Usage of Chemical Fertilizers

Chemical fertilizers are industrially manufactured products offering plant nutrients in a handy form. Urea, Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium blends and ammonium nitrate are common chemical nutrients. On the other hand organic manures improve the structure of the soil, water holding capacity and microbial activity. Organic fertilizers conserve water whereas chemical fertilizers consume excessive water and eventually lower the soil quality by causing salt buildup and pH balance leaching.

Benefits of Natural Fertilizers

Benefits of natural fertilization inclusive of natural manures strengthen the ground with valuable organic matter that permits aeration and structure. It promotes the roots to grow deeper and breathe. Natural fertilizers are organic ,sustainable and environment friendly , never pollute water bodies nor release greenhouse gases and eco-friendly for green agriculture. Organic manures incites ” Microorganism Action ” and also encourage the activity of beneficial bacteria and fungi, essential in disease fighting and nutrient cycling, present less 0pportunities for over fertilizing on account of slow nutrient release and minimal or no possibility of root burn and overfeeding. Continued recycling enhances soil fertility by continuously increasing the overall fertility of the soil, which alleviates the necessity for future external inputs. On a greater scale, natural fertilizer benefits reach far beyond farm crops and their employment maintains soil health, leading to sustainable agriculture.

Effects of Insecticides on Children’s Cognitive Development

Credit;The Borgen Project

Despite increased sustainability of chemical fertilizers they are still being used in vast quantities as they work well and very fast.  Synthetic fertilizers runoff into waterways harming marine life and water quality. Organic fertilizers do not run off as easily ,if at all, and are associated with soil structure. According to the Organic Trade Association, organic fertilizer increase species biodiversity by 30% compared with synthetic fertilizer. Although organic fertilizer can be more costly than synthetic, it can reduce the need for pesticides and the overall nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium requirements. Because of the reductions, organic fertilizer can be cost neutral and cost saving. In organic agriculture, the use of pesticides is restricted and epidemiological studies point to the negative effects of certain insecticides on children’s cognitive development at current levels of exposure.

Credit;VOA

Such risks can be minimised with organic food especially during pregnancy and in infancy and by introducing non-pesticidal plant protection in conventional agriculture. There are few known compositional differences between organic and conventional crops. There are indications that organic crops have a lower cadmium content than conventional crops due to differences in fertiliser usage and soil organic matter, an issue that impacts human health. Organic milk and meat, have a higher content of omega-3 fatty acids compared to conventional products, but this is not likely to be nutritionally significant in light of other dietary sources including high priced vitamins. The prevalent use of antibiotics in conventional animal production is a key driver of antibiotic resistance. The prevention of animal disease and more restrictive use of antibiotics, as practiced in organic production, could minimise this risk, with potentially considerable benefits for public health , better quality of life and longevity .

Low Cost & Affordability Organic Fertilisers

Composting Nature’s Way of Recycling

Composting is the managed, aerobic (oxygen-required) biological decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms. Organic or carbon-based materials include grass clippings, leaves, yard and tree trimmings and food scraps. The end product is compost, a biologically stable soil amendment that can be used to build soil health and provide nutrients to plants. Microorganisms feed on the materials added to the compost pile during the composting process using carbon and nitrogen to grow and reproduce, water to digest materials and oxygen to breathe. Composting is nature’s way of recycling. It is one of the most powerful actions we can take to reduce our trash and build healthy soil. By turning house backyard food scraps and yard trim into compost the community can transform waste streams into a beneficial, value-added soil amendment and use it to protect the environment and create resilient communities.

Organic Manure & Medicinal Plants

Credit;BBC

Organic manures enhance biomass and improve content, chemical compounds of essential oil and antioxidant capacity of medicinal plants. The current farming systems strongly depend on chemical fertilisers widely applied to increase crop yield . Although chemical fertilisers enhance crop yield in the short term, their excessive and long-term application can have adverse effects on environmental and human health. An important goals of sustainable agriculture is substituting chemical fertilisers with organic manures. Organic manures can be used as a low-cost and safe alternative containing essential nutrients for crop growth, improve soil conditions and nutrient availability, increase plant growth and ultimately enhance yield. The application of organic manures to medicinal plants is more critical than to other plants, as organic manures not only enhance the growth and productivity of medicinal plants but also modify quality of their products.

Landfill Revenues Civic Authorities

Improved Public Service

Landfills should invariably be accompanied with infrastructure to convert urban and rural solid waste into organic manure /fertiliser and syn gas as energy . Instead of civic agencies/ metropolitan / town municipalities paying PKR 16-25 billion (almost USD $ 70 million ) annually to garbage and solid waste collecting firms , it should be the other way around. The revenues of civic agencies/ metropolitan / town municipalities would significantly increase resulting in improved public service delivery

 

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