Wouldnt it be better for the environment to use less fertilizer?
As a result of advances in agricultural practices, farmers have been cutting back on the amount of fertilizer they use. Weve made great strides in gaining maximum efficiency from the amount we do apply. Theres a fine line though, between using just the right amount of fertilizer, and not replenishing the nutrients needed to keep pace with todays high-yield farming. Last year, farmers only replaced 75% of the phosphorus their crops removed from the soil, and just over 50% of the potassium plants used. More of both nutrients are needed, or yields will fall. But thats not the only problem associated with depleting nutrient reserves. An insufficient supply also saps plants ability to withstand harsh weather, disease, and other stresses. Nutrient-starved plants cannot maintain soil moisture, which leads to soil erosion from wind or water. Although dry weather played a key role in the dust bowl conditions of the 1930s, insufficient levels of nutrients were at the root of the vicious cycle of
