Notes

Rice is considered to be the major source of calories and staple food worldwide. Farmers rely heavily on conventional farming methods and apply large quantities of fertilizers to increase paddy yields, especially inorganic fertilizers such as urea (46% N) and diamonium phosphate (DAP; 46% P and 18% N).
The use of inorganic fertilizers has been criticized for posing multiple threats to human health and the environment. Inorganic fertilizers contaminate groundwater and are not environmentally friendly. Continuous and consistent application of inorganic fertilizers leads to frequent absorption and accumulation of heavy metals in plant tissues, which reduces the nutritional and grain quality of the crop.
Accordingly, excessive use of inorganic fertilizers can lead to soil, air and water pollution such as nutrient leakage, destruction of soil physical properties, and accumulation of toxic chemicals in water sources. As well as causing severe environmental problems and losses. Biodiversity. Thus, agrochemicals are among the significant and leading factors in pollution in developing countries and play a dangerous role in human and livestock health.
• Negative effect
Though chemical fertilizers growth crop production; their overuse has hardened the soil, reduced fertility, reinforced pesticides, polluted air and water, and launched greenhouse gases, thereby bringing risks to human fitness and surroundings as well.
• Disadvantages of fertilizers
✓ They are expensive.
✓ The ingredients in the fertilizers are toxic to the skin and respiratory
system.
✓ Excessive use of fertilizers damages the plants and reduces soil fertility.
✓ Leaching occurs and the fertilizers reach the rivers causing eutrophication
• Advantages of fertilizers
✓ They are quick in providing plant nutrients and restoring soil fertility.
✓ They are portable and easy to transport.
✓ Plants easily absorb fertilizers.
✓ Fertilizers improve and increase the productivity of many crops such as
wheat, maize, and rice.
✓ They are expensive.
✓ The ingredients in the fertilizers are toxic to the skin and respiratory
system.
✓ Excessive use of fertilizers damages the plants and reduces soil fertility.
✓ Leaching occurs and the fertilizers reach the rivers causing eutrophication