FERTILIZER

Most of us use some kind of fertilizer on our gardens and lawns - they can provide important nutrients to soil. But fertilizers are also potent substances that can pose threats to our health and environment, especially if they are not used properly.

In addition to their effects as individual chemicals, fertilizers also affect our health in combination with pesticides. The health effects include, but are not limited to, damage to our neurological, endocrine and immune systems.

As one example of fertilizer-related health effects, high nitrate levels in drinking water threaten the health of infants. Infants fed water or formula made with water that is high in nitrate can develop a condition called methemoglobinemia. This condition is also known as "blue baby syndrome" because the skin appears blue-gray or lavender. The change in colour arises from a lack of oxygen in the blood.

We must take every precaution to ensure that our children and loved ones are not harmed by our use of fertilizers.

Types Of Fertilizer

Organic: Made of organic matter including horse, cattle or poultry manure, fish emulsion or cottonseed meal

Inorganic: Made of inorganic matter. Naturally-occurring inorganic fertilizers include sodium nitrate, limestone and rock phosphate. Manufactured fertilizers include ammonium nitrate and potassium sulphate.

There are a number of ways that fertilizers enter our environment and affect human health, wildlife and vegetation.

Organic Fertilizers And The Environment

Organic fertilizers can replace the nitrogen used by plants if you apply adequate quantities each year. Use them at planting time to ensure that nitrogen will be available to vegetables during their peak nitrogen demand (three to ten weeks after seeding).

Always remember, though - even though organic fertilizers are "natural," they can cause problems if they are over-applied.

Excess fertilizer in lakes leads to algal blooms, which can be toxic and kill fish and other aquatic organisms.

Too much of any kind of fertilizer can have the opposite effect from what we're trying to achieve. It can increase the birth rate, longevity and durability of some pests, as well as increase the acidity of soil.

Chemical Fertilizers And The Environment

Chemical fertilizers tend to be applied in larger quantities than their inorganic counterparts. This can destroy the ability of soil to hold nutrients, creating a situation where nitrates can leach into groundwater and phosphorous can enter waterways through runoff.

The storage and application of some fertilizers can cause emissions of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas. Ammonia gas can be emitted following application of inorganic fertilizers. Ammonia can also increase soil acidity.

Environmentally Responsible Alternatives - A Few Tips

How we use fertilizer is extremely important.

It's always a good rule of thumb to use as little fertilizer as possible, and to use the most environmentally responsible alternative.

Organic fertilizers are a good option. They improve the health of soil while being less likely than chemical fertilizers to burn your lawn or leach into soil or groundwater. It also provides more minerals for plant growth.

REMEMBER: No fertilizer will make up for inadequate soil-building practices. Be sure to give your garden plenty of compost to maintain organic matter in the soil and promote good plant growth.