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The complex environmental problems of the chemosynthetic fertilizer based intensive farming agro industries in the temperate climatic zones

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The complex environmental problems of the chemosynthetic fertilizer based intensive farming agro industries in the temperate climatic zones

Szövegdoboz: Crop and livestock production in much of Western and Central Europe underwent major changes during the second half of the 20th century as a result of the intensification of agriculture. In crop production, there was an increase in the use of water soluble, chemosynthetic mineral N, P and K fertilisers and chemosynthetic crop protection products (herbicides, pesticides and fungicides and growth regulators). However, more recently a range of negative environmental impacts and associated societal costs of “high input” production systems have been identified, including but not limited to the following: high energy intensive industrial operations, increased susceptibility of plants to diseases, presence of heavy metals such as the phosphate rock multifos fertilizers having high Cadmium and Uranium content, high global warming potential, significant loss of biodiversity and using large amounts of labour and capital relative to land area. In order to support the sustainable development, reconsiderations required about the production and use of the chemosynthetic fertilizers in combination with food production cultivation practices. Special concern taken to the safe/healthy food production and food/energy economics, when all and any direct and indirect costs are included, including the cost of our sustainable environment as well.

The intensification of agricultural production in the last century has resulted in a significant loss of biodiversity, environmental problems and associated societal costs. The use of shorter rotations or monocropping and high levels of mineral fertilisers, pesticides and crop growth regulators may also have had negative impacts on food quality and safety.

The use of chemosynthetic mineral fertiliser based fertilisation regimes increased the susceptibility of plants to diseases (e.g. powdery mildew, lodging and Fusarium spp.). It is suspected that the use of highly water soluble, and therefore readily plant available, mineral fertilisers (especially N-fertilisers) will increase the need for the use of pesticides and other crop protection products.

Chemosynthetic fertilizer productions are high energy intensive industrial operations, especially the energy demand of N fertiliser production (which is dependant upon fossil fuels) is very high. Over 90% of nitrogenous fertilizers contain ammonia and/or other fertilizer elements derived from ammonia (e.g., ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, ammonium phosphates, and urea). Producing ammonia is a very energy intensive process; it requires about 1090 to 1250 m3 of natural gas to produce 1 metric ton of anhydrous ammonia (35 000 to 40 000 ft3 natural gas per short ton).

The Phosphate rock multifos fertilizers having high Cadmium and Uranium content. There is a limit to the non renewable phosphate rock reserves that can profitably be recovered at current market prices. The economically minable low heavy metal contaminated total RP rock phosphate of the world is sufficient up to 25 year. Low Cadmium content rock phosphate deficit is expected to be a reality already by 2010s.

The global warming potential of conventional agriculture is strongly affected by the use of chemosynthetic nitrogen fertilizers and by high nitrogen concentrations in soils. High emission rates are detected directly after fertilization and are highly variable. Commercial chemosynthetic fertilizers, especially nitrogen, are easily washed below the level of the plant's root system through the leaching of rain or irrigation. Agriculture is not the only sector that contributes to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the environment, although in EU countries it is the main diffuse source.

The chemosynthetic fertilizers used in conventional agriculture contain just a few minerals, which dissolve quickly in damp soil and give the plants large doses of the minerals—just at one time and often more than is needed.

Intensive farming is a system of cultivation using large amounts of labour and capital relative to land area. Large amounts of labour and capital are necessary to the application of fertilizer, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides to growing crops, and capital is particularly important to the acquisition and maintenance of high-efficiency machinery for planting, cultivating, and harvesting, as well as irrigation equipment where that is required.

There is a need for global awareness and further research about the very complex environmental, ecological, economical, energy management, societal and finally human health impacts (with associated health care costs) of the non renewable chemosynthetic fertilizer use in intensive food crop production systems. In order to support the sustainable development, reconsiderations required about the production and use of the chemosynthetic fertilizers in combination with food production cultivation practices. Special concern taken to the safe/healthy food production and food/energy economics, when all and any direct and indirect costs are included, including the cost of our sustainable environment as well.

Szövegdoboz: Chemosynthetic Agro Industrial Problems