The correct meaning of the word ‘management’ is ‘use with skill’. In the case of fertilizer management this is very important; because the major problem with chemical fertilizer usage is ignorant and irresponsible uses and the associated environmental and health issues.
Illiterate farmers in most of the developing countries consider chemical fertilizers as something ‘magical’ and use the same in enormous quantities without the exact knowledge of the kind of fertilizer required, the quantities need to be applied and the exact time and mode of application.
As a result, the excessive or unwanted chemicals applied leach out to surface water bodies, down to the groundwater resources causing widespread eutrophication and destruction of water resources.
The excess chemicals even remain in the field soil and affect the natural biological process of soil and adversely affect the inherent qualities of soils to support plant growth.
Therefore, the major codes of conduct for management of chemical fertilizers should include:
- Strict control of unnecessary and untimely application of chemical fertilizers
- Farmers should be able to consult the agricultural officers/specialists and get the prescription for the right kind/amount of fertilizer to be purchased and the time and mode of application as well
- For a particular kind of crop of a particular cultivated region (or for a specific soil type), the right kind of fertilizers for the specific requirement of the crop alone should be made available in the region
- There should be green belt or phytostabilization or Phytoextraction traps around a chemicalized field to prevent leaching out of excess fertilizers into nearby surface water bodies
- Farmers should get instructions in native language on all kinds of adverse ecological impacts that may arise from chemical fertilizer applications in soils
- Farmers should be informed of the kind of heavy metal or other contaminants in a fertilizer and the impact of the continuous usage of such fertilizers
In the case of organic fertilizers as well as biofertilizers also, similar kind of instructions should be provided. In general, majority of illiterate farmers think that the organic fertilizers are totally harmless and they are unaware of the kind of ecological impacts from excessive use of the same.
- Organic fertilizers also contain inorganic or organic impurities, which the farmers should be informed
- Farmers are often cheated with regard to the quality of organic fertilizers; therefore, the nutrient (NPK or other nutrient) equivalency of the organic fertilizers should be provided
- When a biofertilizer is given, exact soil and environmental conditions required for their successful activity in soils as well as the biological health of the microbial seeds should be provided
- Environment or health hazard from the use of a biofertilizer should be properly informed
Food security is very significant for human survival. Environment security is also equally significant. Therefore, the major theme in the ‘code of conduct for fertilizer management’ should be learned applications of the same and strict control of ignorant and irresponsible uses of fertilizers to ensure sustainable management of food security.
J G Ray