Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
wheat farmers in the state of Washington noticed that apply-
ing more nitrogen did not increase yields, which suggested
the wheat's growth was limited by the absence of two other
micronutrients:  chloride and sulfur. In response, fertilizer
companies developed a market to profit off this need, giv-
ing farmers access to inexpensive chloride and sulfur, and
thereby restoring high yields. When some other micronutrient
becomes scarce in the soil, fertilizer companies and farmers
will respond in the same way. They have already done so for
zinc, borax, manganese, copper, and iron. In fact, in areas like
Oklahoma, where micronutrients are rarely a problem, there
are salespeople trying to sell fertilizer supplements. However,
agronomists typically find they do not increase yields. Just
think how many salespeople will be selling copper, iron, and
boron when it is actually needed! Clearly, the fertilizer debate
concerns more than the scientific principles of agriculture. It is
also about whether markets will respond to fertility problems
before it is too late. Given that these markets already exist,
there seems little to fear.
Any agronomist will tell you that the soil is a complex, liv-
ing ecosystem. It can't be described solely in terms of nutri-
ents. For example, in order for soil nutrients to be available to
the plant the soil must have a certain pH level. An ideal soil is
“alive” in that it contains a gallery of worms, insects, bacteria,
and fungi. Worms dig tunnels, helping plow the soil and drain
water. Some insects eat the pests that destroy crops. Certain
types of fungi live on plant roots and grab carbon from the
air, storing it in the soil for long periods. A living soil can help
plants in other ways that are difficult to verify or observe. For
instance, some plant diseases are caused by a “dead” soil that
allows disease to run rampant. How is a farmer to know what
is really to blame: the disease itself or a dead soil?
There are fungi living on plant roots that help the plants
communicate with one another, warning each other of an
approaching pest, and allowing the plants to erect defensive
measures. A  variety of other beneficial microorganisms live
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