Suspension Fertilizers: How to Reconcile Sustainable Fertilization and Environmental Protection

Abstract

Due to the growing world population, the challenge for the agriculture industry is to produce the right amount of food. This is not possible without the use of fertilizers. Unfortunately, apart from having a positive effect on the yield parameters, they can also adversely affect the natural environment. The use of fertilizers in excess or in a poorly digestible form causes the migration of fertilizer components beyond the reach of the plant root system. In this way, nutrients enter the groundwater, surface water and the atmosphere, contaminating them. The consequence of such actions is further climate warming and the deterioration of water status and air quality. Suspension fertilizers are an interesting proposition that meets the requirements of modern agriculture. They combine the advantages of liquid and solid fertilizers. The liquid form ensures better digestibility of the nutrients, especially in periods of drought, and the concentration of the ingredients is comparable to that of solid fertilizers. At the same time, production costs are lower, which is related to the simplification of the technological process and the possibility of using cheaper raw materials. A valuable advantage of fertilizer suspension is the possibility of using hydrated waste substances in their production.