The Effects of Fertilizers & Pesticides

• Fertilizers and pesticides of various types have been used to increase crop yields and reduce damage from insects and agricultural diseases for many years. As farmers began to use chemically manufactured fertilizers and pesticides, these compounds gradually became part of normal cultivation practices. Research on the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on lawns and gardens have alerted growers of the effects these chemicals have on the environment both locally and on a broader scale. Organic fertilizers that do not have these effects on the environment are gaining in popularity.

Positive Effects of Chemical Fertilizers

• Plants require nutrients in the soil to grow and produce fruits and vegetables for consumption. These nutrients become depleted through overplanting, erosion and other conditions. Replacing these nutrients helps use soil and water resources efficiently. According to the International Fertilizer Industry Association, farmers can double or even triple crop yields by using fertilizers. Farmers also use manure products such as cow dung, pig excreta and chicken droppings to fertilize soil and increase yields.

Negative Effects of Chemical Fertilizers

• Though chemical fertilizers increase food production for nations all over the world, the negative effects to the environment have become inarguable. The chemicals that compose fertilizer, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, run off into local waterways during rainy periods. These chemicals cause algae blooms in the water which then die, increasing the bacterial content. This increase kills fish and disrupts the food supply of other animals that feed on the fish. Organic fertilizers do not contain these chemicals, therefore they do not produce this effect on the environment.

Positive Effects of Chemical Pesticides

• Farmers use chemical pesticides to eliminate insects and diseases that destroy crops and diminish food supply. These compounds work very well in killing the insects that feed on the roots, leaves and stems of both food crops and garden flowers. Using these pesticides saves the crops that feed nations all around the world. They can often mean the difference between a healthy, expanding population and malnutrition and death.

Negative Effects of Chemical Pesticides

• Chemical pesticides are linked to a number of illnesses including cancer, lymphoma, reproductive abnormalities, endocrine disorders and neurological problems. According to ScienceDaily, scientists in a UCLA study have discovered links between Parkinson's disease and the use of two common pesticides, maneb and paraquat. Health experts are particularly concerned about pesticide exposure in children because they proportionally consume more food during their growing years and are often in contact with floor surfaces where pesticide residues are found. Pesticides also kill insects indiscriminately, destroying insects that are beneficial to plants and an important food source for other creatures. Some farmers are adopting more organic methods of pest control, such as introducing natural predators of the insects and using of plant extracts to repel insects. These methods reduce effects of pesticides on human health and the environment.