At first glance, looking at a chart of worldwide agricultural production since the introduction of synthetic fertilizer would lead you to believe that our agricultural processes have never been more efficient, profitable, and positive. China’s grain yield per acre increased 98 percent in the 28 years following synthetic fertilizer’s incorporation in Chinese agriculture.

Synthetic fertilizers are very nitrogen-rich, allowing crops to thrive. However, inundating fields with nitrogen-rich fertilizer have a downside, too. Excessive use of nitrogen-rich fertilizer contaminates ground water due to nitrogen runoff from farms. This runoff can reach coastal areas and lead to dead zones, where hypoxic conditions diminish aquatic life. Water quality reduction has harmful consequences on the health of humans and aerobic aquatic life, as well.

However, synthetic fertilizer does not just stop at water contamination. Fertilized cropland also produces a large amount of air pollution in the form of ammonia. Also emitted from the nitrogen-rich farmland is nitrous oxide, an anthropogenic greenhouse gas. Agricultural research in China has shown that there are 200 pounds of excess nitrogen per acre, a number so vast that their fertilizer usage could be cut in half without affecting crop yield. The excess nitrogen could lead to a slew of negative effects on the people of China and even, indirectly, the world.

Where should the line be drawn for nitrogen fertilizer usage? We are in the midst of a global food crisis, and many countries over-fertilize; other countries have insufficient nitrogen in their crops, leading to the malnourishment of their people. By overusing nitrogen-rich fertilizer, we harm ourselves and our environment, and by not using enough, we find ourselves short of nourishment. Surely, somewhere in the middle of the two extremes is a fine line that meets our demands of not just quantity, but quality.

Discussion Question: How would you regulate nitrogen-use standards on agriculture to balance food production and Earth stewardship?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090618144000.htm
Journal Article: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/324/5934/1519