Fertilisers Flashcards
What are the types of fertiliser?
Organic fertilser and inorganic fertiliser
Describe the solubility of inorganic fertilisers.
Inorganic ions are highly soluble
Describe the solubility of organic fertilisers.
Organic compounds are less soluble.
Which fertiliser to cheaper?
Organic fertilisers - organic wastes need to be disposed of anyway, so they are cheap.
What is the benefit of inorganic fertilisers?
Fast acting
What is the benefit of organic fertilisers?
They last longer
Minimal leaching
What is the disadvantage of inorganic fertilisers ?
Easily leached, causing eutrophication
What is the disadvantage of organic fertilisers?
Inorganic minerals are released more slowly as they are decomposed.
Describe the inorganic fertilisers role in pollution.
The production of inorganic fertilisers leads to pollution of atmospheric gases and leaching into rivers and lakes.
Describe organic fertilisers role in pollution.
Spreading on to fields means they will not be dumped in landfill sites, where they may have caused uncontrolled leaching. Methane may be released though.
What is the benefit of inorganic fertilisers to soil quality?
Provides no imporvement to soil texture.
What is the toxicity of inorganic fertilisers to animals?
Often toxic to animals
What the of volume of inorganic fertilisers ins required?
Smaller volumes
Describe the predictability of inorganic fertilisers.
It has predictable ingredients
Do inorganic fertilisers have a smell?
No
What is the benefit of organic fertilisers to the soil?
The organic material improves soil structure by binding soil particles together.
What is the toxicity of organic fertilisers to animals?
May contain pathogens if not treated. They provide food for soil organisms eg earthworms. This improves drainage and aeration.
What type of volumes are required for organic fertilisers?
They are bulky and less concentrated in minerals. More needs to be spread on a field to have a similar effect.
What is the predictability of organic fertilisers?
They are unpredictable - they may contain unwanted substances such as weed seeds and fungal spores.
Do organic fertilisers smell?
Yes
Are inorganic fertilsers easy to measure?
Yes - they are straightforward to calculaterequired quantities.
Are organic fertilisers easy to measure?
No - it is difficult to estimate required quantities.
