July 8, 2025 | 14:29 GMT +7

  • Click to copy
Sunday- 14:09, 12/02/2023

Will feds dictate fertilizer regime by 2030?

(VAN) Fertilizer Canada says with prudent management, farmers might attain a 14 percent reduction in fertilizer emissions, far short of the federal government’s 30 percent goal. Change is coming, but in what form?
There is an answer to the challenge of fertilizer application, but it’s so outrageous that it won’t occur, according to John Heard, soil fertility specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. | File photo

There is an answer to the challenge of fertilizer application, but it’s so outrageous that it won’t occur, according to John Heard, soil fertility specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. | File photo

“Phosphorus fertilization can reduce N2O emissions derived from N-fertilization but increase CO2 emissions,” according to a February 2022 report in the journal Nature.

There is an answer to the challenge of fertilizer application, but it’s so outrageous that it won’t occur, according to John Heard, soil fertility specialist with Manitoba Agriculture.

“We could take all the excess manure from livestock operations in Ontario and Quebec, then precision apply it to the impoverished soils out here on the Prairies. But that’s not going to happen,” he added with a laugh.

Heard says providing crops with sufficient nitrogen in a sustainable manner is not difficult. It means taking a field out of production to grow a nitrogen-fixing crop for one year. However, managing phosphorus in a responsible manner is a different issue because it is not a renewable resource.

“We have to get serious about recycling the phosphorus we apply to our fields. We’re already doing that on a small scale with Crystal Green or struvite.”

Crystal Green is a fertilizer product that provides a continuous release of phosphorus. It’s made by extracting 85 percent of the phosphorus and 25 percent of the nitrogen from livestock wastewater.

While most people think of reducing commercial fertilizer inputs for greater sustainability, Heard said Manitoba doesn’t agree.

“We’re going the opposite way with our recommendations in Manitoba. We feel that long-term sustainability with phosphorus involves bringing levels up to a good working range.

“We’ve changed our way of thinking. We previously used the sufficiency approach. Now we know how much trouble that got us into. We depleted our soils. So now we offer farmers the option of replenishing phosphorus levels, rebuilding those soils.

“Now, that runs counter to your story line about reducing fertilizer inputs. I’m not with you on the idea that sustainability means cutting way back on fertilizer. We’re going different paths now. Sustainability does not always mean putting on less. We’re telling farmers to put on more phosphorus. That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.”

Heard said that if a farmer is convinced that sustainability means less commercial fertilizer, then that farmer should allocate the available commercial nutrients to the areas that need it most. This applies not only to phosphorus, but to other nutrients.

He speculates that if social pressure or the federal government should ever force farmers to apply less fertilizer, it will lower food production and increase food prices.

He said farmers would likely take some land out of commercial production to grow their own nitrogen. This would exacerbate the drop in production.

“Precision agriculture technology will not bail us out if major cutbacks become necessary. Precision ag helps us make best use of what we have, but it will only buffer the collapse of farming. By stretching available resources, it will slow the decline in food production.

“Limiting the supply of fertilizer will also have the effect of raising the price. When that happens, farmers will turn to precision technology as a means to spoon feed expensive nutrients like phosphorus.”

HD

(Producer)

Illegal loggers profit from Brazil’s carbon credit projects

Illegal loggers profit from Brazil’s carbon credit projects

(VAN) How a system designed to protect the world’s biggest rainforest is funding businesses with a track record of illegal deforestation.

Cage-free countdown: UK retailers face 2025 deadline

Cage-free countdown: UK retailers face 2025 deadline

(VAN) Pressure is growing on companies to adopt the cage-free commitment for their egg supplies. Many food companies said their eggs would be from cage-free systems by the end of this year (2025).

Droughts worldwide pushing tens of millions towards starvation

Droughts worldwide pushing tens of millions towards starvation

(VAN) Water shortages hitting crops, energy and health as crisis gathers pace amid climate breakdown.

Green Climate Fund approves a record $300 million for FAO-designed projects in Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia and the Sahel

Green Climate Fund approves a record $300 million for FAO-designed projects in Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia and the Sahel

(VAN) The initiatives focus on forestry management, fisheries transformation and land restoration.

FAO urges collective action for food security, climate and development challenges in Africa.

FAO urges collective action for food security, climate and development challenges in Africa.

(VAN) Director-General QU Dongyu addresses the 6th AU-EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference.

Science meets soil: High-tech solutions elevate China's agricultural development

Science meets soil: High-tech solutions elevate China's agricultural development

(VAN) In the suburbs of Beijing, there is an agricultural center spanning over 150 hectares dedicated to research, demonstration, and application of high-tech and precision agriculture.

Plant-derived fertilizer additive boosts yields and cuts emissions

Plant-derived fertilizer additive boosts yields and cuts emissions

(VAN) Researchers from the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a new environmentally friendly fertilizer additive that significantly enhances crop yields while reducing emissions of harmful gases.

Read more