Fertilizer Industry

Fertilizer is a critical component of agriculture and landscaping because it improves the growth and health of plants. The fertilizer industry has developed products that provide exciting results for customers in these fields. In fact, this business has seen major success by developing thousands of tons of fertilizer products that offer promises of faster growth, all-natural or organic results, and many other promises.

Types of Fertilizers

Fertilizers have two basic purposes. The first is to provide nutrients that the plants need to grow and thrive. The second purpose is to enhance the soil in which the plants live.

Even though there are many fertilizer products in existence, they all contain the same or similar macronutrients and micronutrients.

• Nitrogen to promote leaf growth

• Phosphorus to develop the seeds, flowers, roots, and fruit

• Potassium, which promotes the growth of stems, movement of water, and improves flowering and fruits

• Calcium

• Magnesium

• Sulfur

• Copper

• Compounds which contain the different elements make the basis for the fertilizer product. Nitrogen is the most important of the macronutrients because it is necessary for plants to live, but they cannot get it on their own. The nitrogen in the air isn’t usable to plants, so it must be adapted.

Fertilizers may provide only a single nutrient, or they may provide more than one, which is called complex or multi-nutrient fertilizers. Most of the complex fertilizers which provide two nutrients have nitrogen and phosphorus. Most of them are soluble in water. For those with three components, the third one is potassium.

Production of Fertilizers

How fertilizers are produced depends on the type. Nitrogen fertilizers use ammonia with natural gas providing the hydrogen while nitrogen comes from the air. Phosphate fertilizers extract the component from phosphate rock. Minerals must be converted into the phosphate salts by acid.

Potassium fertilizers are made with potash, which is a mixture of minerals. They must be purified to have sodium chloride removed.

Organic fertilizers use plant and animal waste, compost, and sewage which has been treated. Waste products from slaughtering animals may also be used to make fertilizer, such as the hides, bone meal and horns.

Fertilizers may be developed into solids or liquids. Fertilizers that are solid are usually found in powder or granule form. Liquid fertilizers may be diluted with water for a faster application as often seen when added to irrigation water.

Dangers to the Environment with Fertilizers

While fertilizers are beneficial to the plants, they do have some negative impact to the environment, which must be considered. They can affect rivers and streams, groundwater, and soil. Fertilizer manufacturers must plan accordingly as they develop operational processes. Each process provides waste along with the usable product. For instance, in the development of phosphoric acid, one ton generates five tons of waste.

Because of the risks to the environment, fertilizers are highly regulated. When producing any type of fertilizer, certain processes must be managed to ensure no leakage or spillage of any of the components that may cause damage to the surrounding soil or water.

Great River Industries provides storage tanks and other products for the fertilizer industry. These products meet or exceed regulations to ensure our customers maintain compliance. We also maintain and repair these storage facilities to prevent future issues.

Compounds which contain the different elements make the basis for the fertilizer product. Nitrogen is the most important of the macronutrients because it is necessary for plants to live, but they cannot get it on their own. The nitrogen in the air isn’t usable to plants, so it must be adapted.

Fertilizers may provide only a single nutrient, or they may provide more than one, which is called complex or multi-nutrient fertilizers. Most of the complex fertilizers which provide two nutrients have nitrogen and phosphorus. Most of them are soluble in water. For those with three components, the third one is potassium.

Production of Fertilizers

How fertilizers are produced depends on the type. Nitrogen fertilizers use ammonia with natural gas providing the hydrogen while nitrogen comes from the air. Phosphate fertilizers extract the component from phosphate rock. Minerals must be converted into the phosphate salts by acid.

Potassium fertilizers are made with potash, which is a mixture of minerals. They must be purified to have sodium chloride removed.

Organic fertilizers use plant and animal waste, compost, and sewage which has been treated. Waste products from slaughtering animals may also be used to make fertilizer, such as the hides, bone meal and horns.

Fertilizers may be developed into solids or liquids. Fertilizers that are solid are usually found in powder or granule form. Liquid fertilizers may be diluted with water for a faster application as often seen when added to irrigation water.

Dangers to the Environment with Fertilizers

While fertilizers are beneficial to the plants, they do have some negative impact to the environment, which must be considered. They can affect rivers and streams, groundwater, and soil. Fertilizer manufacturers must plan accordingly as they develop operational processes. Each process provides waste along with the usable product. For instance, in the development of phosphoric acid, one ton generates five tons of waste.

Because of the risks to the environment, fertilizers are highly regulated. When producing any type of fertilizer, certain processes must be managed to ensure no leakage or spillage of any of the components that may cause damage to the surrounding soil or water.

Great River Industries provides storage tanks and other products for the fertilizer industry. These products meet or exceed regulations to ensure our customers maintain compliance. We also maintain and repair these storage facilities to prevent future issues.