With population growth, agriculture becomes one of the most important drivers for providing food demand. In fact, 40% of all the land in the world turns into cropland. On the other hand, scientists have figured out that nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers have a significant effect on maximizing crop production. In the case of phosphorous, it can be mined from mineral deposits and converted to different forms, such as phosphoric acid. Nowadays, more than 90% of the phosphoric acid produced in the industry is used in the production of various agricultural phosphate fertilizers.
Why can’t plants absorb phosphorous from the environment?
If we want to answer this question, we should know about the phosphorous cycle. Phosphorus doesn’t involve the atmosphere; however, the inorganic form of phosphorous can be found in rocks. Most living organisms are not able to eat rocks!
When it rains, water breaks down the phosphorous in the rocks. These dissolved phosphorous compounds are now available for plants. It helps the process of ATP production and also makes up cell membrane. Therefore, the existence of this element has a significant effect on the plant’s growth.
“However, the amount of phosphorus present in the soil is very less. That is why the farmers apply phosphate fertilizers on agricultural land.”
Plant-eating animals consume plants. However, when they die, the organic phosphate in their bodies is converted by some bacteria to an inorganic form of phosphate.
Phosphoric Acid in Agriculture
Phosphorous is one of the most important elements on earth. Actually, without this nutrient, no living organism could exist. Today, most agricultural soils face the problem of phosphorus deficiency and thus reduce crop production, while in some areas there is excess phosphorus. Of course, the problem of soil phosphorus deficiency is exacerbated by continuous cultivation and soil erosion. Therefore, the use of phosphoric acid in agriculture is a great option to strengthen plants and get more products from them.
Is Phosphoric Acid a good Fertilizer?
Phosphoric acid has corrosive properties, so we are not able to use it directly on plants. However, it can be used to synthesize other fertilizers. Phosphate fertilizers are those agricultural fertilizers that are added to agricultural soils for plant growth, and through this, the nutrients needed by the plant, especially phosphorus, are made available to it.
Interestingly, in agricultural soils, phosphoric acid is produced by the decomposition of soil organic matter, but the phosphorus in this mineral acid is not usable for the plant. Therefore, it is necessary to add phosphorus to the soil in the form of another compound. Of course, soil pH also plays a role in phosphorus uptake by plants. Phosphate fertilizers are a type of use of phosphoric acid in industry.
Importance of Using Phosphate Fertilizers in Agriculture:
As you know, Phosphorus is one of the nutrients that a plant needs to grow. The presence of phosphorus can greatly help root growth, germination, and plant maturity. One of the important points that expresses the necessity of using phosphoric acid in the production of agricultural fertilizers is that many soils usually lose their phosphorus due to rainfall. Therefore, the production of phosphate fertilizers using phosphoric acid and adding them to the soil can return this element to plants.
Commercial phosphate fertilizers are produced using phosphate obtained from mining rocks. Extracting phosphorus from ore in significant concentrations is costly and, in many cases, uneconomical. In this regard, the production of phosphoric acid by industrial methods can provide the basis for its production and application in the production of phosphate fertilizers. The most common phosphate fertilizers are diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), NPK, and SSP fertilizers.
Types of Phosphate Fertilizers:
The commercial phosphoric acid fertilizer composition has nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, while the other ones only contain one of these three nutrients. Here are some of the fertilizers that contain phosphoric acid in agriculture grade.
DAP fertilizers:
This type of phosphate fertilizer is the most common fertilizer used in the world. The reason for the popularity of this fertilizer is its high nutritional value and ideal physical properties. DAP is an excellent source of phosphorus and nitrogen. This fertilizer contains relatively suitable elements of phosphorus and nitrogen for plants such as wheat, barley, fruits, and vegetables. The global demand for this type of phosphate fertilizer is about 30 million tons per year.
NPK fertilizers:
Fertilizers contain a high percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In addition to these three nutrients, these fertilizers also contain other sub-nutrients such as iron, zinc, manganese, copper, boron, and magnesium. If we are to use the use of phosphoric acid in the production of complete phosphate fertilizers as an example, NPK fertilizers will undoubtedly be the first and most important of them. Global demand for this fertilizer is estimated at about 20 million tons per year.
Conclusion:
Organic phosphates are compounds that provide the energy needed for most of the reactions that take place in living cells, so phosphate-rich soils increase plant growth. Therefore, in the process of phosphoric acid production in agricultural fertilizer production, phosphoric acid is added to the other ingredients of a fertilizer as a source of phosphorous to increase plant growth.
Frequently asked questions
How is phosphoric acid used in agriculture?
The most common phosphate fertilizers are diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), NPK, and SSP fertilizers.
Why is phosphoric acid used in fertilizers?
The reason for the popularity of these fertilizers is their high nutritional value and ideal physical properties. Also, it is one of the nutrients that a plant needs to grow. but we can’t use it directly because of its corrosive properties.
Does phosphoric acid occur naturally?
It can be found naturally in many foods; however, the acid we want to use in fertilizers is almost industrial.
What is fertilizer grade phosphoric acid?
The commercial phosphoric acid fertilizer composition has nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, while the other ones only contain one of these three nutrients. Here are some of the fertilizers that contain phosphoric acid in agriculture grade.
What does phosphoric acid do for the plants?
As you know, phosphorus is one of the nutrients that a plant needs to grow. The presence of phosphorus can greatly help root growth, germination, and plant maturity.
4 Responses
In addition to DAP and NPK fertilizers, what other fertilizers contain phosphoric acid?
Other uses of phosphoric acid include the production of SSP, MAP, and TSP fertilizers.
Is excessive use of phosphoric acid fertilizers harmful to the plant?
Since phosphoric acid and its derivatives are not metabolized in plants and this substance is one of the most important and nutritious elements for plant growth, it should be used with caution because it is harmful to the overall health of plants. This is very important if the soil pH is 6.5 -7, everything is fine, but if the pH is less than 6, phosphoric acid causes the soil to become more acidic and has a negative effect on crops. High phosphorus can cause zinc and iron deficiency in the soil and manifest itself as yellowing and wilting of the plant.