Fertilisers are extra supplies of minerals that are added to the soil to help plants grow. Examples of minerals which are found in fertilisers are nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). All of these minerals are vital for the growth of healthy plants.

 

There are different types of fertilisers including nitrate fertilisers, manure and compost.

 

Fertilisers are very useful when growing crops. When the crops are harvested the nitrogen in these crops is lost from the soil forever. In order for the farmer to grow crops successfully again in the soil it is necessary to return nitrogen to the soil. Fertilisers are a effective way of doing this. 

 

Using fertilisers usually results in a higher yield of crops.

 

When overused, fertilisers can have a negative impact on biodiversity. Fertilisers can "run off" into rivers and lakes where it add extra nutrients to the water. This is bad because it causes massive amounts of algae to grow. These large growths of algae are often referred to as algal blooms.

 

Algal blooms blocks out the light to plants that are growing beneath the surface of the water. This causes death of those plants. When the algae and other plants die, bacteria in the river and lakes feed on the algae and dead plants. The bacteria increase in number and use up and use up the oxygen in the river and lakes. The lack of oxygen in the water kills fish and other organisms living in the river or lakes resulting in a total =reduction in biodiversity.