History Fertilizer

founded in 1812, mirat, producer of manures , fertilizers, claimed oldest industrial business in salamanca (spain).

management of soil fertility has been preoccupation of farmers thousands of years. egyptians, romans, babylonians, , germans recorded using minerals , or manure enhance productivity of farms. modern science of plant nutrition started in 19th century , work of german chemist justus von liebig, among others. john bennet lawes, english entrepreneur, began experiment on effects of various manures on plants growing in pots in 1837, , year or 2 later experiments extended crops in field. 1 immediate consequence in 1842 patented manure formed treating phosphates sulfuric acid, , first create artificial manure industry. in succeeding year enlisted services of joseph henry gilbert, whom carried on more half century on experiments in raising crops @ institute of arable crops research.

the birkeland–eyde process 1 of competing industrial processes in beginning of nitrogen based fertilizer production. process used fix atmospheric nitrogen (n2) nitric acid (hno3), 1 of several chemical processes referred nitrogen fixation. resultant nitric acid used source of nitrate (no3). factory based on process built in rjukan , notodden in norway, combined building of large hydroelectric power facilities.

the 1910s , 1920s witness rise of haber process , ostwald process. haber process produces ammonia (nh3) methane (ch4) gas , molecular nitrogen (n2). ammonia haber process converted nitric acid (hno3) in ostwald process. development of synthetic fertilizer has supported global population growth — has been estimated half people on earth fed result of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use.

the use of commercial fertilizers has increased steadily in last 50 years, rising 20-fold current rate of 100 million tonnes of nitrogen per year. without commercial fertilizers estimated one-third of food produced not produced. use of phosphate fertilizers has increased 9 million tonnes per year in 1960 40 million tonnes per year in 2000. maize crop yielding 6–9 tonnes of grain per hectare (2.5 acres) requires 31–50 kilograms (68–110 lb) of phosphate fertilizer applied; soybean crops require half, 20–25 kg per hectare. yara international world s largest producer of nitrogen-based fertilizers.

controlled-nitrogen-release technologies based on polymers derived combining urea , formaldehyde first produced in 1936 , commercialized in 1955. product had 60 percent of total nitrogen cold-water-insoluble, , unreacted (quick-release) less 15%. methylene ureas commercialized in 1960s , 1970s, having 25% , 60% of nitrogen cold-water-insoluble, , unreacted urea nitrogen in range of 15% 30%.

in 1960s, tennessee valley authority national fertilizer development center began developing sulfur-coated urea; sulfur used principal coating material because of low cost , value secondary nutrient. there wax or polymer seals sulfur; slow-release properties depend on degradation of secondary sealant soil microbes mechanical imperfections (cracks, etc.) in sulfur. typically provide 6 16 weeks of delayed release in turf applications. when hard polymer used secondary coating, properties cross between diffusion-controlled particles , traditional sulfur-coated.