Industry officials are dismissing as “fatally flawed” the conclusion of University of Illinois (UI) researchers that synthetic nitrogen fertilizer can destroy the soil. These conclusions were reached some time ago and recently updated from soil analysis from the Morrow Plots, an experimental corn field established on the UI campus in 1876 for agricultural research.
One of the researchers, Saeed Khan, professor of natural resources and environmental sciences, stated that better soil quality was found in the plots that were not fertilized. Khan said that microorganisms under the soil are using the fertilizer, not the crops themselves. “The microbes take in the ammonia and get bigger and then use up the organic matter that makes soil fertile,” Khan reported. “When you destroy the soil, no fertilizer can help.”
But that’s not the way The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), along with others in the industry, view it. Bill Herz, vice president of scientific programs for TFI, responded, “They’re misinterpreting their data and reaching the wrong conclusions. They can’t know what they’re claiming to know in this study. I’ve talked to other professors in this field and they say the study is fatally flawed.”
Dr. Terry Roberts, president of IPNI, agreed. “Such conclusions are not supported by numerous other studies from around the world, and many scientists do not feel the data from the Morrow Plots support that conclusion, either.” Both Herz and Roberts did support the Illinois researchers’ contention that inputs and management of nitrogen fertilizers must match crop requirements. “That is why the fertilizer industry is advocating 4R nutrient stewardship – applying the right source of nutrient at the right rate, time, and place – as a means to ensure we are not over-fertilizing and contributing to pollution,” Roberts asserted.
“The industry is committed to a science-based approach for efficient and effective fertilizer management, which when done properly will improve the quality of our soils and increase crop yields.” Herz added, “When you use a system of best management practices and pair it with the appropriate conservation measures, you get the total benefit of fertilizer without the negative impact.” Jean Payne, president of the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Assn., offered, “A look at our productivity with Illinois grains indicates that we are managing ag inputs, including nitrogen, responsibly and with great attention paid to maintaining soil fertility.”
Kahn, along with Richard Mulvaney, also professor of natural resources and environmental sciences, said the short-term solution is to improve fertilizing practices, urging farmers to start using fertilizer according to specific crops’ needs. “Don’t put it on where you don’t need it,” Mulvaney advised.