Artificial phosphorus may harm crops

Plants need phosphorus to grow. However, new research shows that the use of inorganic phosphate fertilizers may harm crop yields in the long run. Here’s why.

Too much of a good thing
Researchers from Penn State University found that over four generations, plants treated with high levels of phosphate fertilizer performed worse than plants treated with low amounts of fertilizer or none at all. The cause appears to be related to changes in soil microorganisms brought about by repeated fertilizer treatments.

Lasting consequences
Over time, inorganic phosphate fertilizers alter the microorganisms in the soil. This means that even if the use of fertilizers is discontinued, changes to the soil may harm crop yield, which in turn could motivate farmers to use more fertilizer, making the problem worse in the long term.

Are there alternatives?
Organic fertilizers such as manure, compost and bone meal are widely available and don’t tend to have a lasting effect on soil fertility. Reducing the quantity of artificial fertilizer used may also help prevent lasting damage.