Ecological Fertilization

Abstract

In the past decade it has repeatedly been shown that agriculture is a major source of environmental pollution. The environmental risk of industrial agriculture led to the concept of sustainable agriculture. Ecological fertilization integrates agricultural and environmental goals and is adjusted to the environmental conditions. Ecological fertilization is based on the principle that mineral fertilization should only be applied to the soil in the quantities and at the time required by the crop, thus avoiding damage to the environment. The present review provides a detailed description of the principles of ecological fertilization, such as accurate matching of nutrients to crop requirements, optimal condition in soil, favorable fertilizer use, and reducing nutrient losses. We review also practical systems such as integrated farming, site-specific fertilization, and organic farming. The most important legislations and regulations are also discussed.